Climate change is one of the three primary threats to biodiversity, the others being pollution and habitat loss due to overuse of natural resources. Serbia is a country with significant biodiversity, which is endangered by numerous threats, including the effects of climate change. The increase in the frequency of unfavorable weather conditions as well as the possible increase in extreme natural disasters will certainly have a significant impact on all sectors and activities that are in any way related to natural resources, their use and protection.
Changed climate conditions in Serbia can lead to phenological, physiological, morphological changes, changes in the behavior of species, changes in conditions or loss of natural habitats, changes in the abundance and distribution of species, an increase in the number of invasive species and pests, as well as the spread of diseases. The reason why we consider contemporary climate changes to be a major threat to ecosystems is that they are occurring faster than the ability of the living world to adapt.
One of the examples mentioned during the discussion is related to the impact of climate change on the fish spawning. Feeding, migration and spawning in many species of fish are initiated by changes in temperature so that changed climate conditions affect the spawning periods. The prohibition of fishing for certain species should not be determined only by the calendar date, but by the water temperature, which is important for fish spawning, and varies greatly due to changed climatic conditions. The representative of the "Deliblatsko jezero" Sports Fishermen's Association, which is the manager of the protected area, pointed out that a change in the spawning period was observed due to the changed climate conditions in the "Kraljevac" nature reserve.
Also, it is expected that the potential effects of climate change will manifest primarily on aquatic flora with possible and likely more frequent occurrence of algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs and increased potential for the appearance of toxic cyanobacteria. During the period of algae bloom, there are large oscillations in the concentration of dissolved oxygen during the day, so very low oxygen concentrations can be expected in surface waters of poorer quality with all the risks that this entails (appearance of anaerobic conditions, death of fish, etc.). This problem is dealt with at the local level by the association "deja Diskrikt", whose goal is to contribute to the creation of promising and sustainable conditions for life in the countryside for all generations through various initiatives. As part of the Green PowerUp program, they are working to preserve the lake near the town of Dračić in the vicinity of Valjevo. Unfortunately, the protection and preservation of nature is increasingly neglected in Serbia, and priority is given to activities that lead to the destruction of wetlands, such as the construction of infrastructure, the construction of facilities for mass tourism, small hydropower plants, the exploitation of gravel and sand, and other activities harmful to nature.
Organization Eco changers - the clean side of Sjenica, launched a successful initiative for nature protection and engaged a large number of young people and local residents for reforestation in the vicinity of Sjenica. Regardless of the immeasurable importance of forests, people massively cut them legally or illegally, so such initiatives, in addition to important results - reforested areas, also influence the raising of public awareness in order to preserve and restore forests.
One of the main conclusions of the discussion is that climate change is rarely mentioned in planning acts related to the preservation of nature and the use of natural resources. Experience so far has shown that there are no initiatives from the republic's institutions or they are very slow to be implemented.
Most civil society organizations and informal groups deal with education, raising public awareness, organizing numerous local initiatives (planting trees, collecting waste) and finding ways to reach the "common man”.
Recommendations for adaptation to changed climate conditions that contribute to the preservation of biodiversity
Biodiversity conservation must be integrated into social and economic activities at all levels, while the economic values and benefits of biodiversity should be adequately taken into account in the decision-making process. Only in this way will we be able to ensure a sustainable future. Some participants believe that it is necessary to work faster on mitigating climate change, that is, reducing the emissions of gases that cause the greenhouse effect, stressing that adaptation measures are not enough by themselves. Without an immediate slowing of the uncontrolled negative impacts of factors that cause imbalance in the dynamics of climate change, no measures will prevent drastic changes in biodiversity across the planet.
We suggest the following solutions:
1. The government and its institutions, the private sector and local communities should jointly implement effective measures to protect biodiversity and manage other threats in order to improve the resilience of ecosystems to the impacts of climate change;
2. Strengthening inter-sectoral cooperation regarding climate change in the nature protection sector: it is necessary to establish functional mechanisms that would bring together managers of protected areas, decision makers, local self-government units, the academic community, the private sector and civil society. This cooperation is important for the exchange of experiences, information and coordination of actions of all relevant actors. Establishing and maintaining regular contact with the academic community is essential, as it is the basis for planning adaptation to climate change;
3. In order to increase the capacity of professional staff and decision-makers in the public sector dealing with the environment, it is necessary to organize regular trainings on the topic of climate change and adaptation. Also, it is necessary to train experts for the application of "nature-based solutions". The "IUCN Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions™", which defines the criteria and related indicators, is a good basis for this;
4. Cooperation with the civil sector for more effective participation in the processes of public hearings.;
5. It is necessary to include measures for adaptation to changed climate conditions, in all planning documents regarding the use and management of natural resources in order to preserve biodiversity.
Proposals for sustainable use of natural resources and environmental protection in a broader sense to adapt to changed climate conditions are as follows:
- Coordination of development strategies and programs and spatial plans with biodiversity protection;
- Improvement of air quality;
- Obligation to introduce energy passports for all buildings;
- Improvement of water quality;
- To prevent the unplanned use of water for irrigation, and the first activity should be the preparation of the cadastre of wells;
- Afforestation;
- Replacement of plantations with autochthonous forests;
- Protection against erosion;
- Restoration, revitalization and protection of natural ecosystems, especially wet habitats;
- Prevent eutrophication by treating municipal wastewater;
- Improving the water regime in aquatic ecosystems, especially in protected areas and river floodplains;
- Lifting of field protection belts;
- Improvement and significant increase of organic production; Greening of cities;
- Increasing knowledge and strengthening public awareness.
It is necessary to pay great attention to the protection of ecosystems, which are of great importance in adapting to climate change, because by protecting the environment and preserving nature, we protect all those ecosystem services that are necessary for human survival.
Most of the interview participants believe that anthropogenic influences on nature are completely negative. Disturbance of the balance of abiotic factors caused by man leads to a series of chain events that completely disrupt the complex balance of biogeochemical processes prevailing in nature.
The conversation was organized as part of the Green Meetings event - come out on a green branch, in the presence of more than 80 representatives of local associations that received support through the Green PowerUp program and the Green Incubator project. The conversation was led by Duiška Dimović, an expert in the field of nature protection, and the participants were representatives of associations supported through the Green PowerUp program and the Green Incubator project. Apart from this topic, the event also discussed energy transition, circular economy, public policies, local activism and the role and state of civil society in Serbia.
The Green Incubator project is implemented by the Belgrade Open School in partnership with Young Researchers of Serbia and Environmental Engineering Group with the support of the European Union
Author of the photo: Belgrade Open School