| Avala
Golemi
vrh |
03 Deliblato Sands / Deliblatska peščara |
 
Central point: 44°53'53"N 21°07'35"E Area: 35496 ha Length: 135.380 km
This region is one of the former largest continental sand areas in Europe. During the Pleistocene, wind-blown sand was aggregated in the form of dunes. The area is located in the Southeast Banat at the southern edge of the Pannonian plain. It extends from the neighbourhood of the Danube at the Dubrovac–Ram line in the south, to the B. Karlovac–Vladimirovac road to the north. The eastern boundary is Grebenac, while the western is Deliblato village. Apart from the dominant sands, the geological structure is more diverse nearer to the Danube, where loess and sandy clays in alluvial flats are also present. The climate is semi-arid continental Danubian climate, and partially semi-arid continental Pannonian climate. The dominant habitat types are Euro-Siberian steppe woods with Quercus spp. and Pannonic sand steppes. The natural potential vegetation is Querco-Tilietum tomentosae. Eight specific plant associations are present in the Deliblato sand region. They are listed here according to the habitats they occupy: in sandy habitats, there is Corispermo-Polygonetum arenariae and Festucetum vaginatae deliblaticum. In steppe habitats, the three associations are: Koelerio-Festucetum wagnerii, Chrysopogonetum pannonicum and Festuco-Potentilletum arenariae. Nearer to the Danube River, in marshy habitats, Salicetum rosmarinifoliae and Molinietum coeruleae are present. In the forest habitats, a recent community is Querco-Tilietum tomentosae. With regard to vascular flora, 651 species have been registered. The butterfly fauna of this region is well studied with first lists published by Petrik (1958) and Gradojević (1963) and with recent additions by Anđus (2008). Altogether 88 butterfly species have been recorded in the region, which is the greatest diversity in the Pannonian region of Serbia. The level of fauna knowledge for the region is good. The PBA is a host of nationally important populations of the following target species: Zerynthia polyxena and Glaucopsyche alexis.
The most significant anthropogenic pressure occured in the 18th century, when the devastation of the autochthonous forest (Quercion farnetto and Quercetalia pubescentis) reached enormous proportions. The afforestation of Deliblato Sands has gone through phases. The first phase lasted from 1812 until 1872 and was run by F. Bahofen. The second phase lasted from 1872 – 1912 and was run by J. Vesli. The third phase lasts from 1912 till nowadays, when allochthonous species such as Robinia pseudoacacia, Pinus nigra, Pinus silvestris, Pinus strobus, Pinus jeffrey, etc. were introduced. Reforestation protected the region from wind erosion, but disturbed the autochthonous ecological appearance of the area. Today, forest fires are a short term threat, but needed in the long term to preserve the area. According to national legislation, the region has the status of the Special Nature Reserve (1965) and Important Bird Area. Also, it is a Ramsar Site and Object of the geological heritage of Serbia. It is a Biosphere Reserve under the UNESCO-MAB programme (2001). Also, the region is included on the potential Important Plant Areas in Serbia list, and potential Emerald Site list. Region is on the preliminary list for the World Heritage under the UNESCO protection.
Other species reported at Deliblatska peščara: Dragonflies: Calopteryx splendens, Sympecma fusca, Lestes viridis, Lestes barbarus, L. virens, L. dryas, L. sponsa, Platycnemis pennipes, Ischnura elegans, I. pumilio, Erythromma viridulum, Gomphus flavipes. Birds: Circaetus gallicus, Accipiter gentiles, A. nisus, Buteo buteo, Aquila heliaca, Falco cherrug. Mammals: Crocidura suaveolens, Sicista subtilis, Spermophilus citellus, Spalax leucodon, Apodemus microps, Canis aureus. Photo M. Đurić |
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