Public Enterprise “National Park Kopaonik” assumes full responsibility, as designated by the Law on National Parks (Official Gazette of RS, No. 84/2015 and 95/2018-amendment), to perform tasks of general interest, specifically as the manager of National Park Kopaonik. In its nearly 40 years of operation, the Public Enterprise “National Park Kopaonik” has faced numerous challenges and difficulties, whether related to illegal construction, increasing urbanization of the area, dumping and disposal of solid waste and construction debris, inadequately resolved sewage issues, mini hydroelectric power plants, and so forth. Generally, the challenges or problems facing the management of National Park Kopaonik have been caused by human factors, particularly the development of tourism in the protected area. Of course, there have also been issues arising from natural factors, the most dominant of which is the problem of forest dieback within the national park, first documented in 2012. This year, due to unfavorable climatic factors during the winter season—specifically intense snowfall combined with low temperatures and strong winds—more extensive damage to trees and forest ecosystems has occurred within the national park, particularly in the broader area of the Kopaonik Tourist Center. Unfavorable climatic factors have caused the following damage to forest ecosystems: 1.Broken tree tops (a dominant occurrence around ski trails and lifts) 2. Snow and wind throw (also a dominant occurrence in the Kopaonik Tourist Center, especially near ski trails and lifts, caused by the loss of stability in the forest structure due to the clearing of trails and lift routes, combined with unfavorable weather conditions, as well as at sites such as Markov Kamen, Samokovska River(Samokovska Reka), and the Jelovarnik Waterfall).

Public Enterprise “National Park Kopaonik” is engaged in the sustainable use of resources, particularly the sustainable management of forest ecosystems for which it is responsible, as part of its regular activities aimed at nature protection and biodiversity conservation. All prescribed measures for care and protection are implemented in accordance with valid Management Bases and annual plans, approved by all relevant ministries and institutions in the country concerning nature protection and forestry. Addressing the effects of unfavorable climatic factors presents an additional challenge and entails unplanned extensive activities within the national park’s forests. The Public Enterprise “National Park Kopaonik” will maximize all its resources to promptly address the consequences of snow and wind throw in the broader area of the national park. Given the magnitude of the problem and its spatial distribution, PE “National Park Kopaonik” kindly asks all current and future visitors, as well as all nature enthusiasts of the national park, for their understanding regarding the necessary time required to remediate the impacts of adverse climatic factors on forest ecosystems.

Due to the aforementioned issues, and primarily for the safety of visitors, the trails Samokovska River(Samokovska Reka) and Markov Kamen will be closed until the snow and wind throw damages are repaired. Once the situation in the forest complexes is addressed, all hiking trails and sites will be reopened, to the delight of those who have enjoyed walking and being in the nature of the Kopaonik National Park.