The nightingale forest is a rare thick area in the agricultural area
Blandest (Serbia): The chirping of birds echoes through the towering trees in a small forest in northeastern Serbia. On the ground, animal tracks can be seen imprinted in the wet grass and moss.The two-hectare plot, dubbed the Nightingale Forest, is a rare patch of dense greenery in Serbia’s flat agricultural region. The Society for the Protection and Study of Birds in the Balkan country purchased the land last year through crowdfunding to preserve the forest and set an example in environmental protection.“This forest was privately owned, and we saw it was for sale,” association representative Uroš Stojiliković said, adding that the trees might have been cut down if someone else had bought the land.
“The value of the timber was higher than the price of the land,” Stojlikovic said. “We protected it that way.”The success of the crowdfunding initiative is seen as a sign of growing interest in protecting nature among people in Serbia as the country faces environmental problems ranging from air and river pollution and waste management to profit-driven construction that threatens green areas, especially in major cities.Authorities have pledged to boost environmental stewardship as part of the country’s bid for European Union membership, but conservation groups have warned that little has been done on the ground.
Stoiljkovic explained that the nightingale forest is home to a variety of bird and animal species that thrive in its humid environment. The new owners now plan to include the flora and fauna there while keeping the forest as it is.The purchase price of 8,000 euros ($9,500) was raised in less than a month, and hundreds of people have continued to donate money that will be used for field work or purchasing additional land, said Natasha Jancic, who participated in the campaign.“On an individual level, we can only do so much, but as an active and stable community, we can achieve a lot,” Jancic said.The Society for Bird Protection and Study, which was launched about 30 years ago as a small group made up only of experts, has evolved into a community of nature lovers, greater evidence of the growing concern for the environment, Jancic said.“We have many member families, and many nature lovers who may not be active in this area but want to contribute in some way,” Jancic added.Just a couple of hectares of protection won’t change much on a larger scale, but it’s a good first step, Stojlikovic said.“Every village or town should have its own nightingale forest to achieve a cumulative effect,” he said, adding: “It is important to start somewhere.”
