Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

Serbia plans to increase the protected areas surface to 12 per cent of the territory by 2021 [ ] 199 The crucial role of education The Law on Nature Conservation is the main regulatory framework for the protection of biodiversity in Serbia, with measures for the pro- tection and improvement of species, their populations, natural habitats and ecosystems. The country’s total area under protection has increased in relation to the data presented in the Fourth National Report of the Con- vention on Biological Diversity (CBD), currently representing 67.48 per cent of the total territory of the country. In addition, 117 new areas have been placed under protection since the report (2.28 per cent of the territory). The ecological network is established as a functionally and spatially con- nected entity comprising areas of na- tional and international importance and ecological corridors, covering 20.93 per cent of the territory. In recent years, Serbia has provid- ed numerous observation points, educational tracks and information resources for visitors, as well as many other promotional materials. Special attention has been dedicated to the construction of visitor centres in the protected natural goods areas. Semi- nars by the Institute for Nature Con- servation of Serbia aid in the profes- sional development of teachers in the area of environmental protection and nature conservation. The seminars are delivered through accredited pro- grams of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Develop- ment of the Republic of Serbia. Development programmes enable teachers to follow the newest con- cepts, guidelines, trends and knowl- edge in environmental and nature protection, through cooperation with experts. Workshops, lectures, field practice and presentations improve teachers’ skills. A cross-curricular ap- proach to processing of topics within environmental and nature protec- tion develops a critical approach to education regarding environmental protection and motivates the teachers to develop their professional skills and knowledge independently. Since 2004, more than 1,000 biology and geography teachers from schools and other educational institutions have participated in the seminars. The Secretariat for Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection has organized an annual event, A Work Day for Nature, since 2008. This initiative seeks inclusion of all entities which deal with the pro- tection of nature, such as ministries, institutes for nature conservation, managers of protected areas, citizens’ associations, educational institutions, local communities and individual companies. The turnout for these ac- tions is significant and there are often more than 100 participants. Meanders of Uvacko Lake within the special nature reserve Serbia S erbia represents an important centre of biological and geological diversity in Central Eastern Europe, with eight basic types of habitats. The country is home to a number of internationally recognized sites for conservation of biodiversity, including 10 areas that have been included in the list of wetlands of international importance and two established UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The most important areas for biodiversity are the high mountain regions, sand and steppe habitats and refugial areas. The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia requires 12 per cent of the country’s territory to be protected by 2021. Ministry of Environmental Protection, Republic of Serbia