Overview
Situated in southeastern Europe, Serbia has a strategic location at the heart of the Balkan Peninsula. Covering a total area of 88,361 km², it offers a diverse topography. Its geography varies from flatlands in the north to hilly regions in the central parts, and mountains in the south. The Rivers belong to the basins of the Black, Adriatic and Aegean Seas. Three rivers are navigable along the entire length of Serbia: the Danube, the Sava and the Tisa. These geographical features contribute to Serbia’s rich natural diversity and serve as a backdrop to its land use patterns.
Land Use and Distribution
Serbia is a region of significant land use, with a substantial portion of its territory devoted to agriculture and forests. According to data from the National Forest Inventory of the Republic of Serbia (NFI) in 2009, agricultural land, along with forests and other forest lands, covers over 80% of the land area, excluding Kosovo and Metohija. This underscores the importance of these natural resources in the country’s landscape and economy.
Based on the initial results of the second National Inventory of the Republic of Serbia (NFI2) in 2023, it is evident that approximately 46% of Serbia’s land area is predominantly allocated to agricultural vegetation. This includes various agricultural land, including arable fields, gardens, vineyards, orchards, and raspberry bushes. Moreover, 617,805 hectares are dedicated to grassland, primarily comprising meadows and pastures, constituting about 8% of the total land area. These statistics provide valuable insights into the diverse and dynamic land use practices within Serbia.
Forest and Natural Resources
According to the findings of the initial National Forest Inventory (NFI), Serbia was categorized as a moderately forested country in which 29.1% of its total territory, equivalent to 2,252,400 hectares, was designated as forested land. This distribution included 7.1% in Vojvodina and 37.6% in central Serbia. Additionally, forest land, as defined internationally, also encompasses shrubs, accounting for 4.9% of the territory, making up a total of 34.0% or 36.3% relative to the area of productive land within Serbia.
The preliminary data from the second NFI indicates that the total forested area in the Republic of Serbia covers over 3,049,502.10 hectares. The state sector holds 42.5% of this total forested area, while the remaining 57.5% is privately owned.
Private forests within Serbia, under the jurisdiction of PE “Srbijašume,” cover a substantial area of 1,222,960 hectares. These private forests play a crucial role in the country’s forestry sector, with a volume of about 140 million cubic meters and an annual increment of approximately 3.6 million cubic meters. They are managed in accordance with the Law on Forests and are essential for Serbia’s forested landscape.
Forest area
3
million ha
Agricultural Land
Agriculture plays a pivotal role in shaping the land use of Serbia. Serbia’s landscape is dominated by extensive agricultural land, encompassing 4,159,448 hectares, which accounts for more than half (53.7%) of the nation’s total area. Out of this area, 45.7% is dedicated to intensive agricultural crops, including arable fields, gardens, vineyards, orchards, and raspberry groves, totaling 3,541,643 hectares. Moreover, 8% of this land, equivalent to 617,805 hectares, is characterized by grassy vegetation, primarily consisting of meadows and pastures.
Serbia has substantial potential in the agricultural sector, with regions offering opportunities for both extensive and intensive cultivation. The fertile plain of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina stands out as a promising area capable of significantly contributing to the nation’s agricultural output.
Agricultural land
4,1
million ha