Protected areas in the function of biodiversity conservation in the State Enterprise for Forest Management Srbijašume, Belgrade [Serbia] | Zaštićena prirodna dobra u funkciji očuvanja biodiverziteta u Javnom preduzeću Srbijašume, Beograd [Srbija]

Biological diversity in Serbia is characterized by a great genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. In the aim of the preservation of special natural values and the enhancement of their state, some parts or the ecosystems, as well as the species, are designated as protected areas. Protected areas (based on the Law of Nature Protection, 2009) include: protected areas, protected species, and protected movable natural documents. Protected areas are designated by the Act of the authorized body, based on the nomination (professional-documentation base) by the Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia. At present, different forms of protection in Serbia encompass 482 protected areas, covering 542,805 ha or 6.14% of Serbia's territory (5 National Parks, 14 Nature Parks, 18 Landscapes of Exceptional Features, 74 Nature Reserves, 329 Monuments of Nature and 42 Natural areas surrounding the cultural monuments). The State Enterprise for Forest Management Srbijašume, Belgrade (Serbia) is entrusted with 95 protected areas, covering the area of 216,773.28 ha, which is 40% of the total protected areas in Serbia. Management of the protected areas is a part of environmental management, which is becoming a mandatory condition of the sustainable use of natural resources and requires a professional approach in the implementation of protection and development of each protected area. Conservation, protection and enhancement of natural values are the components of the strategy and some of the key goals of business policy of SE Srbijašume. The State Enterprise for Forest Management Srbijašume Belgrade is the leading enterprise in the management of forests, hunting grounds, and protected areas. Based on the Acts of the Republic of Serbia Government (Decree on Protection), SE Srbijašume is the manager of eleven protected areas: Nature Park Stara Planina, the largest protected area in Serbia (114,332.00 ha); Nature Park Golija, the first and the only Reserve of Biosphere in Serbia Golija-Studenica (75,183.00 ha); Nature Park Sićevačka Klisura (7,746.00 ha); Special Nature Reserve Jelašnička Klisura (115.72 ha); Monument of Nature Lazarev Kanjon (1,755.00 ha); Landscape of Exceptional Features Lepterija-Sokograd (345.33 ha); General Nature Reserve Vinatovača (37.43 ha); General Nature Reserve Bukovo (10.42 ha); General Nature Reserve Danilova Kosa (6.73 ha); General Nature Reserve Prokop (5.91 ha) and Monument of Nature Klokočevac (0.64ha). Two protected areas are entrusted to SE Srbijašume by Belgrade City: Landscape of Exceptional Features Kosmaj (3,514.50 ha) and Landscape of Exceptional Features Avala (489.13 ha). Spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia (1996) prescribes the basic goals of protection. It is expected that the percentage of protected areas in the Republic of Serbia will reach 10 % of the territory till the year 2010. National strategy of sustainable development (2007) defines the following national priorities: protection, conservation and development of biodiversity in Serbia, increase in the protected areas up to 10%, extension of the network of protected areas, establishment of ecological corridors and network of ecologically significant areas. Spatial Development Strategy of the Republic of Serbia 2009-2013-2020 (2009) foresees the increase in the protected areas to minimum 12% of Serbia's territory till 2012.