Forest Landscape Restoration to Reduce Flood Risk in the Gledić Mountains, Kraljevo (Serbia)
Kraljevo, Raška District, Serbia
The City of Kraljevo faces high disaster risk from floods, landslides and earthquakes, exacerbated by degraded forests and erosion. Following field mapping and stakeholder consultations, a pilot Nature-based Solution will implement Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in the Gledić River catchment to improve forest structure, stabilise soils, retain water, and lower downstream flood risk while creating silvopastoral benefits for local livelihoods.
Kraljevo’s degraded forests, rivers and pastures contribute to torrential flows during rainfall, with insufficient vegetation cover leading to rapid runoff and frequent flooding. Women and vulnerable groups are particularly affected. To address these risks, local actors identified the Gledić River catchment in the Gledić Mountains for a pilot intervention aimed at disaster risk reduction, biodiversity recovery and livelihood support through FLR using autochthonous species and local resources.
- Risk-led site selection: Landscape restoration opportunities mapped through field visits and consultations; Gledić River catchment chosen for the pilot.
- Targeted forest landscape restoration: Transition from coppice to high forest to enhance forest stability, reduce erosion, and increase soil water-retention capacity.
- Flood risk reduction: Measures designed to reduce torrential flows and prevent downstream infrastructure damage, including to seven bridges.
- Biodiversity and livelihoods: Habitat restoration across forests, pastures and farmlands; establishment of a silvopastoral system to support cattle breeding and improve livelihoods, especially for women and vulnerable groups.
- 2023 - 2025: Northern Forests Initiative in North Macedonia & Albania.
- 2024 - 2028: Related regional enablers: “Greening the Western Balkans”; “ADAPT 2.0”.
The pilot applies Forest Landscape Restoration in the Gledić River catchment, shifting degraded coppice towards high forest using autochthonous species and local resources. Measures aim to stabilise slopes, cut erosion, and increase soil water-holding capacity to dampen peak flows. Complementary habitat restoration across forests, pastures and farmlands will support biodiversity and establish a silvopastoral system to reinforce local livelihoods and disaster resilience.
Intervention details
Mapping of restoration opportunities was carried out through a series of field visits and consultations with local stakeholders. This process informed the selection of the Gledić River catchment in the Gledić Mountains (City of Kraljevo, Raška District) as the pilot area for implementation.
The intervention centres on Forest Landscape Restoration to address flood risk and soil erosion linked to degraded forests and land. The approach is designed to improve forest structure and stability, increase soil water retention, and reduce rapid surface run-off that contributes to torrential flows and downstream flooding. A key technical element is the planned transition of degraded coppice stands towards high forest, intended to strengthen forest resilience and reduce erosion and flood risk.
Implementation is planned to prioritise the use of local resources and autochthonous species to support sustained restoration and disaster risk reduction. Beyond forest stands, the intervention is intended to contribute to the restoration of associated habitats (including pastures and farmlands) and to establish a silvopastoral system to improve conditions for cattle breeding, linking ecosystem restoration with local livelihoods, particularly for women and vulnerable groups.
The intervention is framed as a local to subnational pilot within the Gledić River catchment, with an explicit focus on reducing downstream impacts, including risks to infrastructure such as bridges and to populated areas along the watercourse.
Key stakeholders
- City of Kraljevo and local stakeholders
- Biodiversity Task Force of the Western Balkans (hosted by IUCN)
- Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)
- Austrian Development Agency (ADA)
- Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
- Macedonian Ecological Society (MES)
- Protection and Preservation of Environment in Albania (PPNEA).
Financial metrics
Funding sources
- Information not available for the Kraljevo pilot
- Regional/related initiatives: Austrian Development Agency (ADA) via “Greening the Western Balkans”
- Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) via “ADAPT 2.0”
- Swedish Postcode Lottery Foundation via Northern Forests Initiative (NMK/AL)
Budget
- Information not available for the Kraljevo pilot
- Regional/related initiatives: €2.0m (Greening the Western Balkans; €1.8m ADA grant)
- €2,371,229 (ADAPT 2.0)
- SEK 6,900,000 (Northern Forests Initiative—North Macedonia & Albania)
Environmental
- Reduced erosion and improved soil water-retention through FLR (planned).
- Lower flood risk downstream on the Gledić River (planned).
- Prevention of damage to seven bridges along the watercourse (planned).
- Restoration of natural habitats (forests, pastures, farmlands) and increased biodiversity (planned).
Social
- Improved conditions for cattle breeding through a silvopastoral system (planned).
- Enhanced livelihoods for local inhabitants, particularly women and vulnerable groups (planned).
Economic
- Avoided costs from reduced infrastructure damage to seven bridges (planned).
- Information not available on projected revenue or quantified cost savings.
- Information not available on permitting, maintenance responsibilities or monitoring plans.
- Success depends on sustained management to ensure coppice-to-high-forest transition and to maintain restored pastures.
- Ongoing engagement is needed to secure benefits for women and vulnerable groups throughout implementation.
- Start with risk-informed mapping and local consultations to pinpoint priority sub-catchments for maximum flood-risk reduction.
- Use autochthonous species and local resources to improve restoration durability and reduce maintenance needs.
- Couple FLR with productive systems (e.g., silvopastoralism) to align disaster risk reduction with livelihood incentives, aiding long-term stewardship.
- Embed pilots within regional frameworks (e.g., Green Agenda for the Western Balkans) to leverage technical support, financing pathways and policy alignment.
For Reference
- Radanovic, M. and IUCN ECARO, 2025. Reducing disaster risks and preventing floods through the implementation of Nature-based Solutions in Gledić (Kraljevo), Serbia. PANORAMA - Solutions for a Healthy Planet, ISSN 2511-7475. Web link: Accessed on January 27, 2026.
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