Ivana Bjedov

Exploring the Park–People Relation: Collection of Vaccinium Myrtillus L. by Local People From Kopaonik National Park in Serbia

Exploitation of certain resources within a protected area on a sustainable basis could contribute to higher living standards of rural people, particularly those in poor countries, and decrease conflicts between these populations and park authorities. This article presents data from a case study of Kopaonik National Park (NP), Serbia, which is a park with natural resources, most notably bilberries, which have always been relied on by local people. Vaccinium myrtillus traditionally has been collected for decades in Kopaonik NP and used by local people. However, little is known about the socioeconomic and ecological relations that affect the collection and use of this species. The aim of the present study was to understand how local people collect bilberries in Kopaonik NP and what their attitudes toward the park are. Household questionnaire data were used to examine how local people collect bilberries and how to improve the relations between local people and NP authorities. The survey questionnaire included 52 households from 7 local communities, and we applied a purposive sampling strategy. In addition, expert interviews were conducted, and from these data we obtained a broader understanding of the relation between local people and NP authorities. The results indicate that in Kopaonik NP, there is a conflict between pickers and NP authorities. Sustainable management should be directed toward the protection of bilberries. Education of local people is a key element in the sustainable collection and protection of natural resources.

Understanding Linkages Between Public Participation and Management of Protected Areas – Case Study of Serbia

The issue of participation is an important issue in protected area management. For instance, the IV IUCN World Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas convened in Caracas, Venezuela, called for increased community participation and human equity in decisionmaking for protected areas in order to improve their management (IUCN, 1993). The term participation can be interpreted in very different ways, and therefore it is essential to define it carefully.

Phytogeographical analysis of vascular flora of Ravni Srem flood forests (Vojvodina, Serbia).

The aim of phytogeographical analysis was to determine the plant species origin, genesis and migrations. The study results contribute to the knowledge of phytogeographical classification of the particular regions. The flora structure and composition was determined based on the effects of different chorions. The aim of the floristic research of flood forests of Ravni Srem was to identify the diversity of flora in the region, i.e., in a wider sense, the diversity of flora in Serbia. The phytogeographical analysis was based on floristic research. The identified plant species were classified into the corresponding floral elements, area groups, and area types. The data on their diversity and the degree of representation in the flora of Ravni Srem flood forests were obtained based on the percentage of each area type. It was concluded that the character of the flora of Ravni Srem flood forests was transitional, mostly Eurasian-Central European.

Asteretum lanceolati - xenospontaneous community on wet and riparian habitat.

Invasive species Aster lanceolatus grows on moist habitats on the whole territory of Serbia. In Belgrade, this species is recorded with a higher degree of presence at a number of localities. With the aim to investigate the community in which this species is dominant, the wide area of Serbia was researched, and 8 lo- calities on the territory of Belgrade were chosen for the analysis of the community. Floristic structure of the community was determined by the standard Braun-Blan- quet method (1964), phytogeographical analysis was performed according to Gajic (1980, 1984), and determination of life forms according to Raunkier (E l l e n b e r g , M u e l l e r- D o m b o i s , 1967). pH soil analysis and electric conductivity (EC) were performed at all investigated localities. It was established that the community dom- inates the moist habitats of Belgrade. It is composed of 104 species and among them Aster lanceolatus Willd., Cichorium intybus L., Agropyrum repens (L.) Beauv., Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Symphytum officina - le L. and Rumex obtusifolius L. are the most frequent. In relation to life forms, the community has hemicriptophytes character, and in relation to phytogeography Eu- roasian and Middle Europaean floral elements are dominant, with a high presence of cosmopolitan and adventive floral elements. On the locialities Veliko Ratno os - trvo (island) and Makis, EC values point to the fact that the amount of nutrient in the soil is higher than at other localities.

Impact of Invasive Aster lanceolatus Populations on Soil and Flora in Urban Sites

ABSTRACT Invasive plants are one of the major treat to local communities and ecosystems in urban habitats. Aster lanceolatus Willd. is one of the most spreading invasive plant species in Serbia and to examine its impact on soil, flora and aboveground biomass in urban habitats we investigated the pH, electrical conductivity and concentration of trace elements (Zn, Cu, Ni, Mn) in four invaded and four uninvaded plots in urban habitats. We also studied floristic composition and floristic richness regarding these invasive plant populations. These parameters were assessed along transects arranged in the cross shape, running from the centre of the invaded area towards the peripheral uninvaded area. Trace elements were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Statistical differences were analysed using ANOVA and post-hoc LSD-tests. The results showed an important decrease of the number of species and herbaceous cover under A. lanceolatus populations. There were no statistically significant differences between invaded and uninvaded patches when soil pH and electrical conductivity were considered. The concentration of Zn, Mn and Ni in the soil was higher in invaded areas. The content of Zn in aboveground biomass collected from invaded compare to uninvaded areas was higher. This study raises the possibility that invasive species changes soil characteristics and create conditions for their spreading.

Tara National Park - Resources, Management and Tourist Perception

Tara National Park (TNP) was proclaimed a protected natural resource area in 1981 by the First Regulation on the National Park (Official Gazette of RS no. 41/81). According to the Regulation on National Parks of Serbia (Official Gazette of RS no. 39/93), a public enterprise, ‘National Park Tara’, was founded, with full responsibility for the management of the park [2]. Tara National Park is situated in west Serbia (Figure 1.), the coordinates, according to Greenwich lie between 43 51′ and 43 57′ north, and 17 03′ and 17 11′ east [3]. The region which includes Tara NP extends over an area of 19175 ha. It contains most of Tara Mountain and the region bordered by the elbow-shaped course of the River Drina, between Visegrad and Bajina Basta, thus belonging to a part of Starovlaske mountains (Starovlaska-Raska Visija highlands) [4].

Quick-dip and contact method of cutting rooting of Zelkova carpinifolia (Pall.) K. Koch as an alternative non-invasive species

Two methods of rooting of Zelkova softwood cuttings were analyzed: (1) quick-dip method and (2) contact method - the thin polyethylene film (20 mm) laid directly over the cuttings during the rooting process. The control for contact method was a low tunnel with a thick polyethylene film. One group of cuttings in the contact method was treated with quick-dip (IBA 2,500 μg•mL-1, carrier-ethyl alcohol) during 5 sec, and the other group was treated with water solution of IBA (50 μg•mL-1) in 24-hour treatment. The third group was control - untreated cuttings. The same groups of cuttings were also used in low tunnels. The number and length of primary and secondary roots were measured on rooted cuttings. The results of all treatments show that contact method in combination with water solution of IBA was the best with 92% of rooted cuttings. No significant differences were obtained between this treatment and quick-dip + contact method (85.3%). Rooting of cuttings under low tunnel was significantly lower. In general, contact method was better than low tunnel, disregarding the carrier used. These results recommend the almost unknown contact method in nursery propagation of Zelkova, as an alternative, non-invasive species for the conditions in Serbia.