Final Conference of the Project "STOP AMBROSIA!"
On Wednesday 21 December 2011 in the lobby of the Pančevo City Hall, the Final Conference of the project "STOP AMBROSIA!" was held, at which representatives of four partner organizations presented the results achieved over the past 12 months.
The conference was attended by around 50 participants, who discussed the results of all project activities, experiences and the manner in which the partner networks function, but also the potential to promote cooperation and preparation of new project ideas.
Through discussions with the partners from the Serbian and Romanian Banat, the legitimacy of the project ideas that focus on providing resources for more efficient, long-term and permanent suppression of ragweed was confirmed, and the general public opinion was acquainted with the dangers posed by the blossoming of this weed plant.
Only now, with all the resources acquired thanks to the project, an effective and continuous struggle against ragweed has started, in order to reduce the allergic diseases of our fellow citizens.
As the leading partner of the action “STOP AMBROSIA”, the City of Pančevo formed a team of experts from different fields who have initiated the realization of this ambitious project. The University "BANAT" - Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine Timisoara was the cross-border partner, and PUC (Public Utility Company) "Higijena" and the Institute "TAMIŠ" from Pančevo were the local partners.
The financial resources have been appropriated from IPA funds for cross-border cooperation.
The team of the project "STOP AMBROSIA!" can be fully satisfied with the results, since the City of Pančevo initiated continuous and efficient destruction, starting with the field and laboratory monitoring, and ending mechanical, biological and chemical destruction, all with the aim of reducing allergic disorders of our fellow citizens.
Not exceeding the budget and thanks to the rational implementation, the City of Pančevo has achieved:
- The most modern laboratory equipped to capture pollen, owned by the City of Pančevo, and installed in the Institute "Tamiš" Pančevo, whose employees completed adequate training on how to use the equipment properly.
- A new, multifunctional "Mercedes" vehicle, also owned by the City of Pančevo and which will be used to control ragweed. The vehicle is equipped with four-wheel drive and has an enormous off-road capability. Therefore, each area covered with ragweed can be treated. The vehicle offers the possibility to install other accessories, so PUC "Higijena" will find the vehicle highly profitable (snow clearing, mowing, etc.).
- PUC "Higijena" Pančevo, was given ten mowers "Viking" and ten trimmers "Stihl" by the City of Pančevo, the owner of PUC "Higijena".
- Several free educational workshops were held for citizenship, high school students, especially teachers, ecology experts and environmental companies. The workshop was led by professors from the Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, who informed the participants about the danger posed by ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and its pollen. Among the workshop participants were teachers and professors of biology, PUC "Zelenilo" Pančevo, PUC "Higijena" Pančevo, Institute "Tamiš" Pančevo, Pančevo Health Centre, Institute of Public Health of Pančevo, the Inspection Department, the Secretariat of Environmental Protection and members of environmental associations and nongovernmental organizations in the City of Pančevo with ecology as their main activity.
- Ambrosia artemisifolia mapping training for 14 trainees was organized by the Faculty of Sciences - University of Novi Sad.
- Training for four members of project teams that will work in laboratories was organized by the Faculty of Sciences - University of Novi Sad, Department of Biology and Ecology, Laboratory for palynology, from 19 to September 23, 2011.
- The locations where ragweed control should be enhanced were precisely mapped.
