Kopački Rit Nature Park is one of the largest European wetland habitats and is home to more than 300 bird species, as well as numerous other plant and animal species. Due to its exceptional biodiversity, it has been the focus of scientific research for many years.

The traditional international symposium “Kopački Rit Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” has been held since 2012, and this year’s 14th edition took place on 25–26 September 2025 in Osijek, at the Faculty of Agrobiotechnical Sciences. The aim of the symposium is to exchange knowledge and experiences and to promote an interdisciplinary approach to nature conservation.

Josip Juraj Strossmayer Water Institute participated in this year’s event through its employee, Marina Šumanović, who presented the research “Pollution Trends in the Drava and the Danube – from Pesticides to Invasive Species.” The study included five years of monitoring nutrients, pesticides, and invasive aquatic invertebrates. The results showed that nutrient concentrations in the Drava and the Danube remain consistently high, while river side arms tend to accumulate ammonium and phosphates. Invasive species were found to be most numerous in the Danube, while pesticide levels were recorded within permitted limits.

These results confirm the importance of regular water quality monitoring and the preservation of local ecosystems such as river side arms.