EVENTS: CRADLES Project Stakeholders Meeting – Strengthening Regional Collaboration for Wetland Conservation

On December 9, 2024, the CRADLES Project team hosted a Stakeholders Meeting at the University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences, Serbia. The event brought together 15 representatives from key organizations, including national public authorities, higher education and research institutions, NGOs, and protected area managers, to discuss ongoing project activities and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration in wetland conservation.

Key Highlights

Focus on Nursery Areas and Carbon Sequestration:
The meeting focused on two critical project components: Activity 1.2 – the Status of nursery areas, identification of knowledge gaps, and database creation, and Activity 3.1 – the Inclusion of carbon sequestration potential and assessment in restoration and conservation strategy for nursery areas.

Stakeholder Engagement:
Participants included representatives from:

Public Forest Management Company Vojvodinašume

Public Water Management Company Vode Vojvodine

Ministry of Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia

Nature Reserve “Zrenjanin”

Nature Park “Tara”

NGO Minds Europe – Institute for Research Excellence and Technological Advancement

University of Novi Sad Faculty of Sciences

Project Presentation:
Dušanka Cvijanović (UNSPMF) opened the meeting with an overview of the CRADLES Project, outlining its main goals and planned activities. She emphasized the importance of active stakeholder involvement in achieving project objectives and highlighted the critical role of data collection and ecosystem management in preserving nursery habitats.

Pilot Activities for Wetland Conservation:
The project team introduced planned pilot activities targeting the Obedska Bara wetland area and Middle Danube wetlands, including:

Special Nature Reserve (SNR) Obedska Bara

SNR Gornje Podunavlje

SNR Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit

Wetlands near Bačko Novo Selo (candidate for SNR status)

Nature Park Begečka Jama

SNR Karađorđevo

These areas are critical for biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, and the project aims to support their long-term ecological health through innovative monitoring and management strategies.

Collaborative Planning:
The meeting concluded with a productive discussion on potential measures and activities to enhance the protection and restoration of these wetlands, including the integration of carbon sequestration into conservation planning.

Looking Forward:
Through continuous engagement with stakeholders, the CRADLES Project aims to build a robust scientific foundation for wetland restoration, enhance ecosystem resilience, and promote sustainable management practices. Stay tuned for more updates as the project progresses towards its ambitious conservation goals.