Klenak/Novi Sad, 18 October - President of the AP Vojvodina Assembly, Juhász Bálint, attended today in Klenak the ceremony on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the first administrative protection of the natural values of the Obedska Bara, which was organised by PC "Vojvodinašume".
In his address to the guests attending the celebration of this great jubilee, President Juhász pointed out that over the past 150 years, regardless of the socio-political context and all the changes that this area had experienced, the protection of the natural values of the Obedska Bara was never called into question, which spoke volumes about the importance of this nature reserve.
"In light of the accession negotiations and the opening of negotiation chapters with the European Union and particularly important chapter 27 concerning environmental protection, this date is a confirmation that there is an administrative culture and institutional capacities for the protection and management of nature reserves, as well as a confirmation that we can comply with the European Union acquis and legal culture. We have already been and are part of the European administrative culture," said President Juhász.
He noted that in August 2023, the AP Vojvodina Assembly had adopted the Provincial Assembly decision on the adoption of a spatial plan of the special purpose area of the special nature reserve "Obedska bara", the third in a row in the last 20 years, thereby continuing the tradition of institutional protection of the natural environment.
"The Obedska bara depicts the family tree and genealogy of Vojvodina. Settlements were built in this area from the prehistoric age, the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, the Roman period, the Middle Ages, the age of the Ottoman conquests... Various tribes and peoples wanted to live here, they saw a future for themselves and their children here," said President Juhász and emphasised that the Obedska Bara had been placed under administrative protection only two years after the American authorities had placed the Yellowstone National Park under protection.
Thanking all the institutions and individuals who support the work of PC "Vojvodinašume", the director of this company, Kókai Roland, pointed out that over the last 15 years, 2.2 million euros was invested in the Obedska Bara, of which 80 percent was from own funds, which resulted in the expansion to 50 hectares of a new surface area, clean floating platforms, after which some protected plant and animal species reappeared after many years.
As part of the celebration of the anniversary of the Obedska Bara, certificates of appreciation were awarded to individuals and institutions and presentations were held regarding history, management, cultural and historical heritage and the new spatial plan.