Revitalizing wet meadows in Northern Vojvodina to mitigate droughts and heat stress

Climate dynamics across Europe are introducing novel threats, including compound and cascading hydrological hazards that endanger agriculture, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Over the last two decades, the Balkan countries have frequently been situated in the "red zone" of devastating drought events. Currently, Serbia ranks as the most vulnerable European country regarding climate change impacts. This is particularly critical for the Vojvodina region, one of the major European producers of maize, soybean, and other high-value crops. While shifts in Balkan climate types are scientifically proven, their “real-world" impacts often remain obscured. The EU-funded Twinning Green Deal SONATA project ”Monitoring of nature infrastructure - Skill acquisition for Nature-based Solutions” focuses on the allocation, planning, and implementation of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) (Nikolić-Lugonja et al, 2026). A primary outcome is the precise mapping of nature infrastructure to establish a baseline of current habitats. This foundation allows for the observation of ecological shifts over coming decades and provides a cornerstone for conservationists, ecologists, and industry stakeholders to pursue sustainable agriculture and biodiversity maintenance. To facilitate strategic planning, SONATA is developing a geospatial tool designed to optimize NbS placement, explore soil health through eDNA, including the regional open access dataset (Marković et al, 2026). The project features two distinct Case Study Areas: CSA1 focuses on pollination services to enhance crop yields; CSA2 targets water retention to mitigate drought impacts on wetlands and surrounding agricultural lands. A central vertical pillar of the CSA2 is a micro-scale experiment in a degraded natural depression near Zimonić (community of Kanjiža), specifically focusing on "soda pans"—shallow, ephemeral lakes with unique chemical properties. Throughout the 20th century, the Danube-Tisa-Danube drainage system together with its operations altered the semi-natural hydrological cycle to favor agriculture, leading to the disappearance of these pans. Combined with recent desertification and intensive irrigation, this has caused a dramatic drop in groundwater levels in the area. During the first year, field investigations included LiDAR scanning which was carried out to produce a precise Digital Elevation Model and infiltration experiments were conducted to set up a conceptual water balance model. Preliminary calculations indicate that a simple intervention—a small wooden gate to raise water levels by 30 cm—could trap an additional >130 m3 of water within the Zimonić pilot site. This would bring the total volume of the revitalized ephemeral lake to approximately 290 m3, allowing the depression to remain wet until mid July under average summer conditions (now it dries out by mid May) thereby supporting soil moisture during vegetation and local biodiversity.  In collaboration with the local community and protected area managers, SONATA utilizes the Living Lab concept to ensure that NbS planning aligns with local priorities such as sustainable agriculture and water management. This collaborative approach fosters dialogue with the Regional Water Management Agency (Vode Vojvodine) to provide a "proof of concept" for future upscaling NbS management actions.

This work was supported by the SONATA Twinning project funded from the European Union’s Horizon Europe program under Widening participation and spreading excellence action (GA no. 101159546)