In Bački Monoštor, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, together with WWF Adria and with the support of Public Enterprise "Vojvodinašume" and Citizens' Association "Podunav" from Bački Monoštor, organized a volunteer action on May 20 in the Special Nature Reserve "Gornje Podunavlje".

The pupils from the local Elementary School took part in the action to whom the expert from the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, ichthyologist Laszlo Galambos, demonstrated the process and technique of creation and installation of Perch nests, which are laid on the bottom of water habitats in the places which are suitable for the spawning of this species, while collaborators from WWF Adria educated the children with examples and through the game how the Biosphere Reserves can be established. Altogether 30 participants took place in this action.

During that time, a group of adult volunteers was clearing aggressive species of bushes at the site of the Semenjača pond, clearing about 100 square meters of vegetation that had started to move towards the interior of this water body, in which ecological restoration measures had taken place during the last 15 years. During the action, the volunteers had the opportunity to get acquainted with the fauna of birds, amphibians, and reptiles in this area.

This action gave an opportunity to local communities that already have developed practices of active work and education in nature, to show the results of those practices to those communities in Bačko Podunavlje Biosphere Reserve that have not been active in this regard so far. Education and volunteer work are only some of the opportunities provided by biosphere reserves, and the fact that this area is part of a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube in five countries shows not only its great natural value but also importance to the local community.

These activities are part of the project "Protection and restoration of ecological connectivity in the area of the Mura-Drava-Danube river corridor through intersectoral cooperation", which is carried out through a partnership by state institutions, managers of protected areas, and civil organizations from Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Serbia, which co-financed by the European Union through the Danube Transnational Program.

Photos: WWF Adria – Serbia

More information: Institure for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina Province, novi.sad@pzzp.rs