The Ramsar Photo Gallery

Wetlands of International Importance: Serbia, Labudova okno

Labudovo okno. 01/05/06; Vojvodina; 3,733 ha; 44°48'N 021°18'E. IBA, Special Nature Reserve. Marking the southern margin of the Pannonian Plain, the site encompasses an important stretch of the Danube and adjacent areas as well as the Nera River to the border with Romania. Following the construction of the Iron Gate reservoir, the Danube water level rose and the river flow slowed down, causing the flooding of many river islets, lower coastal parts, and lagoons along the southern areas in the Deliblatska pešcara Sands and created new aquatic and wetlands habitats. Permanent rivers and freshwater marshes are the main wetlands types, comprising diverse aquatic and wetland communities as well as wet meadows and steppe pastures along the riverbanks. Shallow waters of the Danube provide an ideal spawning area for many of the 50 supported fish species, such as Silurus glanis, Stizostedion lucioperca and Acipenser ruthenus. The site is an important waterbird habitat, especially as a nesting and wintering site for a range of species such as pygmy cormorants Phalacrocorax pygmeus, little egret Egretta garzetta, white-fronted goose Anser albifrons and common goldeneye Bucephala clangula. Besides the strict protection zone and small-scale forestry mainly on river islets, the site is mainly used for agricultural activities based on cattle and sheep grazing. Ramsar site no. 1655. Most recent RIS information: 2006.

For further information about the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, please contact the Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland (tel +41 22 999 0170, fax +41 22 999 0169, e-mail ). Posted 19 January 2007, Dwight Peck, Ramsar.