Socio-economic assessment of the Drava Life Integrated River Management project

The DRAVA LIFE project aims to maximize the social and economic benefits arising from water resources in an equitable manner, through the integrated management of the basin, while preserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems. The Elaborate Evaluation of the socio-economic impact of the DRAVA LIFE project aims to show the socio-economic state of the areas where the DRAVA LIFE project is implemented with all its peculiarities, achieved good results, but also challenges and development problems in certain counties through which the Drava River passes. It also presents the economic and social development and quality of life of the local population, considering that the areas under the ecological protection of Natura 2000 can be one of the important levers for the economic prosperity and well-being of the inhabitants precisely because of their status. Through the elaboration, it will be shown how the activities of the project affected the human communities in the areas of implementation of the activities, i.e. in what way they affected the feeling and experience of the Drava River, the quality of life and the feeling of well-being, economic and business trends, civil society and target groups in local communities and society. It will also be necessary to investigate whether the DRAVA LIFE project initiated some changes in spatial plans or, for example, in the management of natural resources, which is an extremely ambitious expectation that will be interesting to analyze in terms of research and science. Furthermore, it will be necessary to investigate whether there have been changes in the tourism sector, in investments and the level of employment, which, considering the index of development and the general socio-economic situation in some counties, would be a great benefit of the project. In the second phase of the activity, it will be necessary to assess whether there has been an improvement in flood defense by applying still unusual procedures and interventions in the areas of the ecosystem in Croatia.