On 17 July, as part of the national citizen science project “Serbia Blooms 2026: From Observer to Researcher”, Petrovac na Mlavi became a meeting place for botany, nature conservation, and citizen science.
The event, funded by the Center for the Promotion of Science, explored Serbia’s rich plant diversity and the role everyone can play in observing, documenting, and protecting it—from the history of botanical research in Serbia to new opportunities for citizen scientists.
The programme featured contributions from:
🌿 Dr. Sanja Đurović, Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture in Kruševac, University of Niš
🌿 Dr. Milica Rat, Senior Research Associate, Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad
🥾 Marija Gajić, mountaineer, PSK “Pobeda”
Participants explored important questions about responsible engagement with nature: How can we enjoy and study plants without harming them? Which species can be collected, and which are protected by law? How can rare and endangered plants be recognised and documented?
The lectures covered:
- 🌱 Legal regulations protecting plant life and why they matter
- 🌿 Rare, endangered, and strictly protected plant species in Serbia
- 🔎 Species considered extinct and their last recorded locations
- 📸 How to photograph plants in the field so they can be reliably identified
- 🔬 How observations shared with #SrbijaCveta2026 can contribute to the official database of the BUNS Herbarium
- 🤝 How botanists and researchers across Serbia collaborate to verify citizen observations
- 🌍 The scientific background and goals of the Serbia Blooms 2026 project
The event highlighted that anyone can contribute to scientific knowledge. By observing plants carefully, documenting them responsibly, and sharing reliable information, nature lovers, hikers, photographers, and citizens can become active contributors to plant research and conservation.
Serbia Blooms 2026: From Observer to Researcher demonstrates how curiosity and a love of nature can grow into meaningful scientific participation.
