Protected areas cover 7.3% of the territory of Serbia. The Law on the Protection of the NatureZ A K O N O ZAŠTITI PRIRODE (Law on the Protection of the Nature) defines these categories of protected areas: National park — area with large number of diverse ecosystems of national value, with outstanding natural features and/or cultural heritage set aside for the preservation of its natural resources and for educational, scientific and tourist use. Strict nature reserve — area of unmodified natural features with representative ecosystems set aside for the preservation of its biodiversity and for scientific research and monitoring. Special nature reserve — area of unmodified or slightly modified natural features of great importance due to uniqueness and rarity which includes the habitats of endangered species set aside for the preservation of its unique features, education, limited tourism and for scientific research and monitoring. Nature park — area of well-preserved natural values with preserved natural ecosystems and picturesque landscape set aside for the preservation of biodiversity and for educational, tourist, recreational and scientific use. Landscape of outstanding features — area of remarkable appearance with important natural and cultural value. Natural monument — small unmodified or slightly modified natural feature, object or phenomenon, easily detectable and unique, with unique natural attributes. Protected habitat — area which includes habitats of one or more wildlife species.
National parks There are 4 national parks in Serbia (IUCN Category II) as of 2025, and two more which are proposed and in the procedure of receiving that status:Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia: Registry of Protected Natural Resources
National parkImageEstablishedMunicipality/CityArea (km2)LinkĐerdap 1974Golubac, Majdanpek, Kladovo636.8 Kopaonik 1981Raška, Brus118.1 Tara 1981Bajina Bašta192.0 Fruška Gora 1960Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Beočin, Bačka Palanka, Šid, Sremska Mitrovica, Irig, Inđija253.9 Stara Planina Pirot, Dimitrovgrad, Zaječar, Knjaževac 1,209.1 Žagubica, Bor, Despotovac, Boljevac 453.7
Nature reserves There are 41 nature reserves (IUCN category Ia) in Serbia and 6 more which are in the procedure of receiving that status. Strict nature reserveEstablishedMunicipality/CityArea (km2)Vinatovača Despotovac0.37Danilova kosa 2008 Krupanj 0.06Prokop 1958 Kruševac 0.06Bukovo 2007 Negotin 0.1Felješana 2014 Majdanpek 0.15Kukavica 2014 Vladičin Han 0.76Mustafa 2014 Majdanpek 0.80Iznad Tatalije 2015 Bajina Bašta, Sjenica 0.008Zelenika 2015 Užice 0.004Jarešnik 2019 Bosilegrad 0.06Special nature reserveEstablishedMunicipality/CityArea (km2)Deliblatska Peščara1965 Alibunar, Vršac, Bela Crkva, Požarevac, Kovin348.29Gornje Podunavlje Apatin, Sombor196Venerina padina Babušnica0.003Bagremara 2007 Bačka Palanka1.2Karađorđevo1997Bač, Bačka Palanka29.5Prebreza Blace29.5Carska bara 1955 Zrenjanin47.2Kraljevac 2009 Kovin 2.6Selevenjske pustare Kanjiža, Subotica 6.7Trešnjica River Gorge Ljubovija 5.9Koviljsko-petrovaradinski rit 1998 Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Inđija, Titel 58.9Jelašnička River Gorge Niš 1.1Uvac Nova Varoš, Sjenica 75.4Slano Kopovo 2000 Novi Bečej 9.7Obedska bara 1968 Pećinci, Ruma 98.2Zasavica 1997 Sremska Mitrovica, Bogatić 11.3Ludaš Lake 1982 Subotica8.4Pastures of the Great Bustard Kikinda, Čoka, Novi Kneževac 67.8Paljevine 2011 Sjenica 0.08Gutavica 2011 Sjenica 0.1Titelski Breg 2012 Titel 4.9Okanj 2013 Zrenjanin, Novi Bečej 54.8Ritovi donjeg Potisja 2014 Titel, Žabalj, Novi Bečej, Zrenjanin 30.1Mala jasenova glava 2014 Boljevac 0.06Mileševka River Gorge 2014 Prijepolje 12.4Jerma 2014 Babušnica, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot 69.9Goč-Gvozdac 2014 Kraljevo, Vrnjačka Banja 39.5Peštersko polje 2015 Tutin, Sjenica 31.2Tesne Jaruge 2015 Nišla, Sjenica 0.03Suva Planina 2015 Niška Banja, Bela Palanka, Gadžin Han 181.1Rtanj 2019 Sokobanja, Boljevac 49.9
Nature parks and Landscapes of outstanding features There are 11 nature parks and 10 landscapes of outstanding features (IUCN Category Ib) with 1 and 7, respectively, which are in the procedure of receiving those statuses:
Nature parkEstablishedMunicipality/CityArea (km2)Tikvara Bačka Palanka5.1Jegrička Nature Park Bačka Palanka, Vrbas, Temerin, Žabalj11.4Stara Tisa Bečej, Novi Bečej, Žabalj3.9Stara Planina1997Zaječar, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot, Knjaževac 1143.3Golija2001Ivanjica, Kraljevo, Raška, Novi Pazar, Sjenica751.8Kamaraš Kanjiža 2.6Sićevo River Gorge1997Niš, Bela Palanka77.4Begečka jama Novi Sad 3.8Ponjavica Pančevo 1.3Lake Palić1982Subotica7.1Mokra Gora Užice, Čajetina, Bajina Bašta 108.1Zlatibor Čajetina, Nova Varoš, Užice 321.7Landscape ofoutstanding featuresEstablishedMunicipality/CityArea (km2)Kosmaj Belgrade/Mladenovac 35.1Veliko Ratno Ostrvo Belgrade/Zemun 1.7Avala Belgrade/Voždovac 4.9River Pčinja Valley Bujanovac 26Gradac River Gorge Valjevo 12.7Vršac Mountains1982Vršac44.1Lepterija - Soko Grad Sokobanja 8.38Subotička Peščara Subotica 53.7Vlasina Surdulica, Crna Trava 127.4Ovčar-Kablar Gorge Čačak, Lučani 22.5Zaovine Bajina Bašta 55.9Radan Kuršumlija, Prokuplje, Bojnik, Lebane, Medveđa 466.4Đetinja River Gorge Užice, Čajetina 8.6Mali Rzav Springs Arilje, Ivanjica 33.5Ćelije Reservoir Kruševac, Brus 39.6Ras - Sopoćani Novi Pazar 8.2Kamena Gora Prijepolje 78.1
Natural monuments There are currently 64 natural monuments of geological heritage and 225 monuments of botanical heritage (mostly rare trees) in Serbia. Some of the best known monuments of geological heritage are: Resava Cave and Đavolja Varoš.
See also List of mountains in Serbia List of rivers of Serbia List of lakes of Serbia List of waterfalls in Serbia
Notes and references
External links Ministry of Environmental Protection of Serbia Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia Birdwatching in Serbia