National Id
Slovenia_01
Site name
Pomurje
Summary
The BIOMURA project was particularly focused on conservation of four habitat types, listed in Annex I of the Habitats Directive. It consists in the connection of the main channel of the Mura River in the east of Slovenia with side channels, provision of conditions for the adequate water level at the intake of water into side branches (intake at average and low flows), local widening of the channel and sustainable maintenance of alluvial forests and side channels. These measures were targeted to improve and protect riparian habitats and endangered species. Funded by LIFE program, Ministry of Environment and Spatial planning of Slovenia, Institute for water of Republic of Slovenia and partners.
Light or indepth?
In-depth
The in-depth description of the case study
cs-si-01-final_version.pdf
NUTS Code
Bratislavský kraj
RBD code
SI_RBD_1
Transboundary
0
Data provider
REC
Source(s)
BIOMURA
BIOMURA - Conservation of biodiversity of the Mura river in Slovenia
Case study: Biomura LIFE06NAT/SI/000066
NWRM(s) implemented in the case study
Wetland restoration and management
Reconnection of oxbow lakes and similar features
Natural bank stabilisation
Longitude
16.17805
Latitude
46.59138
Climate zone
cool temperate moist
Mean rainfall
800
Mean rainfall unit
mm/year
Average temperature
15
Mean runoff
350
Mean runoff unit
450 - 600 mm
Average runoff coefficient
0,119999997317791
Type
Case Study Info
Monitoring impacts effects
1
Monitoring parameters
Number of birds, amphibians and fishes
Performance impact estimation method
Catchment outlet
Performance impact estimation information
Monitoring after many prior field inspections
Application scale
Field Scale
Installation date
2011-10
Lifespan
50
Performance timescale
5 - 10 years
Area (ha)
4024
Size
8,30000019073486
Size unit
km
Design capacity description
Conservation status of 1.200 ha of floodplain forests, 1.500 m of side channels and 5.000 m2 of oxbows will be reached and forest areas around 2 ha of oxbow lakesand along 5.000 m of side channels improved
Constraints
The biggest threat to this project is the project of hydropower stations construction on Mura river which is pushed by the investor Dravske elektrarne. In case of the future implementation of these power plants our best practice BIOMURA wills potentially be endangered or even destroyed and during the construction the water level was often too high, the work was interrupted for a few times.
Favourable preconditions
Former wetland with a high biodiversity value
Inflow volume
110
Inflow volume unit
m3/sec
Public consultation
1
Contractural arrangements
1
Design contractual arrangement
Arrangement type Responsibility Role Comments Name
Agreement with the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
Design consultation activity
Activity stage Key issues Name Comments
Workshops
3 local (15th May 2007 in Ljutomer, 30th November 2009 in Mota and 17th November 2010 in Doklezovje) and 2 regional (4th June 2007 in Muska Sobota and 12th October 2011 in Mota)
Biomura newsletter
10 Issues were published, 5 leaflets, DVD
Information Centre
Information centre with educational trail opened and 7 information pan
Design land use change
Land use change type
Design authority
Authority type Role Responsibility Name Comments
Initiation of the measure
Institute for water of the Republic of Slovenia
Private property owners
Other
Ingeeniring for Waters (IZVO)
Supervision in restoration
Private property owners
Implementation
Mura Water Management company (Mura VGP)
Other
Institute of the Republic of slovenia for Nature Protection (ZRSVN)
Professional national Institution
Regional / sub-national water authority
Other
Regional Development Agency Mura (PRA Mura)
Responsible of some information actions
Other
Prleska Development Agency (PRA giz)
Responsible of some information actions
Other
Society of Bird Research and nature conservation (DPPVN)
Participation and support of some information actions
Other
World Wide Fund for Nature Austria (WWF Austria)
World Wide Conservation Organization; 'Participation and support of some information actions
Key lessons
A good knowledge and coordination of the task of each stakeholder is essential for completing the project without serious problems
Success factor(s)
Success factor type Success factor role Comments
Attitude of relevant stakeholders
main factor

Good organization between stakeholders and assigned activities
Successful coordination between authorities
main factor
Financing
Financing type Comments
EU-funds: LIFE+
European Commision LIFE Nature 2006 program
National funds
RS Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning
Other
Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia
Private funds
Partners
Barrier
Barrier type Barrier role Comments
Existing technical standards
main barrier
Small delay due to one permission of contruction in the stone riffle implementation.
Driver
Driver type Driver role Comments
Legal obligations
main driver
Habitats Directive and Birds Directive
Financing share
Financing share type Share Comments
European funds
49,7000007629395
National funds
34,2200012207031
Private funds
16,7099990844727
Policy description
Ecological deterioration and risk of flooding in Morava river. There are no dams on Slovenian river section.
Policy target
Target purpose
Improved Biodiversity
Groundwater Recharge
Policy pressure
Pressure directive Relevant pressure
Policy area
Policy area type Policy area focus Name Comments
Policy impact
Impact directive Relevant impact
Policy wider plan
Wider plan type Wider plan focus Name Comments
Policy requirement directive
Requirement directive Specification
Direct benefits information
Conservation of natural values and biodiversity will sustain if not enhance ground and surface water regimes in their dynamic character and connectivity.
Ancillary benefits information
Wetland ecosystem services such are fish stocks, groundwater for human consumption, wood stocks and biomass will become even more important for local and regional community. Restoration and rehabilitation works in the project area are offering job opportunities for local people and providing long-term opportunities for creation of trails, observation facilities, information center, education points and paths. Development of a sustainable tourism is an option and source of local employment and income increase in the Pomurje region in the future. The project has also become a strong counterpart to the idea of electricity production on the Mura River upstream.
Costs investment
1975519
Costs investment information
Total budget
Costs land acquisition
61800
Costs land acquisition unit
€ (total value)
Costs total
1991567
Costs total information
Costs incurred from the start date to 31/10/2011
Economic costs other annual
9000
Ecosystem improved biodiversity
1
Information on Ecosystem improved biodiversity
Higher number of anphibians after the work, hiher density of bird species in willow stands
Ecosystem provisioning services
1
Information on Ecosystem provisioning services
Ecosystem services such are fish stocks, groundwater for human consumption, wood stocks and biomass will become even more important for local and regional community
Ecosystem water supply
1
Ecosystem impact climate regulation
Not relevant for the specific application
Information on retained water
N/A info
Information on increased water storage
Increase in the volume of retained water due to the connectivity between the main river and side channels and introduction of higher river morphological structure in the river bed (erosion banks, gravel bars, river islands) and flood forest.
Information on runoff reduction
N/A info
Water quality overall improvements
N/A info
Information on Water quality overall improvements
N/A info
Soil quality overall soil improvements
N/A info
Information on Soil quality overall soil improvements
N/A info