Natural Monument “Junaković Forest”
By the Decision of the Municipal Assembly of Apatin (Official Gazette No. 11 of 03.10.2005), Junaković Forest was placed under protection as a Natural Monument and classified as a natural asset of Category III. The total protected area covers 180.045 ha.
The Natural Monument “Junaković Forest” is located in northwestern Bačka, between the settlements of Apatin and Prigrevica, in the immediate vicinity of the Junaković Spa, to the west of the Apatin–Prigrevica road (5P7).
Junaković Forest is of particular significance due to the preserved old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) trees of natural origin. The forest also serves as a refuge for many animal species, especially strictly protected and protected birds such as the black stork (Ciconia nigra), as well as mammals including the least weasel (Mustela nivalis), stoat (Mustela erminea), badger (Meles meles), and venison species such as wild boar (Sus scrofa), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and hare (Lepus europaeus).
The preserved forest belt of oak and black locust stands is especially important because it provides protection for the thermal springs of the Junaković Spa complex, located between Apatin and Prigrevica. Surrounding the spa, in addition to its protective role, the forest ensures health and clinical conditions for rehabilitation, as well as facilities for sports and recreational activities of spa guests and other visitors throughout the year.
From a phytogeographical perspective, the area of Junaković Forest belongs to the Pannonian Province, Pannonian–Wallachian Subregion, within the Pontic–South Siberian floristic–vegetation region. It represents a forest-steppe area within the Aceri tatarico–Quercion alliance.
Natural forests are not represented. The Junaković Forest complex today is covered with oak plantations that have acquired the characteristics of semi-natural forests, along with plantations of black locust, green ash, and Turkey oak.
Among representatives of the ornithofauna, the pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) are found here.
The landscape values are defined by a partially altered forest habitat, located in the surroundings of cultivated steppe, saline soils, and the Junaković Spa.
Natural Monument “Ivanovačka Ada”
This protected area represents a small remnant of the natural forest vegetation of Danube river islands. The floodplain forests of native poplars on large river islands of lowland rivers have undergone the greatest transformations of all forest ecosystems in the Republic of Serbia. From these once vast riparian forests, only small fragments remain—small areas that were timely protected as Strict Nature Reserves.
In 1961, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Scientific Study of Natural Rarities of the People’s Republic of Serbia issued a Decision on placing under protection a state-owned forest stand of ash, white poplar, black poplar, elm, and willow, with occasional pedunculate oak trees, on part of the Danube island. With this decision, the area was proclaimed as the Strict Nature Reserve “Omoljička Ada”, covering an area of 6.46 ha. Under the prescribed protection measures, all forms of use of this protected area were prohibited, and a regime of absolute protection was established (PE “Vojvodinašume”, Forest Estate “Banat”, 2024)..
Later, following a revision of the protected area in 2008, the site was re-categorized and renamed into Natural Monument “Ivanovačka Ada”, with a core area of 6.07 ha and a surrounding buffer zone of 8.86 ha (PE “Vojvodinašume”, Forest Estate “Banat”, 2024).
Based on the evaluation conducted and the proposal defined by the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia, the Assembly of the City of Pančevo adopted in 2009 the Decision on the Protection of the Natural Monument “Ivanovačka Ada” (No. II-04-06-15/2009, Official Gazette of the City of Pančevo, No. 22/2009; 4/2011).
The Natural Monument “Ivanovačka Ada” was designated as a protected area covering a total of 6.07 ha in state ownership, with the aim of “preserving a small remnant of the former floodplain natural forests of Danube river islands, characterized by a specific composition and structure made up of populations of native poplars and willows of high aesthetic and ecological value, which serve as habitats for subendemic and relict plant species (Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Besser, Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris, Erysimum cheiranthoides L.), as well as animal species protected as natural rarities (e.g., White-tailed Eagle, Green Woodpecker, Common Kingfisher), representing nationally and internationally protected plant and animal species.”
According to the national categorization, this protected area is classified as Category III – Natural Asset of Importance, while under the IUCN classification it is designated as a Natural Monument. Its international conservation status has not been established.
