Nature conservation in Serbia
The nature of Serbia is characterized by a high diversity of flora and fauna, and is a significant part of the richness and diversity of Europe's natural heritage. Its most representative and most conserved parts are placed under legal protection.
The beginnings of legal protection of nature in Serbia go back to the distant past, and the first regulations to protect nature and conserve natural resources date back to the fourteenth century (Tzar Dushan's Code). The first area that was protected on the territory of present-day Serbia was Obedska pond (Obedska bara), which was protected in 1874. The first protected natural resources in Serbia were forest reserves Ostrozub, Mustafa and Felješana in the vicinity of Majdanpek, as well as waterfall "Velika i Mala Ripaljka" in the vicinity of Sokobanja, which was protected in 1949. Fruška Gora National Park, designated in 1960, was the first national park in Serbia.
Due to the implementation of institutional nature conservation measures in the period of over seven decades, the total protected area in Serbia currently stands at 677.950 ha, or 7.66% of the territory of Serbia.
There are 469 protected areas: 5 national parks, 18 nature parks, 21 outstanding natural landscapes, 69 nature reserves, 6 protected habitats, 314 monuments of nature, 36 sites of cultural and historical importance, which are protected according to the former Law on the Protection of Environment and the Law on the Protection of Cultural Monuments. In addition, there are 1783 strictly protected wild species and 860 protected wild species of plants, animals and fungi.
The beginnings of legal protection of nature in Serbia go back to the distant past, and the first regulations to protect nature and conserve natural resources date back to the fourteenth century (Tzar Dushan's Code). The first area that was protected on the territory of present-day Serbia was Obedska pond (Obedska bara), which was protected in 1874. The first protected natural resources in Serbia were forest reserves Ostrozub, Mustafa and Felješana in the vicinity of Majdanpek, as well as waterfall "Velika i Mala Ripaljka" in the vicinity of Sokobanja, which was protected in 1949. Fruška Gora National Park, designated in 1960, was the first national park in Serbia.
Due to the implementation of institutional nature conservation measures in the period of over seven decades, the total protected area in Serbia currently stands at 677.950 ha, or 7.66% of the territory of Serbia.
There are 469 protected areas: 5 national parks, 18 nature parks, 21 outstanding natural landscapes, 69 nature reserves, 6 protected habitats, 314 monuments of nature, 36 sites of cultural and historical importance, which are protected according to the former Law on the Protection of Environment and the Law on the Protection of Cultural Monuments. In addition, there are 1783 strictly protected wild species and 860 protected wild species of plants, animals and fungi.
469
Protected areas
677950ha
Total protected area
7.66%
of the territory of the Republic of Serbia
1783
Strictly protected wild species
860
Protected wild species
MAIN FACTS ABOUT NATURE CONSERVATION
The Law on Nature Conservation (Official Gazette of RS, No. 36/2009, 88/2010, 91/2010, 14/2016 and 95/2018 - another law) regulates the protection and conservation of nature, biological, geological and landscape diversity as part of the environment.
Nature conservation pertains to a series of measures and activities aimed at protecting the natural ecosystems to the greatest extent possible from the most commonly negative human impact caused by social development that is inconsistent with the available natural resources.
The implementation of nature conservation refers to the following:
• identification and assessment of the state, phenomena and processes in nature and landscape
• designation and determination of protected natural resources and systems for monitoring their protection
• implementation of nature and landscape protection measures
• defining conditions and measures on the conservation of nature, protected natural resources and landscapes within spatial and urban plans, project documentation, basic documents and programs of natural resources management in the field of mining, energy, transport, water management, agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, tourism and other fields with impacts on nature
• sustainable use of natural resources and protected natural resources and control of their use through the establishment of the system of natural resource and protected natural resources management
• drafting reports on the state of nature, adoption and implementation of strategies, programs, action and remediation plans and management plans
• mitigating the adverse effects resulting from activities in nature, as the result of use of natural resources or the result of natural disasters
• linking and harmonizing the national nature conservation system with the international system of nature conservation
• encouraging scientific and professional engagement in the field of nature conservation
• informing the public about the state of nature and public participation in nature conservation decision-making
• encouraging and promoting nature conservation, raising awareness of the need for nature conservation within the educational process
• involving local communities in monitoring of the state, protection and improvements in nature.
PROTECTED NATURAL RESOURCES
Protected areas, protected species and movable protected natural specimen are defined by law as protected natural resources, which are entered in the Register of protected natural resources.
Protected areas are the areas with distinctive geological, biological, ecosystem and / or landscape diversity and are therefore designated as protected areas of general interest by a legal act on conservation. In addition to the above stated values, legislation also defines habitats of bird species and other migratory species, which are important according to the international regulations and can be designated as protected areas of general interest. Valuation, i.e. determination of the value and importance of protected area according to the Rulebook on the Criteria for Valuation and Procedure for Categorization of Protected Areas ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 97/15), is performed in relation to the degree of distinctiveness of the main natural features, phenomena and processes of interest for protection of the area, as well as for the functions and purposes of the area. Accordingly, protected areas fall into three categories: areas of exceptional (international, national), major (provincial / regional) and local importance.
Protected areas are classified into seven categories, namely: a strict nature reserve, a special nature reserve, a national park, a monument of nature, a protected habitat, an outstanding natural landscape and a nature park.
An overview of the protected area categories - The Law on Nature Conservation (Official Gazette of the RS, No. 36/2009, 88/2010, 91/2010, 14/2016 and 95/2018 - another law)
Protected species are protected as strictly protected wild species or protected wild species. Protected species are wild species that are endangered or may become endangered, and are of particular importance from the genetic, ecological, ecosystem, scientific, health, economic and other aspects. Their characteristics are shown in the following table.
An overview of the protected wild species categories Protected species are protected as strictly protected wild species or protected wild species. Protected species are wild species that are endangered or may become endangered, and are of particular importance from the genetic, ecological, ecosystem, scientific, health, economic and other aspects. Their characteristics are shown in the following table.
An overview of the protected wild species categories.
Movable protected natural specimens represent parts of geological and paleontological heritage, as well as biological specimen of exceptional scientific, educational and cultural importance
An overview of the movable protected natural specimen categories
The Law on Nature Conservation (Official Gazette of RS, No. 36/2009, 88/2010, 91/2010, 14/2016 and 95/2018 - another law) regulates the protection and conservation of nature, biological, geological and landscape diversity as part of the environment.
Nature conservation pertains to a series of measures and activities aimed at protecting the natural ecosystems to the greatest extent possible from the most commonly negative human impact caused by social development that is inconsistent with the available natural resources.
The implementation of nature conservation refers to the following:
• identification and assessment of the state, phenomena and processes in nature and landscape
• designation and determination of protected natural resources and systems for monitoring their protection
• implementation of nature and landscape protection measures
• defining conditions and measures on the conservation of nature, protected natural resources and landscapes within spatial and urban plans, project documentation, basic documents and programs of natural resources management in the field of mining, energy, transport, water management, agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, tourism and other fields with impacts on nature
• sustainable use of natural resources and protected natural resources and control of their use through the establishment of the system of natural resource and protected natural resources management
• drafting reports on the state of nature, adoption and implementation of strategies, programs, action and remediation plans and management plans
• mitigating the adverse effects resulting from activities in nature, as the result of use of natural resources or the result of natural disasters
• linking and harmonizing the national nature conservation system with the international system of nature conservation
• encouraging scientific and professional engagement in the field of nature conservation
• informing the public about the state of nature and public participation in nature conservation decision-making
• encouraging and promoting nature conservation, raising awareness of the need for nature conservation within the educational process
• involving local communities in monitoring of the state, protection and improvements in nature.
PROTECTED NATURAL RESOURCES
Protected areas, protected species and movable protected natural specimen are defined by law as protected natural resources, which are entered in the Register of protected natural resources.
Protected areas are the areas with distinctive geological, biological, ecosystem and / or landscape diversity and are therefore designated as protected areas of general interest by a legal act on conservation. In addition to the above stated values, legislation also defines habitats of bird species and other migratory species, which are important according to the international regulations and can be designated as protected areas of general interest. Valuation, i.e. determination of the value and importance of protected area according to the Rulebook on the Criteria for Valuation and Procedure for Categorization of Protected Areas ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 97/15), is performed in relation to the degree of distinctiveness of the main natural features, phenomena and processes of interest for protection of the area, as well as for the functions and purposes of the area. Accordingly, protected areas fall into three categories: areas of exceptional (international, national), major (provincial / regional) and local importance.
Protected areas are classified into seven categories, namely: a strict nature reserve, a special nature reserve, a national park, a monument of nature, a protected habitat, an outstanding natural landscape and a nature park.
An overview of the protected area categories - The Law on Nature Conservation (Official Gazette of the RS, No. 36/2009, 88/2010, 91/2010, 14/2016 and 95/2018 - another law)
Protected species are protected as strictly protected wild species or protected wild species. Protected species are wild species that are endangered or may become endangered, and are of particular importance from the genetic, ecological, ecosystem, scientific, health, economic and other aspects. Their characteristics are shown in the following table. An overview of the protected wild species categories Protected species are protected as strictly protected wild species or protected wild species. Protected species are wild species that are endangered or may become endangered, and are of particular importance from the genetic, ecological, ecosystem, scientific, health, economic and other aspects. Their characteristics are shown in the following table.
An overview of the protected wild species categories.
Movable protected natural specimens represent parts of geological and paleontological heritage, as well as biological specimen of exceptional scientific, educational and cultural importanceAn overview of the movable protected natural specimen categories
