The regeneration of oak forests in the hilly and mountainous areas is one of the most serious and complex problems forestry practitioners face in Serbia. The success of regeneration depends on the individual or combined (often synergistic) influence of numerous biotic, abiotic, and management factors. While there is significant knowledge and experience about this process in practice so far, there is still great uncertainty regarding its proper execution and control over the influencing factors. The paper critically evaluated the available literature and current experiences from practice through a questionnaire. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, taking into consideration various databases and search engines, mostly composed of peer-reviewed publications from ISI-listed journals. A total of 187 papers were included in the base. Aiming to better understand the current state and the main problems in the regeneration of hilly-mountainous oak forests in Serbia, surveys were performed among forest practitioners. Based on this, the paper synthesized the current knowledge and addressed future perspectives in hilly-mountainous oaks management. More specifically, the factors that dominantly influence the regeneration process, their modes of action, behavior in the case of modifications, as well as the possibilities of their interaction are defined. The success of regeneration is determined by canopy openness, microclimatic conditions, presence of competitive vegetation, initial number of seedlings, and seedling growth and health, as revealed in the literature. The proposed methods for more successful regeneration and restoration of oak forests, include producing high-quality seedlings, using advanced weeding methods, developing a specific strategy for restoring native oak forests, assessing genetic resources and long-term monitoring. Overall conclusion of the conducted literature analysis is that there is a great need for conducting further long-term research on improving the regeneration systems in hilly-mountainous oak forests in Serbia.

New terms have proliferated as international focus on forest condition surged because of the role forests play in climate change mitigation and adaptation. From umbrella concepts (e.g., forestation, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem restoration) to specific methods (e.g., forest landscape restoration, rewilding, and assisted migration), nuanced terms target different beginning conditions (non-forest, harvested, deforested, or degraded forest) and desired future conditions (forest cover, self-sustaining systems, ecological integrity). Human well-being may or may not be a relevant objective. Quality forest reproductive material is critical for the success of large-scale planting to meet current policy objectives and future needs as climate warming and increased intensity and frequency of extreme events add to reforestation backlogs embodied in the new terminology and attitudes toward forest management.

“Planning at the landscape scale” is the new paradigm of spatial development which embraces the management, protection, and restoration of the landscape character distinguished through “landscape approach” which differs from traditional sectoral and project-based approaches. The institutionalization of “the planning at the landscape scale” has shown an upward trajectory since the Republic of Serbia ratified the European Landscape Convention (ELC). The ELC aims to promote the institutionalization of landscape planning, management, and protection across all landscapes, whether urban, rural, or natural. The landscape planning approach integrates the principles of landscape ecology, principles of landscape aesthetics, and transdisciplinary research. This approach is solution-oriented, aiming to preserve, restore, and enhance the landscape’s character – the distinctive structure and image of the landscape. It achieves this through the “conservation and development of landscape patterns (mosaic), considering land use, the relationship between built and open spaces, and the distinct qualities of the buildings." (Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia, 2035). As one of the novel tools that can effectively support the achievement of national-level spatial planning objectives, the development of the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) methodology holds the potential for incorporating the following goals and principles related to landscape planning, protection, and sustainable utilization: - Integrating the landscape approach (emphasizing the value of landscape character) into the forestry planning and management system; - Forestry development aligned with the recognized values of the landscape character (quality objectives, landscape capacity, and sensitivity); - Urban landscape restoration, preservation, and enhancement of the characteristic structure and image of landscapes through; a) establishing urban spatial order and preserving remnant elements of the rural landscape (reforestation and afforestation within agroforestry areas, peri-urban mosaics complexes, surface watercourses) in suburban areas; d) preserving space for green infrastructure development, as a measure of the city's adaptation to climate change, and creating a network of green and public spaces that connect the natural and cultural values of urban settlements. In this paper, we present the Surčin Forest Landscape Restoration Plan case study, demonstrating landscape character assessment (LCA) as a research method. This method evaluates the sensitivity of landscape character, addressing both resource and visual aspects. The methodological approach seeks to address the critical questions of “what”, "where" and "how" in the context of establishing new forest areas within the broader landscape framework of the forest restoration plan. By providing a strategic and spatially informed approach, it ensures that the restoration efforts are not only ecologically sound but also optimally positioned to enhance the resilience, biodiversity, landscape diversity, and connectivity of forest ecosystems, as well as to improve the cultural ecosystem services of the Municipality of Surčin.