Between July and September 2026, Young Researchers of Serbia joined forces with local communities, young people, international volunteers, environmental experts and public institutions for five volunteer actions across Serbia, as part of the “Dialog, Partnership and Volunteering – for Biodiversity” within BOOST Balkans project.
From lakeshores and wetlands to the forests and villages of Mount Golija, volunteers responded to different environmental needs by improving wildlife habitats, removing waste, and caring for natural areas. Each action showed how people working together can turn concern for nature into practical change.
Helping European Pond turtle’s habitat at lake Kraljevac
At Kraljevac Special Nature Reserve in southern Banat, northern Serbia, more than 30 participants took part in the actionorganised by the Deliblato Sport Fishing Association, which manages this protected area. Action gathered volunteers from the international volunteer camp “Stories by the Lake”, as well as women from Deliblato who joined the initiative to support nature conservation in their local community. Together, they contributed to protecting the protected area’s natural heritage.
Volunteers helped install guiding barriers to enable European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) to move more safely between the lake and their nesting sites. The action was designed to support biologists, monitoring the turtle population and to put their research findings into practice. By helping the protected area manager implement conservation measures and improve habitat conditions, volunteers contributed to creating a safer environment for this strictly protected species in Serbia. The action demonstrates how scientific research, practical conservation efforts and local community involvement can work hand in hand to protect biodiversity.
Clean up action for Lake Gruža
Lake Gruža, in central Serbia near the city of Kragujevac, is an important water resource, supplying drinking water to more than 300,000 people in Kragujevac and the surrounding area. The volunteer action “Gruža + | Action for Clean Shores” hosted by organization “Ekomar” brought together local citizens and international volunteers participating in an international volunteer camp “Gruza Eco Mission” at the lake.
Guided by the message “We protect Gruža together”, the action encouraged young people and women people to lead by example and showed how individual initiative and collective effort can help safeguard this valuable freshwater ecosystem. Together, volunteers removed accumulated waste from the lakeshore and raised awareness of the importance of protecting the lake and taking individual responsibility for the environment.
The action also attracted interest from local media and representatives of academic institutions, highlighting the potential for continued cooperation in protecting this valuable freshwater ecosystem. Together, volunteers removed accumulated waste from the lakeshore and raised awareness of the importance of protecting the lake and taking shared responsibility for its natural resources.
Restoring habitats at Obedska Bara
The Special Nature Reserve “Obedska Bara”, in the Srem region of northern Serbia, is a wetland of international importance recognized under the Ramsar Convention. It provides valuable habitats for a rich diversity of birds and other wildlife. Maintaining these habitats, including wet meadows and open areas, is essential for preserving the reserve’s biodiversity and supporting the species that depend on them.
Through the volunteer action, residents, young people and volunteers from an international volunteer camp “Birds’ Eldorado”, organized by YRS and local CSO contributed to these conservation efforts by clearing branches and overgrown vegetation in selected areas. Their hands-on contribution helped maintain important wildlife habitats and protect the natural value of this unique wetland ecosystem.
Working together for a cleaner Golija
Two further volunteer actions took place in the villages of Rudno and Devići on Mount Golija, Nature park Golija in southwestern Serbia, organized with aim to protect the local environment and biodiversity. Together, these actions brought together around 150 participants, including residents, young people and volunteers from Sjenica and Kraljevo, alongside representatives of partner organisations CSO “Rudno Hosts’ Association” and public institutions.
Activities included collecting waste, clearing unwanted and invasive vegetation, maintaining green spaces, and improving public areas. In Rudno, around 12 tons of bulky and municipal waste were removed from an illegal dumpsite. With support from local institutions and public services, the actions demonstrated how community engagement and cooperation can help protect natural heritage and create cleaner, healthier surroundings.
Small Actions, Lasting Impact
Nature protection does not always start with big solutions. Sometimes, it starts with people coming together, taking initiative and making a difference in their own communities. Every action count when citizens are ready to get involved.
Together, the five volunteer actions brought people together around a shared goal: protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity through practical, community-based action. By bringing together residents, woman, young people, international volunteers, experts and institutions, the activities showed how active citizens can make a difference when they take responsibility for the places where they live and work together to protect them.
These activities are carried out as part of the “Dialogue, Partnership and Volunteering – for Biodiversity!” project, within the BOOST Balkans supported by the AFD – Agence Française de Développement, implemented by the European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) and ALDA Balkans, and the “Volunteers for Nature” project, implemented by Young Researchers of Serbia in partnership with Tim42 and Environment Engineering Group, with financial support from the European Union.
