NAME AND TYPE OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREA
National Park "Tara"
NATIONAL CATEGORY
Protection category I – protected area of international, national, that is, exceptional importance
AREA
The total area of NP "Tara" is 24.991,82 ha, of which 13.588,51 hа are state-owned, whereas 11.403,36 hа are in private possesion and other forms of possession.
PROTECTION REGIMES
Protection degree I (13,35% of the total area)
Protection degree II (34,07% of the total area)
Protection degree III (52,58% of the total area)
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
National Park "Tara" is located in the far west of the Republic of Serbia. It covers the area bounded by the elbow-shaped stream of the Drina River, between Višegrad and Bajina Bašta, consisting of the mountain massifs Zvezda, Crni vrh and Ravna Tara. To the east, the area is separated by the Solotuška River and the Ponikve Plateau, and to the south by the Kremna and Mokra gora basins.
The area of National Park "Tara" is on the territory of Bajina Bašta Municipality.
LEGAL PROTECTION IN THE PAST
Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of RS, No. 39/1993, 44/1993-correction, 53/1993, 67/1993, 48/1994, 101/2005 and 36/2009)
LEGAL ACT ON PROTECTION
Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of RS, No. 84/2015 and 95/2018 - another law)
MANAGING ENTITY
PE "National Park Tara"
SHORT DESCRIPTION (THE MAIN NATURAL AND CREATED VALUES)
As one of the last branches of the inland Dinarides, Tara Mountain is located in the far west of Serbia, in the elbow-shaped meander of the Drina River. It was first designated as a national park in 1981. Tara represents a significantly shortened mountainous area of 1000-1200 m of height, from where sparse peaks rise up to a height of 1400-1600 m. The area is divided by deep-cut river valleys shaped like gorges and canyons. The most striking among them is the canyon valley of the Drina river with its powerful limestone sections over 1000 m high. The entire Tara area with wild canyons is a system of diverse and often contrasting landscapes, ranging from those resembling boreal taiga with mires, through typical areas of central European deciduous forests, to landscapes that are a reminiscent of Mediterranean limestone or serpentinitic rocky grounds and cliffs.
In addition to the Drina canyons, the canyons of the rivers Rača, Brusnica and Derventa are distinguished in the Tara area by their wild beauty with steep rocky sides up to 700 m high. Exceptionally attractive here are the waterfalls Mali and Veliki skakavac on the Rzav river, as well as the highly elevated viewpoints Kićak, Smiljevac, Bilješke stene, Kozje stene, Vitmirovac and Kozji rid.
Not only the deep and wild gorges and canyons are a symbol of Tara Mountain, but also the dense, autochthonous coniferous forests that make Tara the most afforested mountain in Serbia and Europe. In more than 1000 plant species, the most valuable are approximately 20 endemic species: Centaurea derventata, Aquilegia grata subsp. nikolicii, Stachys anisochila, Euphorbia subhastata, Cicerbita pancicii, Silene monachorum, Potentilla mollis, Pancicia serbica. However, the most prominent of all endemic species of Europe is Serbian spruce (Picea omorika). This natural rarity was discovered, exactly on Tara, by a famous Serbian botanist Josif Pančić, after whom it was named. Serbian spruce is a Tertiary relic and a Balkan endemic species that survived the great Ice Age in very limited habitats of refugial type in the middle stream of the Drina river: on Tara Mountain, in the Mileševka river canyon and in part of western Bosnia.
The Tara vegetation is built by 35 forest and nine meadow communities. Specific mosaic of the Tara ecosystems consists of representative communities of mixed spruce, fir and beech (Piceeto-Abieto-Fagetum) forests, Serbian spruce (Piceetum omorikae) forests, Scots pine and European black pine forests on serpentinites (Pinetum nigrae-sylvestris), hop-hornbeam and European black pine forests (Ostryo-Pinetum nigrae) on the steep slopes and cliffs of the Drina and Derventa canyons, rocky grounds communities with numerous Balkan endemics, boreal-type mire communities, and diverse, lavish meadow communities.
In the preserved ecosystems of Tara there is a rich fauna of predominantly Central European, boreal and southern European mountain distribution type. The Tara fauna symbol is the relict Pančić's grasshopper Pyrgomorphulla serbica, a local endemic species to which Tara is the only home on a global scale. In the clear waters of the Drina river and cold mountain rivers, representative specimens of the huchen (Hucho hucho) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus) live. There are about 130 bird species in the surrounding ecosystems. The most frequent species here are black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia), Ural owl (Strix uralensis), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus), European serin (Serinus serinus), red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) and other species.
Of mammals, the most common here are: brown bear (Ursus arctos), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wildcat (Felis silvestris), European pine marten (Martes martes) and otter (Lutra lutra), a host of Perućac and Zaovine lakes shores.
Zaovine is known as the site where, in 1875, Josif Pančić discovered Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), a living fossil of the flora. In addition to Serbian spruce, another 600 plant species have been recorded here. The area is dominated by lush forest vegetation, which is built by mixed forests of European spruce (Picea abies), Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), silver fir (Abies alba), common beech (Fagus sylvatica), black pine (Pinus nigra), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and many other broadleaved trees. There are numerous traces of prehistoric age, ancient, Roman, Byzantine and Serbian culture in this national park. The Rača Monastery and the necropolises with tombstones dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries are valuables of Serbian medieval heritage. Harmonious dinaric-type cottages made of wood and stone, watermills on streams, rural settlements scattered throughout the picturesque area, reflect the traditional folks architecture and a distinguished Tara landscape.
National Park "Tara" was designated in order to conserve the following:
➢ Karst relief (karst valleys, lost rivers and sinkholes), mires etc .
➢ The highest quality forest ecosystems of deciduous, coniferous and mixed communities, in the Balkans and in Europe, which are of exceptional structure, quality and health status of stands; habitats and populations of wild flora, with numerous species of plants of importance at national, regional and European level, and in particular Serbian spruce in its original autochthonous habitat and the places where it was first found and described as a science new species of coniferous tree, as well as species Centaurea derventata
➢ Habitats and populations of wild fauna, especially birds (black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, Ural owl, boreal owl, European serin and willow tit), mammals (brown bear, chamois, wolf, wild boar, wildcat and European pine marten), insects (endemo-relict Pančić's grasshopper) etc.
➢ Picturesque and alluring landscapes with a number of characteristic features conditioned by the state and characteristics of natural factors, the balanced human influence on nature, as well as folks crafts and folks architecture
➢ Rich cultural and historical heritage, primarily of the Rača monastery, the necropolises in Perućac and in Rastište, the Skit of St. George and a number of memorials
➢ An adequate quality of life for people within the national park through the development of social, cultural and economic activities.
National Park "Tara"
NATIONAL CATEGORY
Protection category I – protected area of international, national, that is, exceptional importance
AREA
The total area of NP "Tara" is 24.991,82 ha, of which 13.588,51 hа are state-owned, whereas 11.403,36 hа are in private possesion and other forms of possession.
PROTECTION REGIMES
Protection degree I (13,35% of the total area)
Protection degree II (34,07% of the total area)
Protection degree III (52,58% of the total area)
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION
National Park "Tara" is located in the far west of the Republic of Serbia. It covers the area bounded by the elbow-shaped stream of the Drina River, between Višegrad and Bajina Bašta, consisting of the mountain massifs Zvezda, Crni vrh and Ravna Tara. To the east, the area is separated by the Solotuška River and the Ponikve Plateau, and to the south by the Kremna and Mokra gora basins.
The area of National Park "Tara" is on the territory of Bajina Bašta Municipality.
LEGAL PROTECTION IN THE PAST
Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of RS, No. 39/1993, 44/1993-correction, 53/1993, 67/1993, 48/1994, 101/2005 and 36/2009)
LEGAL ACT ON PROTECTION
Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of RS, No. 84/2015 and 95/2018 - another law)
MANAGING ENTITY
PE "National Park Tara"
SHORT DESCRIPTION (THE MAIN NATURAL AND CREATED VALUES)
As one of the last branches of the inland Dinarides, Tara Mountain is located in the far west of Serbia, in the elbow-shaped meander of the Drina River. It was first designated as a national park in 1981. Tara represents a significantly shortened mountainous area of 1000-1200 m of height, from where sparse peaks rise up to a height of 1400-1600 m. The area is divided by deep-cut river valleys shaped like gorges and canyons. The most striking among them is the canyon valley of the Drina river with its powerful limestone sections over 1000 m high. The entire Tara area with wild canyons is a system of diverse and often contrasting landscapes, ranging from those resembling boreal taiga with mires, through typical areas of central European deciduous forests, to landscapes that are a reminiscent of Mediterranean limestone or serpentinitic rocky grounds and cliffs.
In addition to the Drina canyons, the canyons of the rivers Rača, Brusnica and Derventa are distinguished in the Tara area by their wild beauty with steep rocky sides up to 700 m high. Exceptionally attractive here are the waterfalls Mali and Veliki skakavac on the Rzav river, as well as the highly elevated viewpoints Kićak, Smiljevac, Bilješke stene, Kozje stene, Vitmirovac and Kozji rid.
Not only the deep and wild gorges and canyons are a symbol of Tara Mountain, but also the dense, autochthonous coniferous forests that make Tara the most afforested mountain in Serbia and Europe. In more than 1000 plant species, the most valuable are approximately 20 endemic species: Centaurea derventata, Aquilegia grata subsp. nikolicii, Stachys anisochila, Euphorbia subhastata, Cicerbita pancicii, Silene monachorum, Potentilla mollis, Pancicia serbica. However, the most prominent of all endemic species of Europe is Serbian spruce (Picea omorika). This natural rarity was discovered, exactly on Tara, by a famous Serbian botanist Josif Pančić, after whom it was named. Serbian spruce is a Tertiary relic and a Balkan endemic species that survived the great Ice Age in very limited habitats of refugial type in the middle stream of the Drina river: on Tara Mountain, in the Mileševka river canyon and in part of western Bosnia.
The Tara vegetation is built by 35 forest and nine meadow communities. Specific mosaic of the Tara ecosystems consists of representative communities of mixed spruce, fir and beech (Piceeto-Abieto-Fagetum) forests, Serbian spruce (Piceetum omorikae) forests, Scots pine and European black pine forests on serpentinites (Pinetum nigrae-sylvestris), hop-hornbeam and European black pine forests (Ostryo-Pinetum nigrae) on the steep slopes and cliffs of the Drina and Derventa canyons, rocky grounds communities with numerous Balkan endemics, boreal-type mire communities, and diverse, lavish meadow communities.
In the preserved ecosystems of Tara there is a rich fauna of predominantly Central European, boreal and southern European mountain distribution type. The Tara fauna symbol is the relict Pančić's grasshopper Pyrgomorphulla serbica, a local endemic species to which Tara is the only home on a global scale. In the clear waters of the Drina river and cold mountain rivers, representative specimens of the huchen (Hucho hucho) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus) live. There are about 130 bird species in the surrounding ecosystems. The most frequent species here are black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia), Ural owl (Strix uralensis), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus), European serin (Serinus serinus), red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), spotted nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) and other species.
Of mammals, the most common here are: brown bear (Ursus arctos), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wildcat (Felis silvestris), European pine marten (Martes martes) and otter (Lutra lutra), a host of Perućac and Zaovine lakes shores.
Zaovine is known as the site where, in 1875, Josif Pančić discovered Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), a living fossil of the flora. In addition to Serbian spruce, another 600 plant species have been recorded here. The area is dominated by lush forest vegetation, which is built by mixed forests of European spruce (Picea abies), Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), silver fir (Abies alba), common beech (Fagus sylvatica), black pine (Pinus nigra), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and many other broadleaved trees. There are numerous traces of prehistoric age, ancient, Roman, Byzantine and Serbian culture in this national park. The Rača Monastery and the necropolises with tombstones dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries are valuables of Serbian medieval heritage. Harmonious dinaric-type cottages made of wood and stone, watermills on streams, rural settlements scattered throughout the picturesque area, reflect the traditional folks architecture and a distinguished Tara landscape.
National Park "Tara" was designated in order to conserve the following:
➢ Karst relief (karst valleys, lost rivers and sinkholes), mires etc .
➢ The highest quality forest ecosystems of deciduous, coniferous and mixed communities, in the Balkans and in Europe, which are of exceptional structure, quality and health status of stands; habitats and populations of wild flora, with numerous species of plants of importance at national, regional and European level, and in particular Serbian spruce in its original autochthonous habitat and the places where it was first found and described as a science new species of coniferous tree, as well as species Centaurea derventata
➢ Habitats and populations of wild fauna, especially birds (black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, Ural owl, boreal owl, European serin and willow tit), mammals (brown bear, chamois, wolf, wild boar, wildcat and European pine marten), insects (endemo-relict Pančić's grasshopper) etc.
➢ Picturesque and alluring landscapes with a number of characteristic features conditioned by the state and characteristics of natural factors, the balanced human influence on nature, as well as folks crafts and folks architecture
➢ Rich cultural and historical heritage, primarily of the Rača monastery, the necropolises in Perućac and in Rastište, the Skit of St. George and a number of memorials
➢ An adequate quality of life for people within the national park through the development of social, cultural and economic activities.
