Biodiversity and water protection Lake Palic and Lake Ludas

completed

The overall objective of the project is to protect biodiversity in the Palic/Ludas lake area and to promote tourism. Lake Ludas is an internationally protected RAMSAR wetland. The entire project area is an internationally recognized area for the protection of endangered plant species (Important Plant Area) and bird protection (Important Bird Area). The measures include improved wastewater collection in the town of Palic, further nutrient elimination in the Subotica sewage treatment plant, planting a waterside strip including bicycle paths and observation platforms for bird watching and controlled fishing of the dominant silver crucian carp to promote the indigenous flora and fauna (biomanipulation). The measures are intended to restore natural biodiversity in the long term. An accompanying measure promotes the efficiency of the water company and the protected area administration as well as environmental awareness in close cooperation with the city and local associations. The project supports the implementation of the EU Acquis in the environmental field (wastewater, water protection, biodiversity) and improves the region's tourism potential. Lake Palic has a tourism tradition going back over 160 years. Due to the severe water pollution, tourism collapsed in the 1970s. The project is closely linked to the TZ (CIM support for the Palic park administration) and the commitment of the EU, EBRD, Italy and Serbia itself, which jointly financed the wastewater treatment plant in Subotica. The total cost of the project is around EUR 7.5 million, of which around EUR 1.0 million will be covered by services from the city of Subotica and EUR 6.5 million by a FC contribution. EUR 0.5 million of this is for an accompanying measure.