Serbia
Agroforestry in Serbia
The main institute dealing with agroforestry in Serbia is the “Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment” in Novi Sad (ILFE), situated in a typical agriculture landscape in the northern part of Serbia, in the Vojvodina Province. This region is characterized by a very small share of forested area (6,5 %). To harmonize the interests from the area of agriculture, forestry and environment is the main challenge in Serbia in order to increase the area covered by trees.
Figure 1: Typical agricultural landscape in the northern part of Serbia, showing windbreaks, vegetable production and corn. Picture source: Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE)
The arable land – especially in northern part of Serbia – is shaped by hedges, and covered by randomly spread groups of trees. As the region is exposed to strong winds, the dominant type of agroforestry systems are windbreaks as a part of long-term strategy aimed at soil conservation and enhancement of crop production.
Figure 2: Windbreak system with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in the northern part of Serbia. Picture source: Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE)
Agricultural enterprises established windbreaks mainly in the 1970s and 1980s, in order to protect agricultural areas against strong winds and to provide better microclimate conditions for agricultural crops. Windbreaks were established by planting common oak (Quercus robur), poplars (Populus sp.), birch (Betula pendula), siberian elm (Ulmus pumila) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).
Windbreaks in Serbia are regulated under the Law on Agricultural land and the Law on Forestry.
Agroforestry Association in Serbia
The „Serbian Association of Agroforestry” was established in 2021 in Novi Sad. Their founding members are 10 researchers from the Institute of “Lowland Forestry and Environment” (ILFE) Novi Sad.
The main objectives of the „Serbian Association of Agroforestry” are:
- dissemination and spreading knowledge on agroforestry among farmers, police makers and other interested groups;
- prepare and propose legislation and policies related on agroforestry;
- introduction and application of research in agroforestry.
References
Saša Orlović, Bojana Klašnja, Zoran Galić, Andrej Pilipović (2007). Agroforestry systems as alternative methods of land use. Book of Abstracts of the 9th International Symposium on Interdisciplinary Regional Research – ISIRR 2007, June 21-23, 33.
Author
Sasa Orlovic (BSc, MSc, DSc. in forestry) is researcher at the “Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment” and full professor at the Faculty of Agriculture of University of Novi Sad (subject: agroforestry systems) since 2000. His research activities are focused on lowland forests, agroforestry and adaptation to climate change.