The republic of serbia ministry of environment and spatial planning table of contents

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1.5.2 Land change

The diversity of habitat on the territory of the Republic of Serbia is also confirmed by data connected to CORINE „CO(o)R(dination of)IN(formation on the)E(nvironment) Habitats Codes” – the program of type setting and analysis of habitat diversity, the work of Environment Agency of the European Commission in Copenhagen. Land Cover CLC data show that on the territory of the Republic of Serbia, 29 of total 44 class of third level CORINE Land Cover Nomenclature-e registered on the entire European territory can be distinguished.
The analysis of change in ways of land use on the territory of the Republic of Serbia in the period 1990-2000 shows the presence of major change within the category of artificial surfaces, with visible increase of 3947 ha. Agricultural land in the study period is decreased by 8473 ha. Forest land and semi-natural areas are, in general, increased by 1 975 ha.

Figure 1.9: CORINE Land Cover changes in Serbia 1990-2000

The analysis of Corine Land Cover data base for year 2006 shows the presence of 28 of 44 CLC nomenclature class with the domination of agricultural land. Approximately 26% of this territory belongs to the non-irrigated arable land category, 16% belongs to the system of plough land units, whereas 13% is, in its greater part, agricultural land with important natural vegetation grown surfaces.
Forests and semi-natural areas cover almost 40% of land (broadleaf forests-27%). Land classified as artificial surface covers almost 3% of the territory and the rest of approximately 1,6% is classified as wet land and water basins.
The analysis of certain categories occupied by urban development in Serbia in the period 1990-2006 and their contribution to the ways of land use shows mostly pasture land and mixed agricultural areas, have been occupied.

Figure 1.10: Land-cover categories uptacen by urban and other artificial land development 1990-2006.

The land occupation for the purpose of developing urban area and sporting-recreational objects in the Republic of Serbia amounted to annual 351 ha in the period 1990-2006, for the purpose of industrial and commercial site s- annual 127 ha, for road network and its infrastructure – annual 2 ha, whereas for the purpose of mines, waste yards and construction sites it amounted to annual 239 ha in the same period.

1.5.3 Main threats to terrestrial and freshwater habitats

Ecological and human factors interact with one another in dynamic and unpredictable ways. Nevertheless, at this stage of planning it is important to clearly distinguish between the direct and indirect role that different factors and conditions have in impacting biological diversity, as well as the interactions among those factors and how they related to or depend on variations in local conditions.

Main threats to terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity are caused by:

Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Degradation
Conversion of native habitats to agricultural, forestry, residential, and commercial uses
Alteration to flow regimes of natural waterways
Construction, use, and maintenance of transportation infrastructures
Logging
Livestock grazing
Population Declines in Wild Species
Overexploitation and illegal harvesting of plant and wildlife species
Hunting and fishing
Gathering
Pollution / Contamination
Invasive, Non-native Species and GMOs
Climate Change

	← Threat / Menaces →
← Ecosystem / Biodiversity components →		Habitat changes	Climate changes	Invasive species	Overexploitation	Nutrient & Pollution	Fragmentation
	Boreal forests	→	↑↑	↑↑	→	↑↑↑	↑
	High mountain forests	→	↑↑	→	↑	↑	→
	Arable agriculture land	↑	↑↑	↑↑↑	↑↑	↑↑↑	↑
	High mountain agriculture land (pasture)	→	↑	→	→	↑↑	↑
	Mixed agriculture-forest land	→	→	↑↑	↑↑	↑↑	↑↑
	Rivers	↑↑	↑	↑↑	↑↑	↑↑↑	↑↑↑
	Wetland	↑↑↑	↑↑	↑↑	↑↑↑	↑↑↑	↑↑↑

Table 1.5: Main threats to natural habitats

Legend: ↑↑↑- very strong impact, ↑↑- strong impact, ↑- low impact, →- stable.

Land conversion resulting in the habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation is arguably the single most significant factor responsible for the endangerment of species in Serbia. Lands have been, and continue to be, converted for agricultural, commercial, and residential purposes. Land use conversions include draining of wetlands; encroachment of residential or commercial areas into native habitats; creation of recreation areas such as ski resorts; etc. Such conversion of native habitats to human-dominated environments reduces the area of habitat available to biodiversity, while also fragmenting and degrading remaining areas.
Even well planned road construction can destroy or seriously damage natural ecosystems, thus causing direct damage through loss of habitats for sensitive plant and animals, which is the main cause of biodiversity loss. Transportation infrastructures also fragment habitats, restricting or preventing natural movement of animals and exchange of genetic material. Habitat fragmentation damages ecosystems’ stability and health, particularly when the movement of keystone species important to ecosystem integrity (e.g., large predators,) is restricted. Many wildlife species that need to move to find food or for breeding purposes are either reluctant to cross the roads or get killed while crossing it. It is also a case that some animals are attracted to roads for various reasons - more abundant food, shelter from predators, or easier movement - which often leads to increased mortality due to accidental deaths.
Alteration to the natural flow regimes of rivers and streams and their floodplains and wetlands is recognized as a major factor contributing to loss of biological diversity and ecological function in aquatic ecosystems, including floodplains. Alteration to natural flow regimes can occur through reducing or increasing flows, altering seasonality of flows, changing the frequency, duration, magnitude, timing, predictability and variability of flow events, altering surface and subsurface water levels and changing the rate of rise or fall of water levels. Four primary ways in which humans alter flow regimes in natural waterways are: building of dams, diversion of flows by structures or extraction, alteration of flows on floodplains with levees and structures (including those on wetlands to allow water storage), and extraction of gravel and alluvial sands and dredging.
Worldwide, timber harvest practices have caused significant impacts to biodiversity and forest ecosystems, including reduction of forest area, fragmentation, degradation, and changes in patterns of forest age structure and species composition across the landscape. In general, timber practices have created forests that are younger, more even in age structure, biologically less diverse, and economically less productive. The mix of wildlife and plant species within the forests has changed along with the changes in over-story tree composition. In many areas this has involved replacing mixed broadleaved and conifer forests with conifer dominant forests or plantations. Fire suppression and the inability to prevent and control human and natural caused fires has also resulted in changes in the species composition of many forests. In some instances, forests are now more susceptible to damage from insects, disease, and fire.
Livestock grazing in natural ecosystems changes the relative mix of native species in grasslands and shrub-steppe ecosystems. In addition, grazing in forests has reduced the shrub and forb understory, which has resulted in the development of dense, fire-prone, forests. Grazing also has negative impacts on stream, riparian, and wetland systems, including increased sedimentation, altered stream flow patterns, and increased nutrient loads. Those ecosystems hardest hit by past grazing practices, where there has been nearly total replacement of native by non-native species, may never fully recover. However, today grazing does not have large negative environmental impacts in Serbia as most livestock are kept in stable systems.
Pollution and environmental contamination will likely accompany the projected population growth in Serbia and surrounding regions. Increased contamination of the environment, particularly via discharges of wastewater and storm water runoff and atmospheric deposition of pollutants, such as those in automobile emissions, can be anticipated. As additional land in the region is converted to intensive agriculture, there is greater potential for contamination from the application of fertilizers and pesticides. In addition there is lack of adequate manure management, especially on big farms leading to soil and water nitrification. New chemicals and the inadequacy of assessing the impacts of chemicals’ impacts on the environment are also risks.
Major sources of pollution/contamination include mining, logging, waste disposal and treatment, agriculture, and atmospheric deposition. In many regions of the world, species and ecosystems also continue to be impacted by the legacy of past contamination (e.g., metals, such as lead or chemicals, such as DDT, which persist and can build up in the food chain).

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The republic of serbia ministry of environment and spatial planning table of contents

1.5.2 Land change

1.5.3 Main threats to terrestrial and freshwater habitats

Habitat Loss, Fragmentation, and Degradation