Belgrade, 22 May 2025, International Biodiversity Day - Thanks to Sweden's financial support of USD 600,000, public enterprises and civil society organisations will implement seven innovative solutions to protect, revitalise and conserve wetlands in protected areas in Serbia. These solutions were selected through a public call launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in June last year as part of the initiative EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia.
The implementation of these innovative solutions will help restore the natural balance in wetland ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, improve water quality, and reduce the negative effects of climate change such as droughts, floods and the spread of invasive species in wetlands across Serbia.
"Sweden's support for the conservation of wetlands in Serbia is crucial for preserving biodiversity, mitigating climate change and ensuring sustainable development. This cooperation confirms our commitment to the protection of these important ecosystems for the benefit of all citizens and future generations," said Charlotte Sammelin, Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Serbia.
"The biggest challenge in the conservation of wetlands worldwide and in the Republic of Serbia is to find a balance between development and nature protection. Therefore, as Minister of Environmental Protection, it is extremely important for me to invest in innovations and initiatives such as those that are part of this project, as they contribute significantly to this goal," said Sara Pavkov, Minister of Environmental Protection.
Antoine Avignon, Chapter 27 Desk Officer and Programme Manager for Environment and Climate Change at the EU Delegation, highlighted that it is very important for Serbia to harmonise its legal framework with the EU Nature Restoration Law, which is the pillar of the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. "Despite their importance, most wetlands remain degraded due to their historical undervaluation, fragmented public policies and constant pressure. These seven solutions will help restore and protect wetlands in Serbia, with all the benefits they provide," Avignon added.
"These solutions are all nature-based and, in addition to preserving biodiversity and strengthening the resilience of local communities to climate change, they also provide opportunities for education and recreation, and strengthen the bond between people and their natural environment," said Žarko Petrović, Team Leader for Resilient Development at UNDP.
One of the selected solutions is the restoration of peatlands in the Tara National Park with the help of an innovative "fog catcher", which extracts enough moisture from the fog to ensure the survival of the endangered moss. In the Zasavica Special Nature Reserve, a drone will be used to monitor and remove invasive vegetation, while in the Kraljevac Special Nature Reserve, interventions are planned in some parts of the watercourse to reconnect the fragmented wetlands and conserve the habitat of mudminnow (Umbra krameri), a strictly protected fish species.
More information about the supported solutions is available here.
The innovative solutions for the protection, revitalisation and conservation of wetlands will be implemented with financial support from Sweden as part of the initiative Protecting and Investing in Biodiversity and Water for Enhanced Climate Resilience, which is part of the project EU for Green Agenda in Serbia. This project is implemented with the technical and financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional funding provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.