Protection of Drava Wetlands and the Rivers of Bednja and Plitvica in North-West Croatia: DEF Pilot Campaign in Croatia
The inventory of the existing Drava wetlands and especially the confluences of the Bednja and Plitvica Rivers revealed the great value of these areas for the region’s biodiversity. The Bednja River tributaries and riverbed are habitats for otter, river crab, wild trout and other rare and protected species. The Plitvica riverbed has a number of beaver habitats, while rare and protected plant species are found on the riverbanks. The overall goal of the campaign was to raise the awareness of key local community groups about the value of river habitats and species, and initiate a stakeholder dialogue towards a sustainable development vision and framework for the project area.