Bird diversity and its threats in Dimitrovgrad, Eastern Serbia

Abstract

Dimitrovgrad is a peripheral municipality in the Republic of Serbia with only little data about its bird diversity. This article indicates observed breeding and non-breeding bird species that were collected in a non-systematical manner over the past 10 years in this municipality. In total, 120 species were observed, out of which 96 are considered breeding. Given that the observations do not cover the whole area, Dimitrovgrad can be considered a bird hotspot for Serbia. This hotspot is currently threatened by land abandonment, rapid land-use changes by emerging EU-type farming and widespread corruption. Safeguard ing the current biodiversity would include a slow and steady development that focuses on small-scale farming and nature-based tourism.