Law on Nature Protection

Serbia’s Law on Nature Protection governs conservation of biological, geological and landscape diversity as part of the environment. It covers protected areas, the ecological network, wild species and habitats, and professional conservation conditions for plans, projects and activities. Protection extends beyond national parks: particular species or natural assets outside a formally designated area may also be subject to legal duties.

The ministry and provincial and local authorities exercise powers defined by the law and protection instruments. Nature conservation institutes carry out professional work and issue conservation conditions. A protected area’s manager organizes management and monitors use, while inspectors supervise compliance with prescribed measures. A request for conservation conditions, a notification to a manager and a report to an inspector therefore serve different purposes; one does not automatically replace the others.

Before work begins, check whether the site lies within a protected area, the applicable zone and regime, the designation instrument and the conditions required. An area’s name alone does not establish that every activity is allowed or prohibited. Keep maps, parcel identifiers, photographs, details of proposed work and the authority’s response. When reporting possible habitat damage or threats to a species, describe the location and date without disturbing animals or removing specimens to obtain evidence.

Residents, associations, landowners and area users can follow public inspection during preparation of protection, request available information and identify specific risks. The manager may establish a council of users to support cooperation; this is not an automatic entitlement for every person to a seat on that council.

The current text includes Official Gazette 36/2009, 88/2010, correction 91/2010, 14/2016, 95/2018 through another law, and 71/2021. Part of the 2021 amendments applies from 1 January 2022. A 2025 announcement about drafting a replacement is not an adopted law. This is Avangarda’s informational editorial overview and translation, not an official translation. For a specific case, consult the current statute, the designation instrument and the competent authority’s conditions.

Helps check a site’s protection regime, conditions for activities and the distinct roles of institutes, managers, competent authorities and inspectors.

Residents, associations, landowners and users, developers, researchers, journalists and public authorities; specific rights depend on the procedure and protected status.

Before activities in nature, during consultation on designation of an area, or when a protected species, habitat or natural asset may be threatened.