News
This spring, the first pilot workshops of our new environmental education programme took place in Croatia, offering local pupils the chance to contribute to the development of the programme. The programme aims to harmonise nature education across the five countries of the biosphere reserve Mura–Drava–Danube.
In May and June, the environmental organisation Green Osijek led a series of workshops at the vibrant Bjelobrdska oxbow restoration site near Osijek, which is currently being restored as part of the LIFE RESTORE for MDD project. The workshops aimed to trial the draft educational programme and its accompanying handbook, designed to connect students throughout the biosphere reserve by sharing knowledge and values about riverine ecosystems.
Eighty pupils from primary schools in Bijelo Brdo and Sarvaš took part in hands-on learning activities focusing on wetland biodiversity and restoration. These activities included observing local flora and fauna, as well as exploring essential ecosystem services such as clean water, flood control, and climate regulation.
Through storytelling, games and creative tasks, the children were encouraged to see themselves as active stewards of nature, gaining a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of natural habitats and human wellbeing in the process.
Feedback from these pilot sessions will inform the final version of the programme, which will be implemented across the biosphere reserve. These initial workshops represent a significant milestone in establishing a shared educational foundation for future generations spanning the Mura, Drava and Danube rivers.
