On 22nd & 23rd January 2019, the Amazon of Europe Bike Trail partnership attended the Official event in Velika Polana, Slovenia, where the Mayors of the Mura Biosphere Reserve were awarded the UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Certificates. 

The event was hosted by Damijan Jaklin, Mayor of the Municipality of Velika Polana and head of the Mura Cooperation Partnership, who also welcomed all the attendees and presented the Mura Biosphere Reserve coordination group.

© Zarja Šinkovec

Jure Leben, Slovenian Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning expressed his support and praised joint efforts of all Municipalities throught the years, that have contributed to this Mura Biosphere Reserve Certificate. He was also excited to see all of our continuing efforts in the area, done by DTP Projects coopMDD and Amazon of Europe Bike Trail and expressed his continuing support for our future work and the cooperation within the region and among all 5 countries. 

© Zarja Šinkovec

Stane Pejovnik, President of the Slovenian National Commission for UNESCO discussed the meaning of this Certificate for Slovenia, the Mura river and its surrounding areas, as well as the process of obtaining this Certificate - which was a long-term process. 

© Zarja Šinkovec

Miguel Clüsener-Godt, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences and Secretary of the Man and the Biosphere presented the goals of UNESCO MAB Program and Biosphere Reserves Network and the meaning of establishing the Biosphere Reserves and the benefits they have for people, animals and the environment. 

© Zarja Šinkovec

Arno Mohl, WWF Austria also spoke about the long-term efforts of many people and organizations that were involved in obtaining this UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Reserve Certificate and what this means for the future. 

© Zarja Šinkovec 

In the end, Mr. Miguel Clüsener-Godt and Mr. Jure Leben jointly presented the certificate of the newly designated Biosphere Reserve to all the mayors of the 16 municipalities included into the Mura Biosphere Reserve. 

© Zarja Šinkovec

This Certificate is a very important step in the formation of the future 5-country Biosphere Reserve "Amazon of Europe", where our Amazon of Europe Bike Trail will be located and we are proud to have been part of this historic event. 

Some Slovenian articles about the event:  

Večer Newspaper: https://www.vecer.com/minister-leben-zagotovil-da-elektrarn-na-muri-ne-bo-6649120?mView=1&tmpl=component

Delo Newspaper: https://www.delo.si/novice/okolje/leben-hidroelektrarn-na-muri-ne-bo-142597.html

24ur.com: https://www.24ur.com/novice/slovenija/minister-leben-razveselil-prebivalce-ob-muri-hidroelektrarn-ne-bo.html

RTV Slovenia: http://www.times.si/gospodarstvo/jure-leben-hidroelektrarn-na-reki-muri-ne-bo--20034f16f6be99b744a5f1bf91fa4d7ad5e8c78e.html

Sobotainfo.com: https://sobotainfo.com/novica/lokalno/leben-ob-podelitvi-certifikatov-pomurskim-zupanom-ce-sodelujemo-lahko-dosezemo