Serbia initiates forest seed collection to restore wildfire-damaged areas

Dragan Glamočić, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management in a technical mandate, has issued an urgent decree for the collection of forest seeds during the autumn and winter of 2026/2027. The initiative aims to secure the reproductive material necessary for the establishment and restoration of forest ecosystems across Serbia.

A primary focus of this mandate is the rehabilitation of forest areas destroyed by wildfires during 2026, specifically within the Special Nature Reserve ‘Deliblatska Peščara’. Minister Glamočić noted that the struggle against the fires in Deliblatska Peščara lasted 52 days, leaving significant consequences for the local ecosystems.

Seed producers are instructed to collect seeds from various species, including beech, multiple types of oak, pine, spruce, ash, maple, and lime, within registered seed facilities. The decree was issued as an urgent procedure due to the limited seasonal window for seed ripening and collection. The long-term goal is to use professional assessments to select species adapted to climate conditions, creating more resilient forests for future generations.