Abstracts

The establishment of the Natura 2000 network in Serbia embodies a dual challenge ecological conservation and financial sustainability within the broader framework of EU accession. While significant progress has been made in identifying potential Sites of Community Importance (pSCI) and Special Protection Areas (SPA), the absence of long-term financing mechanisms continues to constrain effective implementation. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of Serbia’s current financial model for nature conservation, emphasizing its dependency on self- generated revenues, donor funding, and insufficient public allocations (less than 0.5% of total state expenditure). The study examines structural weaknesses, including institutional fragmentation, limited absorption capacity for EU funds, and the lack of compensatory mechanisms for landowners and farmers. Through comparative analysis with EU member state particularly Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia the research identifies key factors that have enabled successful Natura 2000 implementation: strategic financial planning, compensatory payments, and integration with rural development policy. The paper proposes a phased roadmap for Serbia, including the creation of a dedicated Nature Conservation Fund, development of a 'Shadow-PAF 2025-2031', and incorporation of biodiversity-friendly measures within IPARD III programs. Furthermore, it advocates innovative financing models such as payments for ecosystem services (PES), green bonds, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) mechanisms to diversify funding sources. The findings highlight that Serbia’s readiness for Natura 2000 depends less on ecological preparedness and more on establishing a coherent financial and governance architecture. Institutional coordination, stable funding frameworks, and alignment with the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are essential to ensure the network’s long-term viability and to achieve compliance with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Keywords

Natura 2000, Financial sustainability, Environmental governance, EU accession, Biodiversity policy, Serbia, PAF, Ecosystem services

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