Međimurje becomes Croatia’s first official bioregion

Mursko Središće on he Mura River (Photo credit: Andrej Neuherz/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Međimurje County has become the first region in Croatia to be certified and officially recognised as a member of the World Alliance of Bioregions.

Međimurje County is located in northern Croatia, and is bordered by the Mura and Drava rivers.

The official signing ceremony took place on 5 May 2025 at the Museum of Međimurje in Čakovec, during which Međimurje was formally accepted into the global network of bioregions.

This achievement comes after a thorough certification process that began in September 2023, aimed at enhancing sustainable development, environmental protection, and the conservation of natural resources.

County Prefect Matija Posavec highlighted the importance of the moment: “This is a proud day for every citizen of Međimurje. We are once again leading Croatia, especially in the field of sustainability. This achievement is not the result of one person’s work, but a collective effort across the entire community.”

The certification recognises Međimurje’s long-standing dedication to green policies, including organic food production, eco-tourism, and support for local family farms.

(Photo: Međimurksa Županija)

Posavec emphasised that this step is just the beginning, with continued development and responsibility now essential to maintain this status.

Međimurje has previously earned multiple accolades in sustainability, including three EDEN awards for excellence in tourism, the European Ecolabel, and the Green Destination award – the first in Croatia and fourth in the world.

The region is also home to the UNESCO-designated Mura-Drava-Danube biosphere reserve.

(Photo: Međimurksa Županija)

Salvatore Basile, Director of the International Network of Eco-Regions and Co-President of the Global Alliance of Organic Districts, praised Međimurje’s readiness: “The region demonstrates strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, and an impressive awareness of the importance of organic food production.”

The Centre of Dr Rudolf Steiner in Donji Kraljevec, led by Dr Dijana Posavec, plays a key role in fostering biodynamic agriculture and promoting sustainable development strategies across the region.

(Photo: Međimurksa Županija)

Jurka Radiković from the REDEA development agency, which crafted the strategic plan, explained that broad community engagement was essential: “Every stakeholder had to be involved – from agriculture to tourism – to translate sustainability from vision to reality.”

As part of the International Bioregion Network, which includes over 150 regions worldwide, Međimurje now sets a strong example for the rest of Croatia, proving that committed communities can lead the way in building a greener, healthier future.