Koncepcija razvoja ekoturizma u UNESCO rezervatima biosfere: Studije slučaja iz Hrvatske i Srbije

Ecotourism is a sustainable form of tourism in protected areas that provides support for nature protection and sustainable development of local communities. Biosphere reserves are special areas with a relatively original nature and active socio-economic development, as well as with cultural characteristics that must be in harmony with the ecological environment. Understanding the interaction of environmental, economic and social factors in a biosphere reserve is the basis for setting the concept of sustainable development of ecotourism. In respect to that, this paper includes an analysis of the concepts of ecotourism within the protected areas Kopački rit (Croatia) and Gornje Podunavlje (Serbia), in the biosphere reserves Mura – Drava – Dunav (Croatia) and Bačko Podunavlje (Serbia), with the main aim of making a comparative analysis of their organization. The main findings are providing the knowledge basis in terms of nature protection according to the national legislation and international nature protection statuses, nature degradation and challenges of protected area management, organization of tourism, cooperation between nature protection and tourism development, projects supporting the nature protection and ecotourism development and involvement of the local population.Ekoturizam je održivi oblik turizma koji u zaštićenim područjima pruža podršku zaštiti prirode i održivom razvoju lokalnih zajednica u njihovu okruženju. Rezervati biosfere posebna su područja s relativno izvornom prirodom i aktivnim društveno-ekonomskim razvojem, kao i s kulturnim osobnostima koje moraju biti suglasne s ekološkim okruženjem. Spoznaja o interakciji ekoloških, ekonomskih, kulturnih i društvenih čimbenika u nekom rezervatu biosfere predstavlja temelj za postavljanje koncepcije održivog razvoja ekoturizma. Ovaj rad obuhvaća analizu koncepcija razvoja ekoturizma zaštićenih područja Kopački rit (Hrvatska) i Gornje Podunavlje (Srbija), u rezervatima biosfere Mura – Drava – Dunav (Hrvatska) i Bačko Podunavlje (Srbija), s glavnim ciljem da se napravi usporedna analiza njihove opće organizacije. Rezultati istraživanja pružaju ključne informacije o zaštiti prirode u skladu s nacionalnim zakonodavstvima i međunarodnim standardima zaštite prirode, degradacije prirode i izazova upravljanja zaštićenim područjima, organizacije ekoturizma, povezanosti između zaštite prirode i razvoja ekoturizma, projekata koji podržavaju zaštitu prirode i razvoj ekoturizma i uključivanja lokalnog stanovništva u daljnji razvoj

Nature protection and sustainable tourism interaction in selected Ramsar sites in Vojvodina (Northern Serbia)

This paper explores wetland-based tourism in four Ramsar sites in northern Serbian province Vojvodina, as well as a connection between tourism and nature protection. These regions are of great importance for Vojvodina, especially from the point of view of ecosystem services, because 83.3% of its territory are agricultural areas. Explored Ramsar sites were designated in period from 2004 to 2008 and they have been included in many plans as important areas for tourism development. However, the level of tourism development in these sites is not uniform because it depends on variety of factors such as touristic attractions value, engagement of nature protection managers in tourism development, and level of nature degradation and protection. The main objective of this paper is to determine the interconnection between nature degradation, nature protection and tourism development in selected Ramsar areas of Vojvodina, based on the Internal data of protected area managers,Report on the state of the environment and the scope of tourism development (infrastructure, services, development plans)

STR loci D19S216, D20S502 and D20S842 analysis in the Serbian population using dentin DNA

Dentin provides a protective enclosure for genomic and mitochondrial DNA. In the present study, DNA was obtained from pulverized or ground teeth. The quality of the DNA extracted from the teeth of 70 unrelated individuals was tested in the context of assessing the allelic and genotypic frequencies of autosomal loci D19S216, D20S502 and D20S842, and calculating a number of parameters of population genetics and forensic interest. This study illustrates that teeth can be a convenient tissue to extract DNA from large numbers of individuals for population genetic studies as well as for forensic case work

Analysis of air temperature dynamics in the “local climate zones” of Novi Sad (Serbia) based on long-term database from an urban meteorological network

A comprehensive analysis of air temperature (Ta) dynamics in “local climate zones” (LCZs) of Novi Sad (Serbia) was based on measurements from 17 stations during 3 years. Hourly changes of Ta, cooling rates (CR), heating rates (HR), and urban heat island (UHI) intensity were assessed on seasonal and annual level and during heat wave (HW) and cold wave (CW) periods. Substantial differences are observed for minimum (Tmin) and mean temperatures (Tmean) between LCZs. Two-phase nocturnal cooling was recognized with the first cooling phase characterized by intensive LCZ dependent cooling starting at 1–3 h before sunset and lasting until 3–4 h after sunset. The second cooling phase lasts until sunrise and is characterized by less intensive and LCZ nondependent cooling. The most intensive cooling (CRpeak) was observed in first cooling phase of HW and ranged from − 1.6 °C h−1 in street canyon (LCZ 2) to − 3.9 °C h−1 in forest (LCZ A). Furthermore, a new cooling indicator (CRtotal) was introduced. Due to cooling differences, the most intensive UHI of 5.5 °C was noticed between LCZs 2 and A at sunset + 1 h during HW. Two-phase diurnal heating was also recognized in LCZs with the first heating phase characterized by intensive LCZ dependent heating starting at sunrise and lasting until 4–7 h afterwards. The most intensive heating (HRpeak) ranged from 2.0 °C h−1 in street canyon to 3.0 °C h−1 in industrial area (LCZ 8) during HW. The second heating phase lasts until sunset and is characterized by less intensive heating and smaller HR differences between LCZs

Long-Term Assessment of Bioclimatic Conditions at Micro and Local Scales in the Cities of the Western Part of the Balkan Peninsula during the 21st Century

Thermal comfort assessments at local or micro-scales within urban areas can provide crucial insights for the urban adaptation strategies pertaining to climate-conscious urban planning and public health. However, the availability of long-term or mid-term daily or hourly meteorological data sets from urban environments remains a significant challenge even in the 21st century. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the thermal conditions in cities across the western part of the Balkan Peninsula, encompassing five countries (Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro), by utilizing the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) index. Meteorological data sets, comprising air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and cloudiness, were collected from 32 national meteorological stations/measurement locations spanning the period from 2001 to 2020. The PET calculations were conducted based on meteorological data measured three times per day (7 a.m., 2 p.m., and 9 p.m.). Upon conducting a spatial analysis of the meteorological stations, it was observed that most of them (25 stations) were situated within built-up areas or urban suburbs, rendering them highly relevant for local or micro-scale climate and bioclimate assessments. The findings revealed that urban locations exhibited slightly higher PET heat stress levels, particularly during the summer season and at 2 p.m. Moreover, higher average PET values were observed in both urban and non-urban stations situated within a continental climate during warmer periods, such as summer. In contrast, during the colder seasons, namely winter and spring, higher PET values were prevalent in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, the PET frequency analysis revealed a greater prevalence of extreme and severe heat stress levels in stations within continental climates, particularly those located in urban areas, as compared to stations in Mediterranean climates. In contrast, during the winter and spring seasons, monitoring stations in close proximity to the Adriatic Sea, characterized by a Mediterranean climate, exhibited significantly lower levels of cold stress compared to inland stations. Evidently, in addition to the climatic characteristics and surrounding terrain, the urban morphology significantly impacts the thermal conditions within cities

Anticorrosive epoxy/clay nanocomposite coatings: rheological and protective properties

The preparation of epoxy/clay nanocomposites (NCs) and their insertion into coatings are of great importance since the NCs could enhance the protective performances. In this study, epoxy NCs with 1-10 wt% of nanoclay Cloisite 30B (C30B) were prepared by the sonication-assisted solution method. The rheological measurements of epoxy/C30B suspensions revealed non-Newtonian, shear-thinning behavior of the uncured NCs, with an increase in the viscosity, yield stress, and shear modules with increasing organoclay content, while the dispersion effectiveness of C30B decreased. A significant enhancement of the rheological parameters was observed at the second percolation threshold (4.1 vol%) due to the formation of a continuous network of 45-layer-thick tactoids. Although NCs with 1-3 wt% C30B exhibited slightly reduced mechanical and adhesion properties compared with the cured reference epoxy resin, the epoxy primer and topcoat based on NC with 1 wt% C30B generally displayed improved impact resistance and maintained flexibility, pendulum hardness, and good adhesion properties. Two-layer coating systems, i.e., NC-based primers and topcoats, had higher corrosion stability in a salt spray chamber compared to the unmodified system

Population situation and trends in Baltic countries

The aim of this article is to study population situation and trends within the Baltic countries, exactly to say in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The main objective is to find out if political changes during new history (such as the situation during disintegration of SSSR, getting the independence, joining to EU and staying in it), had influence on population situation in the Baltic countries. Other assignments in this work refer to mutual comparison of population indicators and establishing of similarities and differences among the Baltic countries. They are initiated by facts that these countries have similar physical geographical characteristics and social historical context during new history, but different size of population and ethnogenetic origin. Part of this work tells us about projections of inhabitants given till the year 2100. The results of the research are got by using analytic and synthetic method for data interpreting which are found at official demographic publications. The main contribution of this work is to expand knowledge about population in the Baltic countries in order to complete the picture about demographic characteristics of the European region within 20th into 21st century. The results of the research show that there are more similarities between Latvia and Estonia comparing with populous Lithuania

Mapping Local Climate Zones and Their Applications in European Urban Environments: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Development Trends

In the light of climate change and burgeoning urbanization, heat loads in urban areas have emerged as serious issues, affecting the well-being of the population and the environment. In response to a pressing need for more standardised and communicable research into urban climate, the concept of local climate zones (LCZs) has been created. This concept aims to define the morphological types of (urban) surface with respect to the formation of local climatic conditions, largely thermal. This systematic review paper analyses studies that have applied the concept of LCZs to European urban areas. The methodology utilized pre-determined keywords and five steps of literature selection. A total of 91 studies were found eligible for analysis. The results show that the concept of LCZs has been increasingly employed and become well established in European urban climate research. Dozens of measurements, satellite observations, and modelling outcomes have demonstrated the characteristic thermal responses of LCZs in European cities. However, a substantial number of the studies have concentrated on the methodological development of the classification process, generating a degree of inconsistency in the delineation of LCZs. Recent trends indicate an increasing prevalence of the accessible remote-sensing based approach over accurate GIS-based methods in the delineation of LCZs. In this context, applications of the concept in fine-scale modelling appear limited. Nevertheless, the concept of the LCZ has proven appropriate and valuable to the provision of metadata for urban stations, (surface) urban heat island analysis, and the assessment of outdoor thermal comfort and heat risk. Any further development of LCZ mapping appears to require a standardised objective approach that may be globally applicable

Dispersion efficiency of montmorillonites in epoxy nanocomposites using solution intercalation and direct mixing methods

The major aims of this paper are the investigation of the effects of the mixing procedure and the montmorillonite (Mt) surface modification on the structure (optical microscopy, XRD, TEM, SEM), rheological, mechanical properties (DMA, tensile test) and corrosion stability (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) of clay mineral/epoxy nanocomposite (CPN). Two series of CPN samples were prepared based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and polyamidoamine curing agent with three organophilic Mt and sodium-montmorillonite (1 wt%). Mt were mixed with DGEBA solution in the powder (direct mixing) and in the form of dispersions, preswollen in a commercial coating thinner (solution intercalation). The commercial Mt (Cloisite 30B) modified by quaternary alkylammonium ions bearing hydroxyl groups and especially Mt functionalized by primary (HDA(+)-Mt) alkylammonium ions, at loadings close to cation exchange capacity (CRC), were significantly swollen by thinner and further uniformly dispersed into CPN. Meanwhile, low gel volumes in thinner were found for more hydrophobic Mt (Cloisite 15A). The compatibility of Mt with solvents was well described by solubility and Flory-Huggins interaction parameters. In contrast to the direct incorporation of Mt powders in CPN, swelling enhanced intercalation of epoxy matrix into Mt, and for HDA(+)-Mt based CPN interlayer spacing reached 4.4 nm. The usage of HDA(+)-Mt organoclay and solution intercalation procedure provided the highest enhancement in rheological parameters (G', G", of Mt/epoxy dispersions and glassy storage modulus, Young's modulus and barrier properties of cured CPN

Conference Attendees’ Satisfaction: Evidence from Belgrade (Serbia)

Conference industry brings significant economic effects and that is one of the reasons why many destinations around the world strive to organize conferences, especially the international ones, which make bigger economic effects. According to the Strategy of tourism development of the Republic of Serbia (2005-2015), city break and business tourism are tourism products of high priority, which can provide short-term positioning of Novi Sad and Belgrade, at the first place, at the international tourism market, and contribute to the growth of tourism turnover of foreign travellers.Belgrade is the capital and the largest city in Serbia. It is very well equipped with necessary infrastructure for organizing business events such as conferences, congresses, meetings etc. Lately, the number of international business events in Serbia is increasing and the majority of those events are organized in Belgrade. However, there are very few surveys which are examining satisfaction of the conference attendees in Serbia. This topic is often ignored despite the fact that the attendees satisfaction is substantial for organizers and all other relevant stakeholders at host destination. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze the satisfaction of the conference attendees, as they are final consumers of conference tourist product and their experience regarding both conference and host destination is thus essential to destination marketing and management organizations, conference centres, hotel managers, meeting planners and all other stakeholders involved in conference industry and touris