PLANDISTE, Serbia (AP) — Cheerful bird songs ring out among tall trees in a small forest located in Serbia’s northeastern region. Below, footprints from various animals can be spotted pressed into the damp earth and moss covering.
This 5-acre tract of land, known as the Nightingale’s Forest, represents an unusual pocket of dense vegetation within Serbia’s predominantly flat agricultural landscape. Serbia’s Bird Protection and Study Society purchased this property in the previous year using online fundraising efforts to safeguard the woodland and demonstrate environmental stewardship.
“This woodland was privately owned, and we saw it was put up for sale,” society representative Uros Stojiljkovic told The Associated Press, noting that the trees likely would have been harvested if different buyers had acquired the property.
“The value of timber was higher than its (land) price,” Stojiljkovic said. “We protected it this way.”
The crowdfunding campaign’s success reflects increasing public concern for environmental conservation in Serbia, as the nation grapples with challenges including contaminated air and waterways, waste disposal issues, and development projects that endanger natural spaces, especially in urban centers.
Government officials have promised enhanced environmental oversight as part of Serbia’s bid to join the European Union, though conservation organizations caution that meaningful progress remains limited.
The Nightingale’s Forest supports diverse wildlife and bird populations that depend on its humid ecosystem, Stojiljkovic noted. The organization now intends to catalog the flora and fauna while maintaining the forest in its natural state.
The 8,000 euro ($9,500) purchase amount was raised in under 30 days, and hundreds of contributors continue providing donations for research activities and potential future land acquisitions, according to Natasa Jancic, who participated in the fundraising effort.
“Individually, we can’t do much, but as an active and stable community, we can achieve a lot,” Jancic said.
Originally established three decades ago as a specialized group for experts only, the Bird Protection and Study Society has expanded into a broader community of environmental enthusiasts, further evidence of rising ecological awareness, Jancic explained.
“We have many families who are members, many nature lovers who may not be that active in the field but they want to contribute somehow,” Jancic added.
While protecting just 5 acres won’t create significant large-scale impact, it represents an important beginning, Stojiljkovic noted.
“Every village or town should have a Nightingale’s Forest of its own for a cumulative effect,” he said. “It is important to start somewhere.”
