Strategic and legal framework in forestry and related sectors: Climate change mitigation in European Union and Serbia

• Main Authors: Ranković Nenad, Stanišić Mirjana, Nedeljković Jelena, Nonić Dragan
• Format: Article
• Language: srp
• Published: Faculty of Forestry, Belgrade 2016-01-01
• Series: Glasnik Šumarskog Fakulteta: Univerzitet u Beogradu
• Subjects: climate change; forestry; policy; European Union; Serbia
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0353-4537/2016/0353-45371613099R.pdf
• ISSN: 0353-4537; 2217-8600

The important role of forests in mitigating and adapting to climate changes is recognized and widely accepted. Therefore, it becomes a subject of universal interest and support. However, in the national strategies relating to climate change, the importance of the forestry sector in mitigating these changes is quite often not discussed in detail. In addition, the problem of climate change is not fully represented and included in national forestry policies. The aim of this research was to determine the compliance and differences of strategic and legislative frameworks in forestry and related sectors, relating to climate change mitigation in the EU and Serbia. At the EU level, there are two strategies and a policy framework, and in Serbia, eight sectoral strategies, referring and discussing the climate change mitigation through forestry. At the same time, these issues are highlighted as the primary objective, only in the Climate and Energy Package of the EU and the Forestry Development Strategy in Serbia. In terms of legislative framework in Serbia, two laws have climate change mitigation through forestry as the primary objective, while for the analyzed relevant EU legislation, this is a secondary objective. In Serbia, only the Forest law has a direct impact on climate change mitigation through forestry, while at EU level, there is no regulation, directive or communication, with the same direct influence. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 43007: Studies of climate changes and their impact on the environment-monitoring impacts, adaptation and mitigation, podprojekat, 43007/16-III: Socio-economic development, mitigation and adaptation to climate change]