Declaration for the protection of the sand martin along the Drava river in Koprivnica-Križevci County signed

At a ceremony held in Đelekovec, Tomislav Golubić, County Prefect of Koprivnica-Križevci County, together with the mayors of ten municipalities along the Drava River — Drnje, Ferdinandovac, Gola, Hlebine, Legrad, Molve, Novo Virje, Peteranec, Podravske Sesvete and Đelekovec — signed the Declaration on Sand Martin Protection along the Drava River in Koprivnica-Križevci County.

By signing the Declaration, the signatories express their support for the active protection and restoration of the natural habitats of the sand martin (Riparia riparia) — a strictly protected migratory bird whose colonies in the steep sandy banks of the Drava are one of the most reliable indicators of a healthy river ecosystem. Aware that bank reinforcement and loss of suitable nesting sites have led to population declines, the signatories commit to protecting existing colonies, raising awareness, and strengthening cooperation along the Drava and within the UNESCO Five-Country Biosphere Reserve Mura–Drava–Danube.

From a Record Colony to a Regional Commitment

The initiative was sparked by the remarkable results achieved at the steep riverbank of Libanovec in the Municipality of Đelekovec — the largest sand martin colony on the Croatian stretch of the Drava. In favourable years, when river levels are higher, the site supports up to 1,800 nesting pairs, even as the national population continues to decline. The success is no accident: under the DRAVA LIFE project, rather than reinforcing the bank, natural erosion processes were deliberately allowed to continue. An innovative land-use agreement was reached with local farmers, accepting a gradual reduction of arable land in exchange for lower lease costs. This model — aligning conservation and agricultural interests without conflict — is now set to serve as a template for all municipalities along the Drava. In recognition of these efforts, the Municipality of Đelekovec was officially designated Croatia’s first Sand Martin Village in 2024, an initiative developed jointly by the Municipality, family farm OPG Puhar, WWF Austria, Croatian Waters, the Public Institution for Nature Protection of Koprivnica-Križevci County and Green Osijek. A special role in spreading the sand martin story belongs to the Vêndi Association, which for years has been building bridges between nature conservation and art through painting workshops, literary gatherings and various cultural events. On 14 May, a sculpture of the sand martin by artist Dragutin Ciglar was unveiled in Đelekovec, becoming a physical symbol of the entire community’s commitment to nature and the Drava. The initiative is now outgrowing its local roots.

Lara Samošćanec Kiš, Mayor of the Municipality of Đelekovec, said: “Đelekovec showed that a small community can take responsibility for the nature that surrounds it. We are no longer alone — the other nine mayors and the County Prefect have stood beside us, and together we have said: the Drava and everything that lives along it is our shared responsibility. This Declaration is not just a piece of paper; it is a promise to the river and to all the generations that will come after us.”

Arno Mohl of WWF Austria underlined the symbolic weight of this step: “The sand martin may be a small bird, but it has become a powerful symbol of a living Drava River. Today’s declaration shows how nature conservation and local communities can come together around a shared vision. It is an inspiring example for the entire UNESCO Five-Country Biosphere Reserve Mura–Drava–Danube. WWF is committed to continuing to be a reliable partner in turning this shared vision into concrete conservation action in the years ahead.”

Igor Tošić, project coordinator at Croatian Waters, emphasised: “At Libanovec, a small but important step was taken away from the conventional approach of stopping every instance of river erosion immediately. Where there is no direct threat to people, infrastructure or the water regime, a natural steep bank can have great value — here, for one of the most important sand martin colonies on the Drava. The Municipality of Đelekovec and the DRAVA LIFE project partners made an important breakthrough. The support of the County Prefect and ten municipal mayors lends additional weight and provides a solid foundation for discussing similar solutions along the Drava in a timely, expert and community-aware manner.”

Tomislav Golubić, County Prefect, closed the ceremony with words that captured the spirit of the entire initiative: “Koprivnica-Križevci County is proud of the Drava River and everything that lives along it — and we intend to guard it fiercely. But protecting nature cannot be left to environmental organisations or a single municipality. Today, as ten mayors and the County sign this Declaration together, it is clear that the whole of Podravina understands what it has and what it must preserve. Đelekovec opened the way — now we walk it together.”

The Drava River forms a significant part of the UNESCO Five-Country Biosphere Reserve Mura–Drava–Danube (MDD-BR), the largest river protected area in Europe. Its protection and sustainable development are a shared responsibility of the communities through which it flows. By signing this Declaration, Koprivnica-Križevci County and its Drava municipalities make a concrete and visible contribution to preserving this outstanding natural heritage — and position the Podravina region as one that turns ecological responsibility into local policy and identity.