Protection of Natura 2000 Habitat Types in the Ramsar Site “Zasavica Special Nature Reserve” in Serbia

Abstract

The conservation of biodiversity in Europe is defined by Directive 92/43/EEC — commonly known as the Habitats Directive — relating to the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna. This Directive established the creation of an ecological network of European protected areas — the Natura 2000 network — and also recognizes the need to manage these areas to maintain their “favorable conservation status.” This paper proposes adapted criteria to use to assess conservation status of habitat types at the site level. The current conservation status of habitats was assessed by using the following criteria: (1) distribution area of habitats at site, (2) degree of conservation of the structure, (3) prospects for the future, and (4) restoration possibility. This methodology was applied in a Special Nature Reserve, “Zasavica,” located by the Sava River in Serbia, and is intended to serve as a useful tool for a management planning process, because it can provide an assessment of the conservation status of each of the habitat types for which a site was designated. This will provide a scientific basis on which to establish recommendations for setting the management objectives and for the practical management of a designated site.