Identifying vulnerabilities and threats to cultural heritage in Serbia’s viticultural subregions

Jovanović, Radmila and Almeida-Garcia, Fernando and Cortes-Macias, Rafael and Mančić, Emilija (2025) Identifying vulnerabilities and threats to cultural heritage in Serbia’s viticultural subregions. Revue Roumaine de Géographie/Romanian Journal of Geography (RjGEO), 69 (2). pp. 241-256. ISSN 1220-5311

Text Jovanović, Almeida-García, Cortés-Macías, Manić - RjGEO), 69(2) 2025.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (635kB)

Abstract

This study seeks to map the impact of human activities in the wine-growing areas of Serbia by developing a Human Influence Index (HII), which takes into account the degree of protection of cultural heritage according to the Law on Cultural Assets. By comparing the HII with categories of cultural heritage protection, the goal is to identify subregions where cultural heritage protection needs to be increased, especially in areas with high human impact. The methodology is based on the analysis of several geographically relevant factors, including population density, land use changes, infrastructure access, and light pollution, in order to create a comprehensive depiction of human impact. By linking this with the existing legislation, the aim is to identify the discrepancies between the formal protection of cultural assets and their real vulnerability, with a view to improving the protection and preservation of wine-growing heritage. The urbanization factor has contributed much to the distortion of cultural heritage in the wine-growing areas of Serbia, and partial differences exist according to zones with regard to preserving cultural sites. In this regard, the results of research underpin the necessity to apply protectionist strategies in view of the influence of human impact on the territory. The green zone, with monasteries of exceptional significance, requires a balance between natural and cultural heritage, while the red zone is more susceptible to urbanization and requires careful urban planning not to jeopardize the cultural assets. Attention ought to further focus on research which uses modern technology in their use of data, and most specifically research about developing methodologies related to the insertion of protective zones into urbanistic plans in order for long-term safeguarding of the wine-growing cultural heritage of Serbia to become certain.

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