Regional environmental initiatives focus on soil protection and ecosystem restoration

Regional efforts to combat land degradation and restore ecosystems are underway in Montenegro and Serbia. In Montenegro, the fifth partnership meeting of the ECOBASE project was held at the University of Donja Gorica. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the University, the project focuses on protecting soil resources from erosion, pollution, and climate change through nature-based solutions and regional knowledge exchange.

In Serbia, a restoration platform for the Deliblato Sands has been published by the University of Belgrade's Faculty of Biology. Supported by 17 scientific institutions, including the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU), the platform advocates for restoring the area's diverse mosaic of steppe, forest, and wetland ecosystems following fires that affected over 12,000 hectares. The platform emphasizes that restoration efforts must align with nature protection laws rather than forestry laws, prioritizing biodiversity conservation over timber production.