Deliblatska peščara faces long-term recovery after massive forest fire

The Deliblatska peščara region in Serbia is facing a long-term ecological crisis following a massive fire that has affected between 3,500 and 5,000 hectares. While satellite imagery indicates that some areas have stabilized, experts warn that the recovery of the forest ecosystem could take decades.

Environmental Minister Sara Pavkov stated that a comprehensive five-year restoration plan is being prepared in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture. Once the fire is officially declared extinguished, licensed engineers will begin a ten-day monitoring period to assess damage.

Experts, including Branko Stajić from the University of Belgrade, emphasize that immediate reforestation could be counterproductive. The priority must be stabilizing the sandy soil to prevent erosion and removing damaged wood to mitigate the risk of secondary fires and insect infestations, such as bark beetles. The restoration process will involve determining which areas should undergo active reforestation and which should be left to natural regeneration.