Jasmina Đorđević

Classification of natural disasters between the legislation and application: experience of the Republic of Serbia

The paper discusses the definitions of natural disasters and recommends the implementation of definitions and classifications of natural disasters in accordance with those decreed at the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) and Munich Re insurance Company (Munich RE) for administrative use in the Republic of Serbia. For the Republic of Serbia, the issue of natural disasters is presented both through government documents (e.g. the Law on Emergencies and the National Strategy of the Protection and Rescue in Emergencies) and the survey of the frequency and typology of disasters. Significant discrepancies exist between older and more contemporary classifications of disasters in Serbia. They are especially emphasized in comparison to the CRED and Munich RE classifications and databases. This causes problems in the monitoring, recording and assessment of the effects of natural disasters. It is proposed that definitions be adapted and implemented into legislative and other documents.

Regional inequality in Serbia as a development problem

The aim of this paper, in the context of the contemporary socio-economic changes in Serbia, is to consider changes in the regional development policy, and therefore in the approach to underdeveloped areas. A special attention is paid to regional inequality as a developmental problem since it directly influences the integrative processes, violating them, and therefore leads to side effects (economic, social, demographic, ecological, spatial, etc.). In Serbia, traditionally undeveloped areas (rural, hilly-mountainous and border/peripheral) have formed during a longer historical period, contrary to the new types of areas - municipalities (“devastated areas”) that are connected to the transition period (“transition poverty”). Both appeared by cause and effect reaction to natural, socio-economic, social, demographic, cultural-civilizational and political factors.

Spatial and social changes caused by the continuous exploitation of lignite in the Kolubara lignite basin, Serbia

The Kolubara Lignite Basin in the Republic of Serbia is the most important source of this type of fossil energy. Available lignite reserves enable the production of electricity, so the priority, in this region, is its exploitation. This is the reason why all other characteristics of this region have undergone major changes. Since the lignite exploitation started, the land use and river courses have changed in the region, local communities have been moved out, the settlements, infrastructure and human activity have been altered. The whole landscape acquired a completely different image. The social aspect is a sensitive and delicate feature, but the regulation of the region is also significant. Local population in this region has faced a set of social, cultural and economic problems.

The development of transport infrastructure and attitudes of the local population: a case study from the Republic of Serbia

Abstract In the last decades, the development of transport infrastructure has been necessary because of the population increase and expansion of urban centres. Infrastructure development leads to modification and changes in areas characterized by high human population density. The lack of adequate transport infrastructure inhibits local economic and social performance. In the period of economic stability (from 1970 to 1990), important roads that increased the connectedness of the Kolubara District (Western Serbia) with other parts of the country and the surrounding countries were built, but there is still a need for the construction of new roads. In order to examine the attitude of the local population in regard to transport infrastructure, a survey was conducted using a questionnaire consisting of closed questions. This topic is one that has not previously been examined. The data obtained were analyzed statistically and showed that local people have a positive attitude towards the existing infrastructure and towards the construction of new roads. There are statistically significant differences between the attitudes of the local population in different municipalities. The results from this research offer an opportunity to develop guidelines which can influence traffic development in these and similar areas.

Forest fire analysis and classification based on a Serbian case study

A recent forest fire in the Republic of Serbia is discussed concerning classification, legislative framework and fire management, giving a detailed analysis of the forest fire occurrence. Analysing past and predicting future fires are crucial for policy development and forest management practices to prevent and mitigate fires. Fire hazard is discussed through several fire protection and prevention legislative documents. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall test was used to analyse resent forest fire data in an attempt to find causality in occurrences and frequency. The meteorological data and fire statistics provided by the Serbian Hydro-meteorological Service and the Ministry of Interior/Sector for Emergency Management of the Republic of Serbia were used to calculate the Forest Fire Weather Indices, along with deficit or surplus of precipitation for the case study of Tara Mountain. The paper highlights the need for better hierarchical classification of fire hazards and its harmonisation along with standardisations presented by leading international research institutions. A significant correlation between meteorological parameters and forest fire occurrence was found. This opens a possibility for further investigation and analysis of geophysical and anthropogenic driven factors that can influence disaster occurrence.

The principles of sustainable development of tourism in the special nature reserve »Gornje Podunavlje« and their impact on the local communities

The development of tourism in protected areas is a particular challenge for the tourism business and the activity of nature conservation. The leading criteria for sustainable tourism in protected areas emphasize the importance of the adoption of certain principles of care, long-term planning and management that integrates nature protection and tourism. In this respect, the paper analyzes their importance in the case of Special Nature Reserve »Gornje Podunavlje« in Vojvodina. After acquiring the status of a special nature reserve, talk about the importance of this area to the tourism of Sombor and Apatin, where it is located, has increased. This trend follows the design of educational and tourist tracks, starting and running events as well as starting tourism businesses in rural households. There could be multiple benefits of this for the local communities.

Limnological characteristics, water regime and water quality problems of Borkovac reservoir (Vojvodina, Serbia)

In this study we present interdisciplinary investigations of the Borkovac reservoir (Vojvodina, Serbia). The limnological characteristics of the reservoir were analysed in the scope of its sustainable use for irrigation, fishing and tourism. This multipurpose water accumulation has been established in 1975 as a part of regional hydrological system of the Fruska Gora mountain region. The main environmental problems recognized in this study were: water regime, intensive sedimentation in the reservoir, enhanced water eutrophycation and toxic cyanobacterial blooms. Observed environmental problems and proposed solutions in the case of the Borkovac accumulation including construction of the sediment precipitator at the Borkovac stream junction to lake, sediment removal, artificial water mixing and oxygenation, phosphorous inactivitation, different kinds of biomanipulations and biomass removal and introduction of ecoremedation methods could also be applied to other artificial water bodies of the Fruska Gora slopes.

The motives for service users visiting the wellness centres in Slovenia

The word “wellness” is usually used to indicate a healthy balance of the mind, the body and the spirit that results in an overall feeling of the well-being. The wellness centers have become an inseparable part of the hotel facilities, at the instance of the users who come to these centers because of different motives. The purpose of this research is to examine the characteristics of a healthy-living market segment and its motivational behavior to wellness facilities in Slovenia. Hence, the objectives of this research are as follows: to identify the motivational characteristics of the tourists visiting the wellness centers and to study the relationship between the tourists’ healthy-living behavioral patterns and the motivational behavior in relation to the wellness facilities in Slovenia.