Bačko Podunavlje Biosphere Reserve

The "Bačko Podunavlje" biosphere reserve is located in the northwest of Vojvodina and represents one of the largest and best-preserved marsh-swamp units in the upper course of the Danube through Serbia. It covers the municipalities / cities of Sombor, Apatin, Odzaci, Bac and Backa Palanka on an area of 176,635 hectares.

The biosphere reserve "Bačko Podunavlje" is located in the northwest of Vojvodina and is part of the "European Amazon", which is one of the best preserved marsh-wetlands on the entire course of the Danube.

This unique river landscape is an area of exceptional biodiversity and the center of rare natural habitats such as vast floodplain forests, ada, backwaters and sandy river banks.

Due to its exceptional natural values, the Upper Danube was declared an internationally important bird habitat (IBA) in 1989.

Geographical position

The reserve is the remnant of the former vast floodplains of the Danube region. It consists of the following units: Monoštorski rit, Apatinski rit, areas of Štrpce, Kozara and Karapandža. Most of the territory is covered with complexes of marsh floodplain forests.

Such preserved original biotopes are rare where they can be found, both in our country and in Europe. Together with the right bank, the floodplain in Baranja in Croatia known for Kopački rit and the floodplain of Karapandža in Hungary it forms a natural whole.

It is an integral part of the potential Drava-Mura Biosphere Reserve and is on the list of potential wetlands for inclusion in the Ramsar Convention.

The special nature reserve "Gornje Podunavlje" was placed under state protection on July 20, 2001 as a natural asset of the 1st category (of exceptional importance for the Republic).

Spectacular flora and fauna

Rita forests - rainforests, marshes and swamps give the pristine beauty in which the marsh deer and pedunculate oak reign, are just one part of a beautiful combination of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Water is a habitat of relict, rare and endangered plant species (borak, rebratica, lingual buttercup, white and yellow water lilies, marsh kaćunak, etc.).

The Upper Danube is home to 55 species of fish, 11 species of amphibians, 9 species of reptiles, 230 species of birds and 51 species of mammals, as well as a huge number of invertebrates, of which the fascinating fauna of diurnal butterflies with over 60 species.

The total wood volume is over 1,300,000 cubic meters, of which 40 percent are intensive plantations of Euro-American poplars.

Over 30 animal species are on the Preliminary list of flora of Serbia, as natural rarities.

The animal species of special importance that live in it are:

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) - the largest bird of prey in Central Europe. A species whose endangerment has taken on international proportions. Of the thirty or so pairs that live in Serbia, ie Vojvodina, one third nest in the area of the Special Nature Reserve "Upper Danube".

Black stork (Ciconia nigra)

A species that has been declared a natural rarity in Serbia. There are 20-25 nesting pairs in the area of the Special Reserve, which represents a quarter of the national population.

Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorage carbo)

A species that became extinct as a nesting bird in Serbia during the 20th century. In the last fifteen years, four colonies have appeared in Vojvodina.

Heron colonies (Ardea sp., Ardeola sp., Nycticoradž sp., Egretta sp.)

According to the results of detailed mapping, which was performed during 1999, several permanent heron colonies were recorded in the area of the Special Reserve.

Wild ducks (Anas sp., Aythya sp.) And wild geese (Anser sp.)

The species that are concentrated here are mainly during the winter and during the migration period. In that period, tens of thousands of individuals gathered.