Forest fires and fire protection
Authors: Milenković Milan 
Published: April 2024

According to the data of the Republic Statistical Office of the Republic of Srpska for the period 2000‒2019, forest fires in the Republic of Srpska burned a total of 144,006 ha. Of that, state forests account for 112,965 ha (78.44%) and private forests for 31,041 ha (21.56%). The largest burned areas were recorded in 2012 (33,781 ha), and the lowest in 2018 (166 ha). The growth trend of burned areas is not statistically significant. In the case of deciduous stands in state forests, an increasing trend of burned areas was also found, which is not statistically significant. The maximum was recorded in 2012 (21,226 ha), and the minimum in 2018 (53 ha). The increase in the burned areas of coniferous stands in state forests is somewhat more pronounced, but it is also not statistically significant. The maximum value was recorded in 2017 (2,125 ha) and the minimum in 2014 (29 ha). In mixed stands of deciduous and coniferous forests (state forest), a statistically significant (0.05) trend of decreasing burned areas was recorded. The maximum was recorded in 2001 (3,180 ha) and the minimum in 2014 (12 ha). Of the total burned area in Republika Srpska, low fires account for 95.81% and high fires for 3.99%. It is considered that the main cause of forest fires in Republika Srpska is man, and there are also fires caused by mines left over from the war (1992‒1995). In the forests on the territory of the municipality of Han Pijesak (altitude 762 to 1,537 m) in the period 2003‒2010 total 31 fires were recorded in 2006, with a area of 137 ha burned. In 85% of cases, the cause was man, mines and explosives in 3%, lightning strikes in 2%, while in 10% the cause was not determined. In the Republic of Srpska, the southern part (i.e. the mesoregion of Trebinje) is the most endangered by forest fires. Numerous studies have established a link between climate indices and forest fires. In North America, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), and the Atlantic Decade Oscillation (AMO) operate mainly. The influence of ENSO is evident in parts of South America as well as in Southeast Asia. In Europe, the influence of AMO (France, Portugal), the Mediterranean Oscillation Index (MOI) (Romania), the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) (Northern Europe) has been determined. According to the hypothesis of the solar wind as the cause of fire, high-energy particles of the solar wind, originating from active regions and coronal holes on the Sun, penetrate the Earth's magnetic defenses and reach its surface where they cause vegetation fires. This hypothesis has been confirmed for the United States, Portugal, and some parts of Southeast Europe. Research on the relationship between climate indices and forest fires, as well as testing the hypothesis of the solar wind as the cause of fires should be conducted in the Republic of Srpska, and the obtained results could be used in the forecast of forest fires. In order to conduct this research, it is necessary to create a single database on forest fires in the Republic of Srpska. This database should contain the following data: location, time of occurrence, course, completion, extinguishing activities, engaged personnel and equipment, burned area and its structure, causative agent (if known), etc. Proposed measures for improving the state of forest fire protection in the Republic of Srpska include: proper selection of tree species for afforestation, development of fire averages while maintaining existing ones, raising biological fire zones, improving water supply and construction of water reservoirs, improving propaganda measures, improving fire safety equipment, improving fire safety equipment. participants in firefighting actions and the local population and the application of the results of scientific research.