Strictly protected and protected wild species

Strictly protected wild species

The Rulebook on the proclamation and protection of strictly protected and protected wild species of plants, animals and fungi includes 2633 wild species. With the aim of conserving biodiversity and natural gene pool, that is, species of special importance for the Republic of Serbia from ecological, ecosystem, biogeographical, scientific, health, economic and other aspects, the Rulebook also defines measures for the protection of strictly protected and protected species and their habitats. Strictly protected and protected wild species, collectively referred to as protected species, are determined on the basis of national and international Red lists or Red books, the ratified international treaties, expert findings and/or scientific knowledge.

Appendix I to this Rulebook lists strictly protected wild species of plants, animals and fungi. These are the species that are extinct from the territory of the Republic of Serbia, species returned to the habitats by means of reintroduction programs, critically endangered, endangered, relict, locally endemic, stenoendemic and internationally important and protected wild species.

The protection of these species is enforced by prohibiting the use, destruction and all activities that might endanger both the wild species themselves and their habitats, as well as by taking measures and activities on population management.

However, according to the license (permit) issued by the ministry responsible for nature conservation strictly protected wild species may be used for research and education, repopulation, reintroduction, breeding in in-situ and ex-situ conditions, as well as for the purpose of preventing serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fish ponds, water and other forms of property. In order to protect public health and public safety, under strictly controlled conditions and to a limited extent, the taking or retention of certain individual specimen in limited quantities is permitted.

The number of strictly protected wild species is 1783, of which as many as 1042 are animal species, with the most numerous invertebrates. Among the strictly protected species are 50 species of mammals, 307 species of birds, 18 species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles, 38 species of fish and 610 invertebrates. In addition, 75 species of fungi and lichens, 641 plant species (moss, ferns and seed plants) and 25 algae species are strictly protected.

Appendix I – The number of strictly protected wild species according to the groups

Protected wild species

Appendix II to the Rulebook on the proclamation and protection of strictly protected and protected wild species of plants, animals and fungi lists protected wild species that are not currently endangered in nature to the extent that they are threatened with extinction or critical endangerment. These are vulnerable, endemic, indicator, key and umbrella species, relict, internationally important and protected wild species, as well as species that are not endangered but due to their appearance may easily be mistaken for strictly protected species. Among these species are wild species of economic importance that may be collected on the basis of a license (permit) issued by the ministry responsible for the environment, which could be endangered by the uncontrolled exploitation or destruction of their habitats.

The conservation of protected wild species is conducted in the similar way as the conservation of strictly protected wild species, that is, by the prohibition of their destruction and activities that might harm the species and their habitats, as well as by undertaking measures and activities on the population management. The difference is that there is a possibility of limited use of certain wild species for the purpose of their processing, trade, transboundary movement, as well as for plantation and farm breeding.

A total of 860 wild plant, animal and fungal species are protected species, of which 253 are animal species (30 mammal species, 35 bird species, 2 reptile species, 3 amphibian species, 29 fish species and 154 invertebrate species), 37 fungal species and lichens and 570 species of plants.