Mining areas and the environmental protection issue: The attitudes of the local population of Bor and Majdanpek

Mining areas in Serbia face numerous challenges in the fi eld of environmental protection and management. In addition to ecological challenges, such as harmful gas emissions, pollution of surface and ground waters, etc., there are also legal and regulatory challenges, including aligning with the EU legislation and ecological principles, ineff ective enforcement of legal acts, and, fi nally, social challenges of the local population participation in formal and informal activities within the community. A survey was conducted on a random sample (N=300) in the period August to September 2024 in the rural and urban settlements of the city of Bor and the municipality of Majdanpek. Based on the above, this paper will present the level of local population participation, both in the creation of planning documents and in activities signifi cant to the local community.