Sava Basin

The Sava is the Danube's largest tributary of the Danube in terms of discharge and the second largest in terms of catchment area. The Sava is shared by Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. The joint management arrangements acted as a pilot for the implementation of the European Union's Water Framework Directive for the Danube and Europe.

Sava Basin

The Sava rises in the mountains of western Slovenia and passes through the lowlands of Croatia before forming the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. As it flows through Serbia, it reaches its confluence with the Danube in Belgrade (with an average flow of 1,564 m³/sec). Its main sub-tributaries are the Krka, Kupa, Una, Vrbas, Bosna, Drina and Kolubara. The size of the Sava basin is around 95,419 km², which makes it the second largest sub-basin of the Danube after the Tisza River Basin.

International Sava Agreement

The joint management of the Sava River Basin by Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro continues to be a shining example for the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive for the Danube and Europe.

The Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin and the Protocol on the Navigation Regime, both signed in 2002, promote regional co-operation throughout the Sava River Basin on issues related to navigation, economic development, comprehensive water management and environmental protection.

In June 2005, the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC) aka Sava Commission was established and opened its Secretariat in Zagreb (Croatia).

The aim of the Sava Commission is to fully implement the Agreement. Moreover, it is working to facilitate opportunities for economic development by attracting foreign investors and contributing to the enhancement of relations and co-operation between the parties of the agreement.

For further information, please contact the Sava Commission Secretariat at: isrbcatsavacommission [dot] org.

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Related

  • » Bosnia-Herzegovina
    The waters of Bosnia and Herzegovina are split between the Danube River Basin District and the Adriatic Sea Basin. Some 40.2% of the Sava river sub-basin, the second largest sub-basin of the Danube River Basin, lies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The rest of the watershed is shared by Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia.
  • » Serbia
    The Republic of Serbia covers an area of 88,499 km² and includes two provinces: Vojvodina (21,614 km²) and Kosovo and Metohija (10,910 km²); the latter being currently under an international protectorate. Approximately 92% of the country lies within the Danube Basin (accounting for 10% of the total Basin). Of this land, 30% is forested. With more than 90% of Serbia’s renewable water resources originating from outside national territory, international cooperation on water issues is crucial for sustainable water management.
  • » Croatia
    With a national territory of 87,609 km2, Croatia is at the intersection of the Pannonian Plain, the Balkans and the Adriatic. The country straddles the border of two major catchment areas: the Danube Basin and the Adriatic Sea. Draining over 62% of Croatia’s mainland, the Danube Basin covers the northern and central inland section of the country and is home to 69% of the population. Croatian territory accounts for 4.4% of the entire Danube Basin.

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