The wetland area is the habitat of protected and strictly protected species

At the Fair of Ecology, children learn about the importance of wetlands—habitats of protected species that mitigate climate change and preserve biodiversity.

Why it is important to preserve wetlands and the living world in them is one of the topics of this year's Ecology Fair. In order for the youngest to learn about it as soon as possible, the booth of the Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection has also become a classroom, and children of primary school age participate in interactive workshops.

The workshop "Even the pond is important" was held yesterday, and the importance of wetland habitats was discussed. According to Marije Caran Pavlović, expert associate for environmental protection at the Provincial Institute for Environmental Protection, the focus is on wetlands because Novi Sad is the holder of accreditation as a city of wetlands.

- We want children to learn as soon as possible about the importance of wetlands, which are habitats of protected and strictly protected species, in the Special Nature Reserve Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit and the Begečka Jama Nature Park - says Marija Caran Pavlović. - Wetlands are habitats for a large number of plant and animal species, they mitigate climate change, and they are important for preserving the diversity of plant and animal life. In the past, wetlands were drained because they were thought to be a breeding ground for disease, but today the situation is much different and everything seems to be preserved because it has been confirmed that wetlands deposit carbon up to 20 times faster than forests and grasslands.

Preserving wetlands is very important for the quality of the environment, and that is why it is necessary for this information to reach as many people as possible. And the wealth of nature in Novi Sad is confirmed by the fact that in the immediate vicinity of the Koviljsko-Petrovaradin Rit and the Begečka Jama Nature Park, you can see a diverse and rich flora and fauna - white and yellow water lily, water lily, yellow iris, water walnut, white willow, white and black poplar, as well as crested grebe, white-tailed eagle, mallard duck, spoonbill heron, gannet, green frog, beluška, otter, which is an indicator of clean waters.