As part of the European Green Diplomacy Week, marked across Serbia under the slogan “See Water Differently,” a major volunteer cleanup was held in the Rusanda Nature Park. The event was jointly organized by the European House Novi Sad and the Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia, with support from local institutions and numerous citizens.
Volunteers—including Denmark’s ambassador to Serbia, Pernille Dahler Kardel—worked to remove municipal waste, eliminate illegal dumpsites, and improve the condition of this highly important protected area. The cleanup took place along the stretch between Melenci and Kumane.
“Through actions like this, we give back to nature and help make it safe for its inhabitants. Rusanda Nature Park is home to many plant and animal species. The area has been affected by human activity and has become a place for improper waste disposal. Together with volunteers from Belgrade, Novi Sad, and the local community—including several elementary school students—we cleaned a large portion of the park,” said Tijana Čeliković of the Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia. She added that such initiatives raise awareness of the importance of environmental and biodiversity protection and help create future guardians of nature.
Rusanda Nature Park, part of the internationally important bird area “Okanj and Rusanda” and the key plant area “Central Banat,” is home to a large number of strictly protected species. Among them is the European endemic European souslik, which stands out as particularly significant. The salt lake, along with surrounding saline habitats, wet meadows, and secondary landscapes, forms a valuable ecosystem whose preservation depends on responsible management and continuous care. The area is managed by the public institution “Nature Reserves Zrenjanin.”
The event is organized by Europe Houses in Belgrade, Niš, and Novi Sad, in partnership with the “EU for Green Agenda in Serbia” project implemented by UNDP, and in cooperation with organisations and projects EU4Green, NATURED, IPA Adrion (programme), EBRD, RERI, City and Me, Discover Serbia, Coalition 27, Young Researchers, FINS, Youth Center Novi Sad, Beldocs/CineEuropa, and Society for Bird Protection and Study of Serbia, with the shared goal of inspiring citizens, promoting sustainable habits, and encouraging active engagement for a healthier, greener future.
The project EU for Green Agenda in Serbia, 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 funding provided by the governments of Sweden, Switzerland and Serbia.
The European Green Diplomacy Week is a global European Union campaign that fosters cooperation in combating climate change and encourages climate action.
