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Safeguarding biodiversity by building sustainable partnerships between businesses and nature reserves
Seeking to strengthen links between nature reserve managers and businesses and so foster environmental protection efforts, AmCham Serbia organized a two-day visit for its member companies to the Palić-Ludaš Special Nature Reserve. The event took place as part of the Together for the Environment activity, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Belgrade Open School (BOS).
The two-day study trip included presentations of active conservation measures aimed at protecting animal and plant life and watercourses in Serbia’s nature reserves, as well as projects and opportunities for investing in these conservation areas, together with a tour of Lake Ludaš. It was the first of two such visits planned for this year that aim at promoting collaboration between businesses and nature reserve managers. Learning about the features of these zones will allow companies to identify potential areas for collaboration and promote the active involvement of businesses in nature conservation.
“The visionary idea of nature reserves originated as early as the 19th century in the United States, which also created the first national parks. Today, many responsible businesses work closely with nature conservation areas in the US, and this is a practice we wish to bring to Serbia as well. Serbian firms that devote considerable attention to environmental, social, and governance issues ought to explore options for collaborating with nature reserves, because investing in active measures to protect species, enhance the potential of water resources, and identify natural carbon capture solutions, is an excellent opportunity to not only make tangible improvements to the environment, but also educate staff and strengthen ties with local communities. Judging by the response of companies to these visits, the promise of this cooperation has been recognized: AmCham will continue working to implement specific projects, and I call on all interested businesses to join us”, said Amalija Pavić, AmCham Serbia Deputy Executive Director.
The visit to Lake Ludaš was an opportunity to learn more about the areas managed by two SOEs, Palić-Ludaš and Vojvodinašume, find out about the impact of conservation measures deployed to date and the many planned projects and opportunities for investing in nature reserves, as well as the pioneering steps taken by the Vojvodina Institute for Nature Conservation to quantify the value of ecosystem services provided by nature reserves. The participants discussed their companies’ areas of interest in environmental protection, in particular managing water resources and biodiversity, and the opportunities and hurdles for greater collaboration in this regard. The visit to the Lake Ludaš area also allowed the businesses to see first-hand the practical results of conservation measures implemented to date and plans for upcoming efforts, as well as to understand how biodiversity improvements are monitored in the region.
“Lake Ludaš is one of Serbia’s oldest nature reserves. It is known for its wetlands and saline soils, more than 230 species of birds, and protected animal species such as otters, pond turtles, and many others. Wetland habitats are being lost worldwide, and it is exceptionally important for all of us together to strive to preserve them. We welcome any assistance that will allow us to continue pursuing active protection measures and safeguarding the great diversity of our plant and animal species. Our public corporation is open to new collaboration opportunities, and we strongly believe in the development potential of ties between the business community and nature reserves. We hope that learning about the natural wealth of this area will lead companies to take the next steps, such as investing and undertaking a variety of projects”, said Tamás Vinkó, Project Manager and Ranger Coordinator at Lake Ludaš Special Nature Reserve.
Together for the Environment is an initiative supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Belgrade Open School (BOS), together with Young Researchers of Serbia (MIS), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the EcoNomic Expert Community Association (ENECA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and AmCham Serbia. The primary goal of the project is to enhance environmental protection and promote biodiversity in Serbia.
