WWF Slovakia welcomes the statements that Moravia will be removed from the arteries
According to the organizations, Moravia is one of the most important streams in Central Europe. It is rare for moist meadows that are rich in plants and animals. However, people have changed its appearance, shortened the river, cut off meanders and changed the area of floodplains, environmentalists point out. “Today, the river floodplain is flooded especially at the time of larger river basins, otherwise it suffers from drought, the old arm is transferred and degraded,” pointed out.
The LIFE IP Natura 2000 project is currently being implemented on the territory of the Morava River. WWF Slovakia, the State Nature Protection of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Water Management Company are cooperating on it. The goal is to free the banks of the river on selected sections and restore some side arms. In addition to Moravia, the project also envisages revitalization works on its tributary Rudava. According to the environmental organization, wetlands, peat bogs and wetland meadows will be restored there.
International cooperation is key in the restoration of this area, says WWF Slovakia. Budaj, together with the Austrian Minister for the Environment, Leonore Gewessler, also expressed interest in returning Moravia to its original form on Friday (May 20). “Moravia is a border river, so the ideal solution for Moravia would be to comprehensively organize a joint international recovery plan that revitalized the whole, restored cut meanders, released water to the original meandering sections and restored dynamism and life,” said one of the project partners, the director of the Záhorie Protected Landscape Area, Tomáš Olšovský.
The Slovak Water Management Company is in charge of the implementation of the planned revitalization activities. Its director, Jozef Krška, says that the restoration of floodplains contributes to flood protection. It also helps retain water in the country, thus mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
“A study carried out by WWF Slovakia within the project evaluates sections of rivers suitable for revitalization and identifies sections important in terms of flood protection. Based on the study, measures will be proposed with their subsequent implementation,” Krška remarked.
The section of Moravia from the confluence with the Danube to the village of Brodské in the Skalica district is on the list of areas protected by the Ramsar Convention as the “Niva of the Morava River”. The site is a site of European importance Natura 2000 and is one of the important nesting and wintering grounds of birds. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded here, WWF Slovakia added.