Why Croatia’s rivers are being redesigned to flow like they used to

Nature · Published 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most of Europe's rivers have been tamed, polluted, or diverted by human engineering. However, Croatia is now reversing this trend. By restoring the natural movement of waterways like the Drava, scientists are proving that letting rivers behave wildly is the best way to protect both wildlife and human cities.

Croatia’s river systems are defined by their dynamic nature. From the karst rivers of Lika and Dalmatia to the floodplains of the Danube, these waterways are not static features; they are living systems that constantly reshape the land. They create essential breeding grounds for birds, fish, and amphibians by naturally forming wetlands and floodplains. Unlike many rivers in Europe that have been strictly controlled, these systems rely on movement and renewal to maintain biodiversity.

The Drava River, a major tributary of the Danube, serves as a primary example of how human intervention damaged these processes. Over the last century, intensive modifications, sediment extraction, and upstream hydropower development significantly shrunk the surrounding floodplains. To counter this, the DRAVA LIFE project worked to reconnect the river with its original landscape. This involved creating 9 km of side channels and excavating over 150,000 m³ of sediment—roughly equivalent to 60 Olympic swimming pools—to improve the riverbed and reduce erosion.

The results of this restoration are twofold: ecological and practical. By restoring 320 hectares of floodplain habitat, the project provides a buffer for heavy rainfall, which is increasing due to climate change, thereby reducing downstream flood risks for towns. The initiative has already achieved successful reproduction for various target animals, such as the Danube crested newt, European pond turtle, sand martin, and little tern, from a biological perspective. It demonstrates that restoring natural processes is a multi-functional strategy that simultaneously strengthens biodiversity, climate resilience, and the connection between people and nature.

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