There are 1,800 plant species on the Šar-Planina Mt. The most significant are the numerous Tertiary and glacial relics, as well as 339 Balkan endemics of which 18 are local endemics growing only on the Šar-Planina Mt.: Achillea alexandri regis, Bornmullera dieckii, Dianthus scardicus, Crocus scardicus, Verbascum scardicolum, Cerastium neoscardicum, Potentilla doerfleri, Hieracium scardicolum etc. Like flora, the vegetation is also uniquely diverse. Within the National Park, 190 plant communities were described, the character of which varies from Mediterranean-sub-Mediterranean in the river valleys, to sub-Arctic on the highest peaks. Particularly interesting are the communities of endemic relic Serbian ramonda (Ramonda serbica) in limestone gorges, forest communities of endemic relic Balkan pines – the Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii) and the Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce), as well as the shrubby communities of the glacial rhododendron (Rhododendron ferrugineum).

The National Park is inhabited by 147 species of butterflies, 45 species of amphibians and reptiles, around 200 species of birds, and 32 species of mammals, which makes it one of the faunistically richest areas of Europe. The most attractive animal species are the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), snow finch (Montifrigilla nivalis), lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus), capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), Balkan snow vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi), pine marten (Martes martes), stone marten (Martes foina), otter (Lutra lutra), wild cat (Felis silvestris), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bear (Ursus arctos), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) etc. The richness of the species, the presence of numerous endemic relics and nationally and globally important species make the National Park “Šar-Planina” one of the most important centres of the Balkan high-montane endemism, and one of the “hotspots” of biodiversity in Europe.

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The National Park “Šar-Planina” has a unique cultural heritage as well. Particularly valuable are 45 churches and monasteries built between the 12th and 16th century, during the times of the medieval Serbian state. Some of the most important cultural-historical objects are the hermitage cell and the Monastery of St. Petar Koriški from the 13th century, the Church of the Holy Virgin from the 13th century, the Church of St. Petka from the 14th century, the Church of the Holy Virgin Hodegetria from the 14th century, the Monastery of the Holy Trinity from the 15th century. At the foothills of the Šar-Planina Mt. near the city of Prizren, in the 14th century Tsar Dušan built a Serbian medieval capital, on which the remains of the Dušan’s town and the complex of the Holy Archangels Monastery bear witness.

The National Park starts at the altitude of 800 m and it ends on the mountain ridges that are interconnected with high saddles, over which dominates the tallest peak, Pančićev Vrh (2,017 m). The largest surface of the park stretches over the central and most forested part of the Kopaonik Mt. massif – a relatively flat area around 1,700 m high, known as Ravni Kopaonik. It is distinguished by the beauty and diversity of the landscapes. It is made of mountain peaks, pastures, dense coniferous and mixed forests, plateaus with springs, ravines, brooks and peat bogs. Twelve geo morphological, 6 geological, and 8 hydrological geo heritage objects add particular value to the rich landscapes.

The Kopaonik Mt. is distinguished with a high level of biodiversity. It has many different ecosystems with numerous species, among which there are many endemic and relic species. More than 1,600 species of vascular plants are found on the Kopaonik Mt., and the high-montane flora is composed of 825 species. Of this number, 91 species are endemic, and 82 species are sub endemic. Furthermore, there are three stenoendemic species that grow only on the Kopaonik Mt.: Kopaonik house – leek (Sempervivum kopaonikensis), Kopaonik violet (Viola kopaonikensis), and Kopaonik bitter cress (Cardamine pancicii). Regarding the endemic high-montane flora of the Balkan Peninsula, 11.9% of endemics grow on the Kopaonik Mt., and for this reason, it is one of the most important centres of the Balkan endemism. Thirty species protected as natural rarities also grow on this mountain. Fifty species are on the Red List of the Flora of Serbia, and four plant species are on the European Red List. The vegetation is characterized by all high mountains belts of the central Balkan. Thermophilous oak forests are at the foothills, followed by climatogenous communities of various types of montane beech forests. Dense Norway spruce forests grow above the beech belt, followed by sub alpine shrubby vegetation. The highest parts of the Kopaonik Mt. are covered with high montane pastures and grasslands. The vegetational richness and diversity of the National Park are also reflected in the presence of 65 plant communities, which indicates that this area is the centre of both floristic and vegetational diversity, in Serbia as well as in the Balkan Peninsula.

The ecological diversity induced the richness of animal world as well. Six species of amphibians and six species of reptiles were found in the National Park “Kopaonik”, of which 8 are protected as natural rarities. The bird fauna includes more than 170 species, of which 90% are nesting birds. Some of the present species include the shore lark (Eremophila alpestris), woodlark (Lullula arborea), common crossbill (Loxia curvirostra), rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), rock partridge (Alectoris graeca).

The mammal fauna comprises 39 species. Frequently present are the marbled polecat (Vormela peregusna), Alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus), red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), wild cat (Felis silvestris), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), grey wolf (Canis lupus). Besides the scientific, ecological, and educational significance, this National Park has a tourist value as well. It is the largest and the most beautiful winter tourism centre in Serbia. Scattered villages, old water mills, and shepherds’ summer huts add a particular charm to the National Park “Kopaonik” where the traditional way of living is preserved. Furthermore, there are 15 immobile cultural assets on this mountain massif. For their age and cultural-historical values, particularly distinct are the remains of the Church of St. Procopius from the 7th century at the locality Nebeske Stolice, the old churchyard in Meto|e and the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Kriva Reka. Furthermore, there are numerous remains of medieval mines and melteries. At the peak of Nebeske Stolice there is a mausoleum where the remains of Josif Pančić, the greatest Serbian botanist, rest.

The biota is very rich and diverse. It originates primarily from the Pliocene, when the Fruška Gora Mt. was an island in the Pannonian Basin, which enabled for many Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean species to be preserved.
Forests cover 90% of the National Park area. Linden forests dominate, growing over one third of the entire area. More than 20 forest communities of pure and mixed oak and beech forests were described, along with the geographical variants of thermophilous forests with Turkey oak, downy oak and Italian oak.
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The most interesting are the forests of sessile oak and oriental hornbeam with butcher’s broom (Rusco-Querco-Carpinetum), and the relic mixed oak forest with oriental hornbeam (Carpineto orientalis-Quercetum) of the sub-Mediterranean character. The steppic vegetation of the Festucion rupicole alliance, rich in rare and relic species, grow on the peripheral parts of the loess plateau of the Fruška Gora Mt. This type of vegetation on the Fruška Gora Mt. is the most mesophilous in comparison with typical steppes in Vojvodina, and it has the forest-steppe character.
The flora of the Fruška Gora Mt. comprises around 1,500 species, with more than 40 plants protected as natural rarities of Serbia. Particularly distinct are the Tertiary relic species – spurgelaurel (Daphne laureola), vine-leaved kitaibelia (Kitaibelia vitifolia), and bellflower (Campanula lingulata), and xerothermic steppic relic species – Tatar bread plant (Crambe tataria), papageno (Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. grandis), pheasant’s eye (Adonis vernalis), Sterbergia colchiciflora, and other species. More than 30 species of orchids (Orchidacea) are also a distinct feature of this area, of which 18 are internationally important.
Protected species of insects are distinct in the rich fauna – the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), southern wood ant (Formica rufa), long-horned beetle (Cerambyx cerbo), and Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina). Mediterranean and Atlantic species of hoverflies (Syrphidae) with ancient Pannonian distribution range are also present in this area, to which it represents a refugial habitat.

Of 13 species of amphibians and 11 species of reptiles, 14 species are in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The most threatened are the fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) and common adder (Vipera berus).
The bird fauna comprises 211 species, of which 130 species are nesting species, which makes this National Park one of the most important nesting areas for rare birds of prey in Serbia and the Pannonian Plane. Among them, particularly distinct is the most threatened species from the IUCN Red List, the golden eagle (Aquila heliaca), to which the Fruška Gora Mt. is the only active nesting area in the entire Serbia at present.
The mammal fauna comprises around 60 species, among which the bats (Chiroptera) are protected. Of small mammals, the most interesting are the European souslik (Spermophilus citellus) and lesser mole rat (Spalax leucodon). The present large mammals are the jackal (Canis aureus), wild cat (Felis silvestris), red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

Many archaeological localities can be found on the Fruška Gora Mt., ranging from the Neolithic era, the Copper era, the Bronze era, the Roman period, the medieval period, to the modern era. Interesting monuments of secular architecture are preserved in several settlements, such as Sremski Karlovci, Petrovaradin, Irig and others. Of sacral objects, particularly distinct are 17 Orthodox monasteries with specific architecture. These monasteries were built in the period from the 15th to 18th century. With their rich libraries, treasuries, and frescoes, they represented great spiritual centres during the Middle Ages.

Tara is a high, very karstified pleteau, 1000-1200 m in height, from which occasional peaks rise up to the elevation of 1400-1600 m. The plateau is divided with deeply incised river valleys in the form of gorges and canyons. Among them, the most remarkable is the canyon of the river Drina, with mighty limestone slopes even more than 1,000 m high. The entire area of the Tara Mt. with wild canyons represents a system of diverse and often contrasting landscapes, from those resembling boreal taigas with peat bogs, to landscapes of typical Central-European deciduous forests and Mediterranean limestone or serpentine rocky grounds and cliffs.

Besides the canyon of the river Drina, particularly distinct is the canyon of the river Rača, as well the canyons of the rivers Brusnica and Derventa, with steep rocky sides up to 700 m high. Remarkably attractive are the waterfalls Mali Skakavac and Veliki Skakavac on the river Rzav, and lookouts Kišak, Smiljevac, Bilješke Stene, Kozje Stene, Vitmirovac, and Kozji Rid.

Apart from the deep and wild ravines and canyons, the main feature of the Tara Mt. are the rich, dense, autochthonous coniferous forests that make this mountain the most forested mountain in both Serbia and Europe. Of more than 1,000 plant species, around 20 endemic species are the greatest asset of the Tara Mt. – Centaurea derventata, Aquilegia grata subsp. nikolicii, Stachys anisochila, Euphorbia subhastata, Cicerbita pancicii, Silene monachorum, Potentilla mollis, Pancicia serbica… However, the prime place belongs to the empress of all European endemics – the Serbian spruce (Picea omorica). A remarkable natural rarity, the Serbian spruce, was discovered and described on the Tara Mt. as a Tertiary relic and endemic that survived the Great Ice Age in restricted refugial habitats of the Tara Mt., the canyon of the river Mileševka, and in a part of the west Bosnia. For this reason, it is unique for the conservation of global biodiversity.

The vegetation of the Tara Mt. is built of 35 forest and 9 meadow communities. The specific ecosystem mosaic on the Tara Mt. is made of representative communities of mixed forests of Norway spruce, silver fir, and beech (Piceeto-Abieto-Fagetum), forests of endemic relic Serbian

spruce (Piceetum omorikae), forests of Scots and black pine on serpentinite (Pinetum nigrae-sylvestris), forests of hop hornbeam and black pine (Ostryo-Pinetum nigrae) on steep slopes and cliffs of the canyons of the rivers Drina and Derventa, rock communities with endemic species, peat bog communities of the boreal type, as well as various meadow communities.

The preserved ecosystems of the Tara Mt. are inhabited by the rich fauna of the Central-European, boreal, and South-European mountain-type distribution range. The symbol of the Tara Mt. is the relic grasshopper Pyrgomorphella serbica. This grasshopper is a local endemic to which the Tara Mt. is the only existing habitat. Representative specimens of the huchen (Hucho hucho) and grayling (Thymallus thymallus) live in the clear waters of the river Drina and mountain rivulets. Of around 130 bird species, particularly interesting are the black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), white-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia), Ural owl (Strix uralensis), boreal owl (Aegolius funereus), serin (Serinus serinus), red-breasted flycatcher (Ficedula parva), and nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes).

Of 24 mammal species, 17 species have the status of natural rarity. The brown bear (Ursus arctos), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild cat (Felis silvestris), pine marten (Martes martes), and otter (Lutra lutra), the host of the coasts of Lake Perućačko and Lake Zaovinsko, can often be seen on the Tara Mt.

There are many traces of Prehistoric, Classical, Roman, and Byzantine culture. The Monastery of Rača and the necropolises from the 14th and 15th century are among the assets of the Serbian medieval heritage. Harmonious log cabins made of wood and stone and villages scattered over the colourful landscape are the reflection of the traditional folk architecture.

The basic forms of the relief on the Prokletije Mts. are the glacial, periglacial, high-montane karstic, and fluvial relief. Particularly attractive are the glacial cirques, glacial lakes, rock ramparts, snow cirques, rock seas, sliding blocks, dolines, pits, lost rivers, and caves. In a very developed river network, the largest river courses are the Beli Drim, the Pećka Bistrica, the Dečanska Bistrica, the Lođanska Bistrica, and the Erenik (Ribnik). All these rivers and their tributaries have cut deep, wild, and very attractive valleys. Some of them are widened by the work of glaciers, and others are almost impassable, narrow, very deep gorges and canyons with numerous cascades, waterfalls, unexplored channels and crevices.

There are almost 1,800 plant species of different origin and age on the Metohian Prokletije Mts. Particularly significant are the numerous Tertiary and glacial relics, as well as 256 Balkan endemics, among which there are 20 local endemics, growing only on the Prokletije Mts.: Silene oliverae, Draba bertiscea, Pedicularis ernesti-mayeri, Wulfenia blecicii, Centaurea alba ipecensis, Silene macrantha, Hieracium acropolioscapum

etc.. The vegetation of the Prokletije Mts. is built of rich forests where, among many species of trees, various species of oak (Quercus cerris, Q. frainetto, Q. petraea), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia), Oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis), and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) dominate at lower altitudes, and the Balkan beech (Fagus moesiaca), silver fir (Abies alba), Norway spruce (Picea abies), endemic relic Bosnian and Macedonian pines (Pinus heldreichii, Pinus peuce), and dwarf mountain-pine (Pinus mugo) at higher altitudes. Above the forest belt, there are various shrubby communities where Siberian juniper (Juniperus sibirica) and blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) dominate. The mountain peaks and slopes below them are covered with endemic relic vegetation of pastures, meadows, rocky grounds, high-montane peat bogs, rock crevices, and neves.

The fauna of this mountain system is also a unique biological resource. It is inhabited by 139 species of butterflies, 14 species of amphibians, 34 species of reptiles, more than 200 species of birds, and 38 species of mammals (bats excluded). The most attractive species are the Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra), Alpine newt (Triturus alpestris), griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), capercaillie

(Tetrao urogallus), eagle owl (Bubo bubo), Balkan snow vole (Dinaromys bogdanovi), pine marten (Martes martes), stone marten (Martes foina), otter (Lutra lutra), wild cat (Felis silvestris), grey wolf (Canis lupus), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bear (Ursus arctos), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) etc.

For their exceptional biological diversity and the large number of endemic and globally importantspecies, the Prokletije Mts., along with the Šar-Planina Mt., belong to one of the six European centres of biodiversity. Besides the natural heritage, the cultural-historical heritage of the Metohian Prokletije Mts. is globally important. The most important group of objects are those built in the period of the medieval Serbian state. These are, for example, the Monastery Gorioč (14th century), the Monastery of Holy Virgin Hvostanska (14th century), and the Monastery Crna Reka (16th century). The Monastery Visoki Dečani and the Patriarchate of Peć have a special place in the culturalhistorical heritage of the medieval Serbian state. The Monastery Visoki Dečani (1327 – 1335), is the endowment of King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski and his son King Stefan Uroš IV Dušan. It was built at the point of exit from the attractive gorge of the Dečanska Bistrica. The Patriarchate of Peć (13th century) is the seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the endowment

of Serbian religious superiors from the 13th and 14th century, and it is located at the point of exit from the gorge Rugovska Klisura, one of the most attractive gorges in Serbia. These two monuments of the Serbian culture were included in the list of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 2005.