Serbia's biosphere reserves: the Danube floodplain and the Dinaric mountain system

Background

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme lists Backo Podunavlje and Golija-Studenica as biosphere reserves in Serbia, and together they mark out the country's two contrasting physical regions. Located in the north-western part of Serbia, Backo Podunavlje Biosphere Reserve covers 176,635 ha and extends over the alluvial zones of the central Danube plain. It consists of remnants of historic floodplains and human-made landscapes shaped by agriculture and settlements, and encompasses the largest conserved floodplain complex in the upper course of the Danube River in Serbia. Its primary habitats include alluvial forests, Pannonian salt steppes and salt marshes, mesotrophic standing waters and muddy river shores, and 156 taxa of butterflies have been recorded in the area. Its year of nomination is 2017. Golija-Studenica Biosphere Reserve is situated in south-western Serbia and lies within the inner zone of the Dinaric mountain system. It covers 54,302.00 ha of mountainous country with forests, shrubs and lakes, and its year of nomination is 2001. The biosphere reserve includes the Studenica Monastery, which is a cultural World Heritage site.