WWF Cooperation

Together for the environment.

THE UNESCO BIOSPHERE PARK.

The future UNESCO Biosphere Park "Mura-Drava-Danube" will unite around 20 local protected areas in a single huge river environment of 800,000 hectares. Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia each have a share in the biggest protected river area in Europe.

The 700 kilometer long river flood plain landscape begins at the Mur near Spielfeld in the Austrian province of Styria. After the confluence of the River Mura and the River Drava in Croatia this unique riverside scene continues along the banks of the Drava to the confluence with the Danube at Osijek and includes the Danube floodplains on the borders of the three countries Croatia, Serbia and Hungary.

The WWF has campaigned since the 1990s for the protection and preservation of this unique river system, "that need not be shy of a comparison with the Amazon", as project manager Arno Mohl says.

ASAMER has been a partner to this ambitious plan for many years. The declaration of support for the project by all the countries involved is a major stride forwards. Manfred Asamer underlined the significance of this development: "We are delighted to make a contribution to the biggest single nature conservation project in Europe."

Find out more about...
Project Biosphere Park - "Amazon of Europe"

Cooperation WWF - Asamer

Asamer – WWF – V.I.N.C.A.

The harmonisation of both economic and environmental aspects in the use of our mines has become an important Asamer tenet. This goal has been achieved by closely cooperating with environmental organisations. Together with WWF Austria and the Vienna Institute for Nature Conservation and Analysis (V.I.N.C.A), we have initiated numerous projects to improve the use of gravel pits and stone quarries.

In 2005, Asamer commissioned a research project “Investigating biodiversity and viability at four mining locations”. V.I.N.C.A. drew up a census of existing flora and fauna within the specified areas. Under the watchful eye of the WWF, the sites were analysed in terms of their ecological sensitivity , and the protective measures used to date.
If specific environmental protection conditions are met, gravel pits and stone quarries can play an important role in supporting biodiversity or, at the worst, have a neutral effect. Of the sites analysed, three had re-established an environmental balance, and the diversity of plants and animals had even increased.

The fourth site was classified as particularly environmentally sensitive - a habitat for numerous endangered species with a particularly wide spectrum from all organism groups. A catalogue of measures necessary to protect the area was drawn up and is used as a guide for all Asamer operations in the area. Parts of the site are treated with particular care during breeding time, when excavation work is temporarily stopped, and recreational activities are limited to specific times.