General information on protected areas
Management of protected areas, especially under the current circumstances of evident climate change impacts, has become a challenge for nature conservation and other sectors, including PE “Vojvodinašume”. Since 65% of the areas managed by the Company are under some level of protection, which makes PE “Vojvodinašume” the largest manager of protected areas in AP Vojvodina, the management of protected areas represents one of the key elements of the Company’s business policy.
By promoting sustainability, biodiversity conservation, conflict resolution, increasing benefits for society as a whole, planning, and managing protected areas under its jurisdiction, PE “Vojvodinašume” covers a wide range of economic, legal, administrative, and professional aspects. Protected area management is adapted to local and regional conditions, and above all, based on a multifunctional and long-term perspective.
On the territory entrusted to PE “Vojvodinašume” for management, there are a total of 35 protected areas with a total surface of 88,211.88 ha (67.9%). PE “Vojvodinašume” is the manager of 16 protected areas with a total area of 70,686.59 ha (54.4%), and the user of 19 protected areas covering 16,392.37 ha (12.6%).
A total of 4,132.56 ha (3.2%) of the forested and non-forested land of PE “Vojvodinašume” is under a strict protection regime. PE “Vojvodinašume” manages 5 Special Nature Reserves, 2 Natural Monuments, and 9 protected areas designated under earlier legislation between 1945 and 1991 (7 Strict Nature Reserves and 2 Natural Monuments
Overview of Protected Areas Managed by PE “Vojvodinašume”
| No. | Name of Protected Area | Year | Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Revision/Amendments | (ha) | ||
| 1 | Forest Estate “Novi Sad” | |||
| 1 | Special Nature Reserve “Kovilj–Petrovaradin Marsh” | 1998 | 2011 | 5.895,00 |
| 2 | Special Nature Reserve “Bagremara” | 2007 | 117,58 | |
| Subtotal 1+2 | 6.012,58 | |||
| 2 | Forest Estate “Sombor” | |||
| 3 | Special Nature Reserve “Gornje Podunavlje” | 2001 | 2008. and 2009. | 19.605,00 |
| 4 | Natural Monument “Junaković Forest” | 2005 | 180,05 | |
| Subtotal 3+4 | 19.785,05 | |||
| 3 | Forest Estate “Banat” Pančevo | |||
| 5 | Special Nature Reserve “Deliblato Sands” | 2002 | 34.829,32 | |
| 6 | Natural Monument “Ivanovačka Ada” | 2009 | 6,07 | |
| Subtotal 5+6 | 34.835,39 | |||
| 4 | Forest Estate “Sremska Mitrovica” | |||
| 7 | Special Nature Reserve “Obedska Bara” | 1994 | 9.820,00 | |
| Subtotal 7 | 9.820,00 | |||
| TOTAL 1-7 | 70.453,02 | |||
Overview of Protected Areas Managed by PE “Vojvodinašume” Established in the Period 1945–1991
| No. | Name of Protected Area | Year of Establishment | Area (ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Estate “Novi Sad” | ||
| 1 | Strict Nature Reserve “Mačkov Sprud” | 1974 | 4,97 |
| Subtotal 1 | 4,97 | ||
| 2 | Forest Estate “Sremska Mitrovica” | ||
| 2 | Strict Nature Reserve “Stara Vratična” | 1955 | 10,52 |
| 3 | Strict Nature Reserve “Varoš” | 1978 | 38,83 |
| 4 | Strict Nature Reserve “Rađenovci” | 1955 | 86,83 |
| 5 | Strict Nature Reserve “Majzecova Bašta” | 1955 | 26,91 |
| 6 | Strict Nature Reserve “Vinična” | 1955 | 26,68 |
| 7 | Natural Monument “Smogva” | 1978 | 4,30 |
| 8 | Natural Monument “Black Poplar Tree” | 1978 | 0,00 |
| 9 | Strict Nature Reserve “Raškovica” | 1955 | 34,53 |
| Subtotal 2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9 | 228,60 | ||
| TOTAL 1-9 | 233,57 | ||
Overview of Protected Areas Managed by PE Vojvodinašume
| No. | Name of Protected Area | Year of Establishment | Area (ha) – PE “Vojvodinašume” | Total Area of Protected Area (ha) | Manager of Protected Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forest Estate “Novi Sad” | ||||
| 1 | Protected Landscape “Tikvara” | 1997. (2015.) | 441,77 | 554,52 | PE “SRC Tikvara”, Bačka Palanka |
| 2 | Protected Landscape “Begečka Jama” | 1999. (2022.) | 301,14 | 489,50 | PWMC “Vojvodina Vode”, Novi Sad |
| 3 | Special Nature Reserve “Lower Tisa River Floodplains”* | 2014 | 778,71 | Public Institution “Nature Reserves”, Zrenjanin | |
| 4 | Special Nature Reserve “Titel Hill” | 2012 | 350,15 | 496,00 | PE “Titel Hill”, Titel |
| 5 | Protected Landscape “Polojske Forests” | 2020 | 672,98 | 2.064,88 | Not appointed |
| Subtotal 1-5 | 2.544,75 | 3.604,90 | |||
| 2 | Forest Estate “Sombor” | ||||
| 1 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Subotica Forests” | 2003 | 3.908,77 | 5.369,90 | PE “Palić-Ludaš”, Subotica |
| 2 | Special Nature Reserve “Selevenjske pustare ” | 1997 | 74,36 | 677,04 | PE “Palić-Ludaš”, Subotica |
| 3 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Gornja Mostonga” | n/a | 10,79 | 3.650,14 | Not appointed |
| 4 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Srednja Mostonga” | n/a | 760,98 | 3.130,66 | Not appointed |
| 5 | Protected Landscape “Mrtvaje gornjeg Potisja” | n/a | 22,05 | 305,33 | Not appointed |
| 6 | Protected Landscape “Kamaraš” | 2005 | 0,53 | 267,96 | “Horgoš-consult” Ltd., Horgoš |
| 7 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Kompleks PTK Panonija” | 2003 | 79,56 | 3.973,00 | DP PTK “Panonija”, Duboka |
| 8 | Protected Landscape “Donja Mostonga” | 2022 | 3.190,19 | Not appointed | |
| Subtotal 1-8 | 4.857,04 | 20.564,22 | |||
| 3 | Forest Estate “Banat” Pančevo | ||||
| 1 | Special Nature Reserve “Stari Begej-Carska bara” | 1994 | 412,10 | 4.726,07 | JU “Rezervati prirode” Zrenjanin |
| 2 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Vršačke planine” | 2005. (2019.) | 3.638,06 | 5.328,86 | PUC “2. Oktobar”, Vršac |
| 3 | Natural Monument “Straža” | 2006 | 13,89 | 67,60 | PUC “2. Oktobar”, Vršac |
| 4 | Special Nature Reserve “Lower Tisa River Floodplains” | 2014 | 922,18 | 3.010,67 | Public Institution “Rezervati prirode” Zrenjanin |
| 5 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Karaš-Nera” | 2015 | 9,83 | 1.541,27 | PUC “Belocrkvanski komunalac” |
| 6 | Landscape of Outstanding Features “Potamišje” | n/a | 3.841,81 | 23.989,79 | Not appointed |
| 7 | Natural Monument “Park dvorca Jagodić” | 2015 | 7,80 | 9,00 | Radmila Jovanović from Stari Lec |
| Subtotal 1-7 | 8.845,67 | 38.673,26 | |||
| 4 | Forest Estate “Sremska Mitrovica” | ||||
| 1 | Special Nature “Zasavica” | 1997. (2019.) | 144,91 | 1.825,00 | “Pokret Gorana” Sremska Mitrovica |
| Subtotal 1 | 144,91 | 1.825,00 | |||
| TOTAL 1-20 | 16.392,37 | 64.667,38 | |||
Management of Protected Areas
Protected areas have been assigned to PE “Vojvodinašume” for management on the basis of acts adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia (decrees on area protection) and by the municipal assemblies within whose territory the protected areas are located (decisions on area protection).
Based on the requirements and needs arising from the functions of protected area management, it can be said that PE “Vojvodinašume” promotes two levels of management: the level of strategic management at the Company Directorate, and the level of direct management of protected areas at the level of the Company’s branches.
In accordance with the Law on Nature Protection (Official Gazette of RS, Nos. 36/2009, 88/2010, 91/2010 – correction, 14/2016, 95/2018 – other law, and 71/2021) and the Rulebook on the Requirements to be Fulfilled by the Manager of Protected Areas (Official Gazette of RS, No. 85/2009), within PE “Vojvodinašume” the responsibility for managing these areas lies with the Service for Protection, Improvement, Promotion and Sustainable Development of Protected Areas, consisting of individual positions within different organizational levels of the Company.
PE “Vojvodinašume” implements measures of protection, use, and development of protected areas through its company branches – Forest Estates and Forest Administrations.
In terms of staffing structure, PE “Vojvodinašume” employs 56 staff members in the field of protected area management. The complex task of managing protected areas is carried out by 1 expert associate at the level of the Company Directorate, 5 independent officers in the Directorate and Company branches, 7 officers in Forest Administrations, while the safeguarding of natural values is entrusted to 26 wardens of protected areas.
The concept of protected area management in PE “Vojvodinašume” is defined through three levels of protection regimes which combine: a passive approach within the first level of protection, integrated developmental protection within the second level of protection, and differentiated targeted protection (an optimal compromise between protection and development) within the third level of protection.
In recent years, in cooperation with other relevant institutions – above all, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Provincial Secretariat for Urbanism and Environmental Protection, and the Provincial Institute for Nature Conservation – numerous projects have been implemented in protected areas. These projects have significantly improved both their condition and the fundamental values and indicators for which these areas were designated. Daily communication with the mentioned institutions and organizations has contributed to the fast and efficient resolution of current issues. It is also important to note the continuous cooperation with civil society organizations, among which stand out Young Researchers of Serbia, Vojvodina Environmental Movement (Pokret gorana Vojvodine), WWF, and the Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia, among others.
For the management of protected areas, PE “Vojvodinašume” has so far been allocated symbolic budgetary funds (both from the Republic and the Province). The relative share of budgetary, own, and other sources of funding for nature protection and protected areas within PE “Vojvodinašume” is 10% : 85% : 5%.
Own funds for protected area management have been provided at the expense of the Company’s core activities. Naturally, this refers only to the basic functioning of the management system and the minimal implementation of active protection measures.
Funding Sources for Protected Areas of PE “Vojvodinašume”
Promotion, Education and Interpretation in Protected Areas and Communication with the Public
Availability of information, communication, raising awareness and public understanding have become important elements in the management of protected areas of PE “Vojvodinašume”. The role of the public in nature protection is multifaceted, and the requirement for its participation and access to information is one of the fundamental elements of numerous international legal documents. The public plays a significant role in monitoring activities in protected areas and their impacts on nature.
The most commonly used communication methods towards all visitors and users of protected areas managed by the Company include promotional materials (brochures and pamphlets), the organization of workshops and working groups, participation in conferences and fairs, the celebration of important dates, the implementation of various programs and initiatives, as well as other different events. Within its publishing activity, in addition to monographs, a series of children’s publications has also been printed, intended for educating younger age groups of children in the field of environmental and nature protection.
Nevertheless, the Company strives to bring protected areas closer to their visitors through an appropriate offer. This offer does not include large visitor centers, but rather the acquisition of experiences through direct encounters by visiting the areas themselves – along walking and educational trails, by boat, canoe or catamaran rides, and other similar activities.
