Plandiste (Serbia): The melodious chirping of birds was echoing among the tall trees in a small forest in northeastern Serbia. On the ground below, animal tracks could be seen imprinted in the moist grass and moss.The 2-hectare patch of land, called the Nightingale’s Forest, is a rare patch of dense greenery in Serbia’s flat, agricultural region. The Balkan country’s Bird Protection and Study Society purchased the land through crowdfunding last year to preserve the forest and set an example in environmental protection.Society representative Uros Stojiljkovic said, “This woodland was privately owned, and we saw that it was put up for sale.” He said that if someone else had purchased the land, the trees might have been cut.“The value of the wood was greater than the value of the land,” Stojiljkovic said. “We kept it safe that way.”The success of the crowdfunding initiative is seen as a sign of growing interest in nature conservation 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 big cities.Authorities have promised to boost environmental care as part of the country’s EU membership bid, but conservation groups warn that little has been done in reality.Stojilkovic explained that the Nightingale Forest is home to a variety of bird and animal species that thrive in its moist habitat. The new owners now plan to preserve the woodland as it is and catalog the plants and animals there.The purchase price of 8,000 euros ($9,500) was collected in less than a month and hundreds of people have continued to donate money that will be used for field work or additional land purchases, said Natasa Jancic, who is involved in the campaign.“Individually, we can’t do much, but as an active and stable community, we can accomplish a lot,” Jancic said.Launched about 30 years ago as a small, expert-only group, the Bird Protection and Study Society has grown into a community of nature lovers, a testament to the growing interest in the environment, Jancic said.“We have a lot of family members, a lot of nature lovers who maybe aren’t as active in this area but they want to contribute in some way,” Jancic said.Only 2 hectares under protection won’t change much on a larger scale, but it’s a good first step, Stojiljkovic said.“Every village or town should have its own nightingale forest for cumulative effect,” he said. “It’s important to start somewhere,” he added.
