Management of nature parks in State Enterprise 'Srbijašume'

Protected areas can only deliver their environmental, social and economic benefits if they are effectively managed. The aim of the paper is to analyze the management of nature parks entrusted to the State Enterprise for Forest Management “Srbijašume”, identify management problems and opportunities, and provide management and other reform proposals in order to improve the efficiency of management of protected areas. SE “Srbijašume” manages 5 nature parks on an area of 280,497 ha, which makes up 94% of the total area of nature parks in Serbia. Managerial organization of protected areas in SE “Srbijašume” is in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection, which prescribes the conditions that must be met by the manager in terms of professional, personnel and organizational qualifications to perform the tasks of protection, improvement, promotion and sustainable development of the protected areas. The management of protected areas is coordinated with the three-level organizational structure of the Enterprise (General Directorate, Forest Estates, Forest Administrations). For the management of nature parks “Stara planina”, “Golija”, “Zlatibor” and “Radan” special work units have been formed.