Organised by the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage and Center for Environment, on Friday, March 4, 2022, the first meeting of project partners gathered around the project “Support for the restoration and conservation of the oldest European tree species, Pančić’s spruce – was held in Višegrad (Picea omorika (Panch.) Purkinyne).
The meeting was attended by the project leader from the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage and representatives of the project partners: JPŠ “Sume Republika Srpska”, Faculty of Forestry Banjaluka, National Park “Drina”, National Park “Tara” and citizens’ associations “ArborMagna”, “Eko center” and Mountaineering Club “Tara”.
“As Pančić’s spruce inhabits a wide area on both sides of the Drina river and is located in the area of several administrative units, we considered it necessary to connect all the managers of the localities inhabited by the spruce with the aim of joint action and work to preserve this endemic tree species”, pointed out Aleksandra Anja Dragomirović from the Center for Environment and added:
“The project supported by the Swiss foundation “Franklinia” is an opportunity to connect the managers through activities on the implementation of project tasks and create preconditions for long-term joint action with the aim of preserving the oldest European species of tree.”
As part of the project, three scientific methods of assisted natural restoration are being researched with long-term monitoring of the physical characteristics of the soil and air, which will be used in the analysis of the condition and determination of the most concrete protection measures.
At the meeting, the experts on the project presented the previous research: prof. Dr. Milan Mataruga, Đorđije Milanović, and Ana Ćurić, who presented the project task, previous work in the field and plans for the next period. In addition to the project partners, the meeting was accompanied by representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska.
It is important to mention that an important focus of the discussion was also a review of last year’s fires, which significantly degraded the condition of vital stands and trees of Pančić’s spruce, and it is considered that an important segment of conservation is work on the prevention and improvement of the existing defence against fires, which are justifiably assumed to be one of the clear indicators of the changes that are taking place in the climate, and it is necessary to react in a timely manner.
In the following period, field research and works will continue. The host of this meeting was the Forest Farm “Panos” Višegrad, and the meeting was held in the immediate vicinity of Pančić’s spruce habitat, on the site of the hunting house “Kamenica” Višegrad.