The role of zoning in strategic planning for protected areas in Serbia: Case of 'Sara' National Park

Abstract

One of the instruments in strategic planning and management of protected areas (PAs) is zoning. Changes in protection regimes for PAs occurred in the legal grounds for nature conservation in Serbia during 2009-2015. As a result of these changes difficulties in overcoming the conflicting interests between protection and development of PAs in the process of strategic planning, namely spatial planning and sectoral planning for nature conservation, have occurred. This was especially evident in the preparation of spatial plans for special purpose areas in the case of PAs which are the primary tourism destinations. in this paper the brief overview of the changing role of zoning in strategic planning and management of PAs is presented. This is the starting point for the analysis of the zoning in legal grounds and strategic planning for PAs in Serbia. This analysis is conducted at the case of Sara National Park and primary tourism destination. Based on the results of this analysis, the recommendations for the review and improvement of legal grounds and strategic planning - spatial and sectoral planning for PAs in Serbia are given.

Keywords

• Zoning
• protected areas
• legal grounds
• planning grounds
• 'Sara' National Park