Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) is a research organization whose activities are directed towards:

  • Applied research that seeks to solve practical problems of research users (public forestry enterprises, private forest landowners, urban residents, etc.)   
  • Fundamental (Basic) research that lay down the foundation for the applied research.

ILFE was founded in 1958 under the name of the Poplar Research Institute by the Parliament of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. In October 2006, the Institute has changed its name to the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE). 

The Institute has realized numerous projects related to the silviculture and sustainable forest management of various forest tree species, conservation and management of forest genetic resources, projects on the establishment of protective greenery, rehabilitation of degraded forest lands, forest protection, forest management plans, etc.

It manages an Experimental forest and nursery "Kaćka Forest" stretching on about 220 ha. The forest is a living laboratory and site for most long-term research studies, but also for the production of a good-quality forest and ornamental nursery stock.

ILFE researchers are collaborating intensively with foreign scientists from various European countries, United States of America (Research Universities and USDA Forest Service) and South Africa.

ILFE is a member of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), European Forest Institute (EFI), EVOLution of TREEs as drivers of terrestrial biodiversity (EVOLTREE) and European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN). ILFE researchers are members of the Executive Committee of International Poplar Commission (UN-FAO-IPC), International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), American Phytopathological Society (APS) and International Society for Plant Pathology (ISPP).

The Institute has 38 employees, including 21 Doctors of Science (D.Sc., Ph.D.)  and 4 Masters of Science (M.Sc.).

ILFE researchers teach courses for Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Agriculture (Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture) and Faculty of Sciences (Department of Biology) and at the University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture (Department of Forestry).

At this moment, five PhD students are conducting research at ILFE.