Designated terrestrial protected areas

Serbia exceeds protected area national targets, with further expansion planned

The total area of protected natural resources in 2023 was 762,960ha, which represents 10.8% of Serbia’s territory (see graph). A total of 474 sites and properties are under protection. Protected areas inside central Serbia and Vojvodina province totalled 733,500ha, or 9.53% of Serbia’s territory. An additional 119,997ha, 1.6% of Serbia’s territory, has recently been designated as protected area. According to the Law on Nature Protection, these areas are still considered protected even though the protection act has not yet been finalised. This means that a total of 11.2% of central Serbia and Vojvodina province has been protected, which is 2 percentage points above the target set by the . There is also ongoing activity in the preparation of other effective area-based conservation measures in accordance with the Kunming–Montreal and EU objectives. In accordance with the Habitats and Birds Directives, 277 potential sites of community interest and 85 special protection areas have been identified. Although 63 habitat types from Annex I to the Habitats Directive have been identified, 10 more habitat types require more research for confirmation. In addition, 67 plant and 187 animal species have been identified in accordance with the annexes to the Habitats and Birds Directives. It is likely that all the measures taken in areas outside official protected areas would be considered .