Thanks to donations from hundreds of citizens, the Society for the Protection and Study of Birds of Serbia has managed to permanently preserve Slavujev Lug in Banat – a naturally grown forest of nearly two hectares, rich in strictly protected bird species and significant for the preservation of biodiversity in this part of Vojvodina.
The Society for the Protection and Study of Birds of Serbia (DZPPS) announced that, with the help of donations from its members and supporters, it purchased Slavujev Lug, a forest covering nearly two hectares located in the territory of the municipality of Plandište, in Banat.
This is the first forest in Serbia that a community of bird lovers has purchased with the goal of permanently protecting it. The Society states that the first steps toward its study, conservation, and enhancement have already begun. Slavujev Lug was purchased in mid-2025 with borrowed funds, and by the end of the same year a donation campaign was launched to repay the invested money.
The response from citizens was exceptionally fast – in just 25 days, 359 donors raised more than 9,000 euros, exceeding the campaign’s initially set goal.
Slavujev Lug is located in close proximity to the Brzava River, on the border of two internationally important bird areas – Vršački Ritovi and Upper Potamišje, while the surrounding area also includes the landscape of exceptional features “Potamišje.” The forest is naturally grown and at least three decades old, and serves as a habitat for numerous strictly protected bird species, including the nightingale, golden oriole, turtle dove, Eurasian wryneck, woodpeckers, and various species of warblers. Nearby there is also one of the newer nests of the eastern imperial eagle, a critically endangered species.
The Society reminds that only about seven percent of Vojvodina’s territory is covered by forests, making this region one of the least forested in Europe. An additional problem is the fragmentation of forest habitats, which are often too small to receive formal protection and therefore easily disappear under pressure from economic interests.
In order to further protect and enhance Slavujev Lug, cameras for monitoring the presence of animals have already been installed in the forest. In cooperation with forestry experts, a management plan is also being prepared, which предусматриs the gradual removal of invasive tree species and the planting of long-lived, fruit-bearing native species, thereby improving habitat quality for numerous wild species.
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Source: NSreporter Foto: DZZPS