„Natura 2000 and forestry“ in Serbia

"Natura 2000 and forestry" workshop

On May 2012 in public institution „Srbijašume“ in Belgrade, within the project “Strengthening the capacity of governments and civil sector in Serbia and in Montenegro to adapt to EU nature protection aquis“ an interesting workshop was held on subject of „Natura 2000 and forestry“.

Its goal was to convey the experience of EU member Slovenia about establishment of Natura 2000 network with special emphasis on the forestry sector. More than 40 representatives of the forestry and nature protection sector were attending the workshop.

Conference participants were welcomed by Radislav Momirov, Assistant of Minister of Environment, Mining and Spatial Planning of Republic of Serbia and Duška Dimović, director of the WWF Serbia. Then Andrea Štefan, adviser for regional cooperation and EU integration of the WWF Mediterranean Programme, presented the main objectives and achievements of the project.

Dr Biljana Panjković, Director of the Provincial Bureau for the Protection of Nature Resources, presented to the participants Action Plan of establishment of ecological networks in Serbia and the tasks that have to be fulfilled in the future.

Thematic presentations within the workshop were held by Slovenian experts: Natura 2000 expert Aleksander Golob and Andrej Bibič from the Ministry of Agriculture and the environment in Slovenia. Each presentation was followed by discussion, and guests from Slovenia gave detailed answers to the questions in order to highlight the challenges that lie ahead in the process of establishing the Natura 2000 ecological network in Serbia.

Sonja Bađura, WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme