The UNESCO recently designated Mura-Drava-Danube (MDD) as the world’s first ‘five-country biosphere reserve.’ The MDD river system, popular as the ‘Amazon of Europe,’ is home to several endangered species, such as little terns and otters. It is also the annual resting and feeding place of several migrant birds. It covers a million hectares and stretches across Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia. MDD is Europe’s largest riverine protected area and aims to conserve 30 per cent of the European Union’s land area by 2030. The project focuses on river revitalisation, sustainable business practices, and enhancing cross-border cooperation among various countries.
Student of Class 12, St Marks World School, New Delhi