Free Flow

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ater

ducation

and

nstitutional

evelopment

As an extension of this idea, the project for the connection of

archaeological and historical heritage with water resources along

the Roman Via Militaris in Serbia was launched in 2012. The

project is based on strengthening the network of countries that

share common natural and historical sites located in boundary

regions – the first at the boundary region of South-East Serbia

and the second in North-West Serbia. The South-East Serbia region

covers the Vlasina area and Bela Palanka in Serbia, Kunstendil

in South-West Bulgaria and Macedonia. The North-West region

includes Western Serbia (Srem), East Croatia, the East Republic

of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Semberija).

Border areas located in North-West and South-East Serbia are rich

with natural resources and cultural-historical heritage, and present

exceptional potential for transboundary cooperation in various

areas such as environmental protection and tourism. Catchments

of the rivers Sava, Bosut and Studva in the west and Nisava, Pcinja

and Dragovistica in the east are characterized with abundant

water resources, flora and fauna, and certain areas are declared as

protected areas by international associations for nature protection.

The River Zasavica is located in Srem and is a habitat for about 700

plant species, 187 bird species and 24 fish species, some of which

are endemic to the area. Obedska bara on a left bank of the Sava

river is an oasis for important ecosystems including bird fauna with

220 species.

In addition, historical heritage found in these areas originates

back to the Neolithic period, with most of the finds coming from

the Roman Empire. At the time of the Roman Empire, Fruska Gora

became a border area where Sirmium (today Sremska Mitrovica) was

developed. Seven Roman emperors were born in Sirmium, and this

is the beginning of the so-called settlement

itinerarium Romanum

Serbia

which links significant sites of the ancient Roman period

and four settlements (Sirmium, Singidunum, Felix Romuliana and

Naisus Belkin) in the territory of Serbia, including the birthplaces

of 17 Roman emperors.

This combination of natural resources and cultural-

historical heritage is an excellent base for the

development of tourism and other commercial fields.

The aim of this project is to stimulate new research

and cooperation among different scientific fields that

will give direction for the research of interdependence

between natural resources and rich historical heritage.

In this regard, there is a strong need for networking at

all levels of education, from an elementary level through

university education and research. Education in the water

resources and environment domain consists of the imple-

mentation of information and knowledge in achieving

requirements which are defined and set within regula-

tory and legal documentation at numerous levels. These

include the International Hydrological Programme (IHP),

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO), the EU, the International

Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, the

International Sava River Basin Commission or any other

internationally recognized level, such as transborder water-

shed or basin level, regional level, state level or lesser areas.

Recognized institutions that promote an integrated

system of research and training and foster transbound-

ary cooperation in the region include the International

Research and Training Centre for Urban Drainage (under

UNESCO auspices), the UNESCO Chair in Water for

Ecologically Sustainable Development at the University

of Belgrade, the Serbian National IHP Committee and

the Black Sea Universities Network among others. The

Chair in Water for Ecologically Sustainable Development

promotes an integrated system of research, training,

information and documentation on sustanable water

resources management, hydro-informatics and eco-

hydrology in Central Asia and Africa.

Border areas in North-West and South-East Serbia are rich in historical heritage from the Roman Empire

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