We are pleased to announce the publication of a new research article in Stanovništvo, offering valuable insights into long‑term geomorphological, socio‑economic, and demographic transformations driven by riverbank erosion in Serbia.
Authors: Slavoljub Dragićević, Marko Langović, Milan Radović, Radislav Tošić, Milica Langović, Novica Lovrić, Stefan Manojlović
The study examines 97 years of lateral channel migration along four active meanders of the Kolubara River (1930–2026), revealing how intensive riverbank erosion reshapes land use, agricultural productivity, and rural demographic trajectories. As the authors emphasize, erosion is “directly linked to irreversible agricultural land loss and the disruption of rural livelihoods.”
🔍 Key findings show:
▫️ maximum lateral migration of 259.3 m and total land loss of 17.6 ha, predominantly arable land;
▫️ estimated value of lost land reaching approximately 24,122 USD;
▫️ dramatic reductions in arable land — up to 78% in some cadastral units (e.g., Draževac);
▫️ population decline exceeding 40% in Draževac, Konatice, and Poljane between 1961 and 2022;
▫️ collapse of the primary sector: agricultural employment dropped from over 90% (1961) to below 2% (2022);
▫️ newly formed point bars covered by shrubs confirm that lost agricultural land is effectively irrecoverable.
📖 How to cite: Dragićević, S., Langović, M., Radović, M., Tošić, R., Langović, M., Lovrić, N., & Manojlović, S. (2026). Land use and socio-economic changes caused by riverbank erosion – case study: Obrenovac municipality, Serbia. Stanovništvo, e797. https://doi.org/10.59954/stnv.797
🔗 Full text available here: https://stnv.idn.org.rs/STNV/article/view/797
