Campaign “This is not just a pond”: Let’s prevent the disappearance of wetlands

Campaign “This is not just a pond”: Let’s prevent the disappearance of wetlands

With the support of Sweden, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are launching the “This is not just a pond” campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise public awareness of the importance of preserving wetlands, and it is being implemented as part of the “EU Green Agenda in Serbia” initiative.

The campaign will inform the public about the numerous benefits of wetlands for people and the environment, and invite managers of protected areas, local governments, companies, as well as scientific research institutions and civil society organizations to propose and implement concrete measures to protect these precious ecosystems.

„Wetlands provide a wide range of environmental and human benefits. From conserving biodiversity and reducing flood risk, to purifying water and storing carbon dioxide, these delicate ecosystems play a key role in protecting the natural balance and human well-being. “Wet habitats are also home to many endangered plant and animal species, which contribute to the preservation of biodiversity,” he said. Paul Collins, First Secretary at the Embassy of Sweden in Belgrade.

“Around 85 percent of wetland habitats globally have already been lost due to pollution, desiccation and invasive species, while climate change further endangers the rest. Wetlands in Serbia face the same threats, which is why their preservation becomes a priority. The campaign “This is not just a pond” has a key role in raising awareness and initiating concrete actions, in order to further protect these irreplaceable ecosystems,” she said. Sara Pavkov, State Secretary in the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

As part of this campaign, UNDP invited managers of protected areas, local governments, public and private companies, scientific research institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations to submit innovative proposals for the preservation of wetlands through nature-based solutions. The authors of the 12 best ideas for preserving wetlands received in the first call cycle will receive professional support for the development of their projects in the following period. The best designed projects will receive co-financing in order to come to life in practice.

KV1_UNDP Serbia

„Wetlands are of inestimable importance for preserving biodiversity and mitigating the consequences of climate change. We support ideas that can contribute to the natural restoration of water resources and systems in them, the connection of wetlands and the revitalization of degraded wetlands, in order to protect wetlands and preserve them for future generations,” he pointed out. Fabricio Andreuci, Deputy Permanent Representative of UNDP in Serbia.

Campaign „This is not just a pond“ is implemented with the financial support of Sweden, that is, the Swedish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (Sida), within the initiative “EU for the Green Agenda in Serbia”. This initiative, with the technical and financial support of the European Union and in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, is implemented by UNDP in cooperation with Sweden and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with additional financial resources provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.

You can find more information about the campaign and how you can contribute to the conservation of wetlands on the following link.

Source: BIZLife

Photo: Stock photo Minoli, stock photo Slavica Stajić, KV1_UNDP Serbia