GOVERNMENT of REBPULIC of SERBIA

1. Short overview of the legal framework of protected sites and status of existing ecological networks in Serbia

2. Status of the legal framework of protected sites GOVERNMENT of REBPULIC of SERBIA AP VOJVODINA LOCAL AUTHORITIES MINISTRY of ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND SPATIAL PLANNING AGENCY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FUND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION of SERBIA Regional INSTITUTE FOR NATURE CONSERVATION of SERBIA MANAGEMENT OF PROTECTED AREA PUBLIC AND EXPERT INTEREST

3. Existing legislation: • The Law on Environmental Protection • The Law on Environmental Impact Assessment according to the EU Directive • The Law on Strategic Environmental Assessment according to the EU Directive • The Forest Policy Act On May 11th 2009 the Serbian parliament adopted the new Law on nature protection (LNP) which is harmonized with the EU legislation The following bylaws will be developed and adopted by the end of 2009: • Regulation determining the ecological network and its management (Article # 38 LNP) • Regulation on criteria, method of audit and the procedure of reimbursement in the use ofa protected area (Article #70 LNP) • Bylaw that determines with more detail the criteria for habitat types, different conservation categories and methods of protection for habitat types (Article #16 LNP) • Bylaw on criteria and indicators for the proclamation of protected areas (Article #28 LNP) • Bylaw on the content and method of record keeping for protected areas (Article #50 LNP) • Bylaw on conditions for the management, in view of professional, staff and organizational capabilities for the protection, improvement, promotion and sustainable development of protected areas (Article #67 LNP) • Bylaw on the identification document of the park officials (Article #110 LNP)

4. Protected Natural Assets of Serbia Total area of Serbia 8 836 100 ha Protected area 518 229 ha (5,8%) 5national parks (158 986 ha) 16nature parks (213 303 ha) 17landscapes (45 995 ha) 73nature reserves (89 179 ha) 42cultural-historic areas (2 507 ha) 309 natural monuments (8 169 ha) 462 - total number of protected areas 215 strictly protected plant species 428 strictly protected animal species

5. Short overview of the status of ongoing and planned cross-border projects in Serbia and identification of future priorities

6. Republic of Serbia in the frameof European Green Belt Within the European Green Belt there are 12 protected areas in Serbia • Development of a Joint Geographic Database as Expert Basis for Protection and Development of the European Green Belt (2004-2005) • Integration of Local Communities and Nature Protection within the European Green Belt Initiative (2005-2007)

7. Special Nature Reserve „Gornje Podunavlje” • characteristic basic habitat types have been defined in compliance with the EUNIS Classification • habitat mapping has been done as well as conceiving of the current status • assessments and trends of the habitat endangerment • regulating of active protection measures and space utilization structure with the aim of quality management and habitat improving

8. Development of Ecological Network for the Sava River • Integrated Transboundary River Basin Management Plan for the Sava River (2004-2005) • Ecological Network for the Sava River – 8 significant areas (2005-2006) • The Sava River Floodplain Biodiversity Conservation (2006-2009)

9. EMERALD Ecological Network • establishment of the Emerald Network in Serbia - based on the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Berne Convention) • 61potential Emerald areas in the Republic of Serbia • representing11.48%(1014286.87 ha) from total area ofRepublic of Serbia(8 836 100 ha) • most of the selected areas already have protection status at national and international level

10. Developement of a Carpathian Ecological Network Project Objective: Provide support to the implementation of theCarpathian Conventionthrough the development and implementation ofa coherenttransboundary ecological network aspart of sustainable development of theCarpathians. (www.carpates.org/cbis_ec.html)

11. Pan-European Ecological Network in South Eastern Europe (PEEN – SEE project) Contours of the PEEN – SEE which identifies core nature areas of European importance, existing corridors between these areas and new corridors that could and should be established to meet the connectivity requirements of key species .

12. Dinaric Arc Initiative(DAI) • accepted by Ministry of Environmental Protection (Serbia) at the 9THConference of the Parties to the CBD (COP 9) • the goal: recognize achievements of governments of Dinaric Arc countries in building a viable and representative protected areas network and provide a platform for future engagement of donors in fulfilling national commitments towards implementation of the CBD.

13. Future priorities • Capacity building of institutions and organizations for development and management of the designated sites (NATURA2000 Twinning Project starting in September) • Finalizing the selection of sites and proposing sites for Natura2000 • Development of a guide for application of Emerald/Natura2000 • Programming future funding framework for Natura2000 Network • Establishment/Improvement of monitoring and hunting management • Improving communication between international, national and local authorities and relevant groups, including the publication of informative material for Emerald/Natura2000 and explaining their purpose/objectives • Developing a model for local community involvement in managing protected areas/ community based planning

14. Thank you for your attention! • Predrag Lazarević – Institute for nature protection (lazarevic@zzps.rs) • Pavle Jovanović – Ministry of environment and spatial planning (pavle.jovanovic@ekoplan.gov.rs)