Rudnik Mountain is the highest mountain area in central Serbia with the highest peak called Veliki Šturac (Cvijić's peak) at 1132 m above sea level. It is characterized by relatively well-preserved natural and semi-natural habitats, as well as a rich hydrographic network. Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia has evaluated this area, and by submitting the conservation study to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the designation procedure was initiated on August 29, 2023. According to the determined values and the proposed protection category, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has prepared a Draft Decree, which categorizes the Rudnik Mountain area as a protected area of the I (first) category, the Outstanding Natural Landscape, with established protection regimes I, II and III, and with a total protected area of 10,017.74 hectares. The vision of the Rudnik Mountain sustainable development is to create more favourable and qualitative conditions for the life and work of the local population, primarily based on the improvement of agricultural production as the main activity of the majority of this area inhabitants. An important step in the designation process based on sustainable development is the involvement of all interested parties, primarily the local population. The sustainability of the protected area development can be achieved if there is support from the local population and their motivation and ability to implement their activities and the infrastructure of local communities in accordance with the conservation of natural values through the established protection regimes of ONL "Rudnik".

The National Museum of the Czech Republic (NMP) in Praha possesses 80 specimens in 45 species of birds from Serbia. Most of them were collected by Antonín Frič in 1852 in south-eastern Vojvodina, and by Jan Hanzák in 1969 in Kosovo. A revised list of those specimens is provided. The faunistic records are of historical value.

Monitoring avian fauna in protected areas is crucial for detecting changes in populations of key species and communities, identifying threatening factors, and for the planning and implementation of conservation and management measures. The Special Nature Reserve "Slano Kopovo" (Vojvodina, Serbia) is a protected area and part of the Important bird and biodiversity area "Slano Kopovo" . From 2021 to 2023, systematic monitoring of key and indicator bird species was conducted in the Special Nature Reserve "Slano Kopovo." This included monitoring of the migration of geese and cranes, autumn migration of passerines, common bird species, breeding of the Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), the Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), the Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), the Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), and breeding of the European Roller (Coracias garrulus). The results indicate the significance of the area for all selected species, but also highlight conservation challenges and the need for the implementation of active protection measures. Notably, the necessity for managing hydrological regimes is emphasized, as water scarcity during various times of the year significantly impacts both breeding and non-breeding birds in the area. The monitoring also underscores the importance of active conservation measures targeted at specific species, as exemplified by the use of nest boxes for the European Roller.

A Knowledge Co-Creation Program titled "Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR)" was held from September 10th to October 11th, 2024, organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The first part of the course, from September 10 to 27, was held online, during which participants were required to listen to lectures on topics such as forest fires, landslides, water basins, the importance of coastal forests, and modern technologies in environmental protection, and subsequently pass tests for each topic individually. The face-to-face program took place from September 29 to October 12 at the JICA Center in Tsukuba, Japan. This program aims to reduce disasters, preserve and strengthen natural ecosystems in developing countries through an understanding of practical examples of Eco-DRR, including the disaster prevention functions provided by forests (water resource management, prevention of sediment-related disasters, climate change mitigation, etc.).

This research was conducted with the aim of determining the concentration of Pb+2 and Zn+2 in parts of evergreen plant species, the Scots pine and juniper at the Sastavci quarry and its immediate surroundings. Due to many anthropogenic activities on a global level, pollution with toxic and dangerous metal cations occurs. In addition, abandoned mining areas represent one of the biggest environmental issues. Phytoremediation is one of the most innovative techniques used for the rehabilitation of mining areas. The results have shown that the sampled soils were highly contaminated with lead and zinc in the open pit areas and in their immediate vicinity, because the obtained concentrations exceeded the corresponding limit and remediation values. Based on the calculated bioaccumulation and translocation factors, it can be concluded that evergreen plant species, the Scots pine and juniper are not suitable for phytoremediation purposes.

The gorge valley of Panjica river, in the part where there is Vodena pećina cave with a strong Karst spring, as well as a tufa accumulation with two attractive waterfalls, has been proposed for designation as a nature monument of geomorphological-hydrological character under the name "Nature Monument Panjica river gorge". The conserved natural phenomena are represented by abundance of surface and underground Karst forms, a gorge that in some segments has elements of a canyon valley with vertical valley sides, up to several tens of meters high, rich tufa deposits, waterfalls, a series of small overfalls, overflows, rimstone pools and cascades, and the caves Vodena and Rasovačka (Hajdučka). The area is also special in terms of important species and ecosystem diversity, above all 85 species of birds, of which 67 are breeding birds, and 72 species have the status of strictly protected, of which 16 species are on Annex I of the Birds Directive. All of the above makes this area unique and undoubtedly worth of its status.

During 2023, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia submitted a proposal and an act on the designation of a protected area, the Outstanding Natural Landscape Rudnik Mountain, to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. 33.70% of agricultural land, which is recognized as a resource of economic development potential, is included within the boundaries of the proposed protected area. Based on information obtained from the Republic Geodetic Office's Real Estate Cadastre, an analysis of the cadastral classification of land by cadastral municipalities was conducted to determine the potential for success of this rural region with regard to agricultural activities. The cadastral classification of agricultural land is based on natural production conditions and follows the morphological, physical, chemical, biological and paedological-geological characteristics of the soil of the Rudnik Mountain, as well as the dynamics of the area: relief, altitude, inclination of the terrain, slope aspect, erosional processes and other conditions aligned with the Rulebook on land cadastral classification. The results of this analysis set the basis for future activities to improve the situation regarding the use and possible protection of agricultural land within ONL Rudnik Mountain.

Coal is the dominant source of electricity in the world and in Serbia. Coal mining has multiple adverse impacts on water resources including: alterations in the hydrological regime (cutoff or watercourse displacement), alterations in the hydrogeological regime (lowering of groundwater levels and yields of the surrounding aquifers) and deterioration of the underground and surface waters quality (pollution due to infiltration or direct inflow of polluted mine water). These impacts can be direct and indirect, primary, secondary and extraordinary. Special attention should be paid to rehabilitation and remediation of mines upon their closure, as well as to the monitoring of the quality of surrounding water bodies. In addition to the analysis of various aspects of the impact of coal mining on water resources, this paper deals with the possible protection measures that need to be applied in order to prevent or reduce the expected negative impacts of exploitation. Certain examples of coal mines in Serbia have also been discussed.

The field research conducted within the "Stara Planina" Nature Park, in the territory of Knjaževac municipality, registered 159 medicinal and aromatic plant species classified into 54 families, with Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Asteraceae being the families with the highest number of medicinal representatives. For all recorded species, the part of the plant that is harvested and its use according to official and traditional medicine is indicated. The conservation status according to national legislation is also provided for all species. For selected commercially significant and most represented species, distribution maps are presented. The most significant threatening factors are discussed, and the importance of understanding and applying sustainable harvesting principles to ensure the protection and conservation of wild medicinal plant populations is highlighted.