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WATER EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTImage: aeternitas-numismatics.blogspot.comBorder areas in North-West and South-East Serbia are rich in historical heritage from the Roman EmpireAs an extension of this idea, the project for the connection ofarchaeological and historical heritage with water resources alongthe Roman Via Militaris in Serbia was launched in 2012. Theproject is based on strengthening the network of countries thatshare common natural and historical sites located in boundaryregions – the first at the boundary region of South-East Serbiaand the second in North-West Serbia. The South-East Serbia regioncovers the Vlasina area and Bela Palanka in Serbia, Kunstendilin South-West Bulgaria and Macedonia. The North-West regionincludes Western Serbia (Srem), East Croatia, the East Republicof Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Semberija).Border areas located in North-West and South-East Serbia are richwith natural resources and cultural-historical heritage, and presentexceptional potential for transboundary cooperation in variousareas such as environmental protection and tourism. Catchmentsof the rivers Sava, Bosut and Studva in the west and Nisava, Pcinjaand Dragovistica in the east are characterized with abundantwater resources, flora and fauna, and certain areas are declared asprotected areas by international associations for nature protection.The River Zasavica is located in Srem and is a habitat for about 700plant species, 187 bird species and 24 fish species, some of whichare endemic to the area. Obedska bara on a left bank of the Savariver is an oasis for important ecosystems including bird fauna with220 species.In addition, historical heritage found in these areas originatesback to the Neolithic period, with most of the finds coming fromthe Roman Empire. At the time of the Roman Empire, Fruska Gorabecame a border area where Sirmium (today Sremska Mitrovica) wasdeveloped. Seven Roman emperors were born in Sirmium, and thisis the beginning of the so-called settlement itinerarium RomanumSerbia which links significant sites of the ancient Roman periodand four settlements (Sirmium, Singidunum, Felix Romuliana andNaisus Belkin) in the territory of Serbia, including the birthplacesof 17 Roman emperors.This combination of natural resources and culturalhistoricalheritage is an excellent base for thedevelopment of tourism and other commercial fields.The aim of this project is to stimulate new researchand cooperation among different scientific fields thatwill give direction for the research of interdependencebetween natural resources and rich historical heritage.In this regard, there is a strong need for networking atall levels of education, from an elementary level throughuniversity education and research. Education in the waterresources and environment domain consists of the implementationof information and knowledge in achievingrequirements which are defined and set within regulatoryand legal documentation at numerous levels. Theseinclude the International Hydrological Programme (IHP),the United Nations Educational, Scientific and CulturalOrganization (UNESCO), the EU, the InternationalCommission for the Protection of the Danube River, theInternational Sava River Basin Commission or any otherinternationally recognized level, such as transborder watershedor basin level, regional level, state level or lesser areas.Recognized institutions that promote an integratedsystem of research and training and foster transboundarycooperation in the region include the InternationalResearch and Training Centre for Urban Drainage (underUNESCO auspices), the UNESCO Chair in Water forEcologically Sustainable Development at the Universityof Belgrade, the Serbian National IHP Committee andthe Black Sea Universities Network among others. TheChair in Water for Ecologically Sustainable Developmentpromotes an integrated system of research, training,information and documentation on sustanable waterresources management, hydro-informatics and ecohydrologyin Central Asia and Africa.[ 125 ]