Dragana Drazic’s research while affiliated with Institute for Educational Research, Belgrade, Serbia and other places

Water regulation, integral water management and water conservation are one of the main tasks, set by an ecologically conscious society. A series of complex treatments are set in order to achieve the main goal in wastewater treatment, i.e. eliminating or reducing pollutants to a level that will not cause adverse effects to humans and the environment. The paper presents the construction of an efficient, environmentally friendly and economically justified biological system for the treatment of polluted urban waters. Research has shown that the proposed system with floating islands and algae was effective in removing various categories of pollutants from polluted river (organic and inorganic matter, heavy metals and pathogenic microorganisms), which indicated that the selected type of construction was appropriate. It was concluded that minor modifications in terms of cell coverage by floating islands could provide even greater removal of certain pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus and heavy metals.

Today there are many technologies for wastewater treatment and rhizofiltration is one of phytoremediation techniques that is very promising for cleanup of large quantities of water with medium or low concentrations of heavy metals. The aim of this study was to investigate phytoremediation potential of ornamental plant C. indica in water contaminated with lead. The present research demonstrated that dry weight of aboveground and below-ground biomass was significantly increased at the highest treatment containing 41 mgPb/L. Lead accumulation in below-ground biomass was up to 90-fold higher than in above-ground biomass. The highest Pb concentration was recorded in root (2480.07 mg/kg) on the 21st sampling day in treatment with the most Pb added. The highest bioconcentration factor (81.16) was recorded in the nutrient solution with the least Pb added. Translocation factor was not significantly affected by lead concentration in nutrient solution or exposure time and it was low (0.01). Symptoms of lead phytotoxicity were not observed on any plant in treatments and control. The results of this research further support the idea that terrestrial plants are more suitable for rhizofiltration than aquatic plants and that C. indica can be used in rhizofiltration systems or floating islands for treatment of water polluted with lead.

Until the middle of the past century, forests were treated as natural raw-material resources for wood production intended for mechanical and chemical processing, for civil engineering and thermal energy. Today, we are facing the increasing hazards to the environment and natural ecosystems in general, as the consequence of profit-making, disregarding the ecological consequences. The previous method of "wasting the nature" endangers the human survival and life in general on our Planet. In the past period, especially in the larger and industrial towns in Serbia, forests were not focused sufficient attention to, and there was not sufficient interest of the professional as well as the general social community in the evaluation of forest ecological functions. Taking into account the actual state of the environment of the two-million Belgrade city, and starting from the fact that forest ecosystems are among the most stable terrestrial ecosystems, they should get a much higher significance both in the narrower and in the wider city zone. The common attitude that forest is exclusively for production should be changed, and forest ecosystems near large towns should get new functional priorities in harmony with the principles of sustainable development, protection and enhancement of environmental quality. The paper presents some results of the researching project “Integrated valorization of forest resources in Belgrade” in the light of some of the most significant international regulations of environmental protection, the necessity of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The paper also discusses the multifunctional values and significance of urban forests from the aspect of environmental protection and social benefits. Key words: urban forests, functionality, integral evaluation, Belgrade

The memorial complex "Jozića Koliba" is situated within the boundaries of Obrenovac Reserve forest complex. A special value of this locality is its group of protected pedunculate oak trees, which consists of six protected trees aged approximately 200 years with their crown projections. The idea to protect not only the trees themselves, but also their immediate surroundings of which the forest community forms a part, imposed the need for studying and describing the community. The study of current forest vegetation was performed according to the principle of French-Swiss school Braun-Blanquet, J (1921,1928). In total, 33 species were identified in the forest community. In the tree storey, three species were identified: Quercus robur L., Fraxinus Angustifolia Vahl. and Acer campestre L. In the herb layer, two legally protected species were identified: Ruscus aculeatus L. and Viola odorata L. The presence of nine different areal types, dominated by species of sub-central-European flora element, was established by means of a phytogeographic analysis. According to the results of the analysis of life-form representation, this community is of a phanerophyte-hemicryptophyte type, with an increased presence of geophytes.

The paper presents a special evaluation of environmental, social and economic functions of forests by applying Vyskot's methodologies of objectification, systematization and evaluation of forest functions. To the method utilisation, area of Mountain Kosmaj is chosen, where the processes of urbanization have caused the greatest change in use of natural resources, especially forests. For this reason, the need for multi-functional use of forests is justified. Applying the methodology of objectivity, systematization and evaluation of forest functions (Vyskot et al, 2003), a financial evaluation of forest functions is carried out. As a special part of the research, determination of the level of contamination by heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Mn, Zn and Fe, ), and their accumulation in plants on the mountain Kosmaj was carried out. Evaluation of forest functions of the study area have been based on data on forest area that have taken from the General management plan for “Posavsko – podunavsko forest area (2001-2010)“ The financial value of each function is expressed in € per m3, which is currently the only reliable method of assessing functions. Use of this method, and data received form this research in area of Mountain Kosmaj creates the basis for the implementation of the concept of functionally integrated forest management. We will receive a more reliable data for managing state forests, as well as data to perform inspection of the state forests. There will be more reliable data to be used for forest management planning, silviculture, forest objective categorization. Keywords: Kosmaj, evaluation, multifunctional use of forests, heavy metals.

Belgrade-the capital city of Serbia enjoys an excellent geographic position thanks to its location at the confluence of two international rivers (the Danube and the Sava) and the vicinity of surrounding hills, a home to the immensely rich flora. Unlike other European cities situated on the banks of the Danube and Sava Rivers, which extensively exploit the benefits of their highly favourable location, Belgrade has not yet fully realised the European Journal of Geography-ISSN 1792-1341 © All rights reserved 96 Drazic D. ,et al ./ European Journal of Geography 5 3 96-122 (2014) potentials arising from its geographic position. In addition to its historical and cultural attributes, Belgrade's natural and geographic characteristics, among which a richness of biodiversity occupies a special position, hold a particular importance for the development of tourism. This paper presents the results of the study of different potentials for the development of tourism in the Belgrade area.

Belgrade - the capital city of Serbia enjoys an excellent geographic position thanks to its location at the confluence of two international rivers (the Danube and the Sava) and the vicinity of surrounding hills, a home to the immensely rich flora. Unlike other European cities situated on the banks of the Danube and Sava Rivers, which extensively exploit the benefits of their highly favourable location, Belgrade has not yet fully realised the potentials arising from its geographic position. In addition to its historical and cultural attributes, Belgrade's natural and geographic characteristics, among which a richness of biodiversity occupies a special position, hold a particular importance for the development of tourism. This paper presents the results of the study of different potentials for the development of tourism in the Belgrade area.

In the forest complex Obrenovac reserve is located Memorial 'Jozića koliba'. On the site are protected six old oak trees close to 200 years of age as well as an area covered by the projection of their crowns. In order to protect the entire area in the immediate vicinity of representing landscape units an analysis of meadow vegetation of the entire area was carried out. The study of the recent meadow grass vegetation was done according to the principles and methodology of the French-Swiss School Braun-Blanquet. The analysis of plant community was provided through a range of life forms - biological spectrum. In this paper present the results of the analysis of vegetation and environmental conditions at the studied area.

In urban areas treelined paths are the most vulnerable element. According expected functions treelined paths in certain street are unsatisfactory with their appearance and general condition. These are primarily biological, ecological, sociological and aesthetic functions. Because of negative anthropogenic influences trees are with low level condition, very low functionality and the unsatisfactory state of health. Most of the trees exist in very difficult circumstances of streets, there are crowded in the underground and in the aboveground part. In such circumstances, just as individual specimens of trees grow into individuals who manifest themselves in terms of morphology characteristics which are representative of its species. In this paper is presented the state of the avenue of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) in two central streets of the old part of Obrenovca. The data were analyzed on the basis of the reviewed every tree and with the particular assessing the state of the crown and the state of the trunk. Based on the analysis of the results measures are proposed for the rehabilitation of individual trees as well as measures for the reconstruction of the entire tree line.