JemsThe model of an endangered riparian forest restoration with remote sensing support in the Danube cross-border area (Siga2Kazuk)
Priority Axis 1: Cooperating for smarter programme area
Operation start date: 1 March 2026
Operation completion date: 29 February 2028
Budget: EUR 914.288,92
Number of partners: 2
Operation purpose and expected achievements:
The project’s main objective is to development of collaborative model as a joint nature-based solution that address shared environmental concerns and risks, ecosystem connectivity and biodiversity conservation and will enhance forest degradation prevention and climate resilience. Also, the aim is to strength the cross-border cooperation between both organisations and transfer of knowledge in the region through online and in-site trainings to improve skills in the field of use drones in forestry.
The main outputs of the project are:
– Developing a collaborative model for managing endangered riparian forests in the Danube cross-border area through restoration of 36.5 ha of degraded forest (20 ha in Serbia and 16.5 ha in Croatia)
– Implementation of advanced remote monitoring technologies
– Creation of a joint digital platform for forest monitoring
– Enhancement of cross-border cooperation in forest management.
Beneficiaries:
Public Enterprise “Vojvodinašume” (RS) as Lead Partner will restore forest on an area of 20 ha. On 10 ha the restoration of devastated pedunculate oak stands will be carried out, and on the remaining 10 ha the conversion of poplar stands into pedunculate oak stands will be performed. Forest restoration includes site preparation for afforestation, fencing for wildlife protection, planting of pedunculate oak seedlings, and maintenance and protection of the young plantation. VŠ will prepare the forest for afforestation and protect the area from wildlife by erecting a shared wire fence with a total length of 2 km. After site preparation for afforestation and fencing for wildlife protection, pedunculate oak seedlings will be planted on an area of 20 ha. The pedunculate oak seedlings will be produced in the JP “Vojvodinašume” nursery. Planting will be done in machine-drilled holes, with a planting spacing of 3 x 1 m, and with the addition of 10 g of hydrogel (a moisture retention agent in the root system zone) in each hole. Then, the maintenance of the established plantation will be carried out. Maintenance includes two seedling hoeing operations and two manual removals of weed vegetation using hand tools. After each weed vegetation removal, foliar feeding of seedlings will be performed. The application of foliar fertilizer will be done by drone, which eliminates damage to the young pedunculate oak plantation and soil damage caused by heavy machinery passage (tractors with sprayers or atomizers). Maintenance measures also include plantation irrigation. After planting, a drip irrigation system will be installed, which will ensure optimal soil moisture in the root system zone, which will certainly be enhanced by the applied hydrogel. The irrigation system is solar-powered. VŠ will also monitor forest health, its changes over time such as ecosystem changes caused by weather conditions or adverse weather events, seasonal changes, or human impact and activities on the ecosystem itself, using drones. VŠ plans to acquire an optical radar for measuring plant height and volume (LIDAR – Light Detecting and Ranging), which enables vegetation mapping and 3D model creation. Processing of collected data will be performed using the software with creation of color composites and digital orthophoto images (multispectral and RGB). Pilots from VŠ will be trained in drone flight, data collection methods, and data processing in order to develop jointly digital platform for monitoring progress in protecting cross border forest area. The main contribution of VŠ is to establish restauration model of endagered repairan forests in Danube crossborder area as a pilot action of this project.
Croatian Forests ltd. (HR) as Project Partner will perform reparatory forestry and cultivation works which include all necessary interventions on areas planned for restoration, which precede the planting of seedlings, clearing and cleaning the area of existing vegetation. Those works will be carried out mechanically (forest tractors with habitat preparation attachments, specifically for mulching herbaceous and woody cover) and manually (piling, and mowing or cutting using various hand tools) across the entire area where seedlings will be planted. Pedunculate oak seedlings will be planted on 16.50 ha on Croatian site. During the execution of works, supervision over their quality will be carried out by the professional and technical staff of Partner. Protection of the forest from wildlife will be achieved by installing temporary protective fences around areas where the young forest stand has been established. HŠ will install a protective fence with a total length of 2.2 km. HŠ will also conduct remote monitoring across the entire Siga forest area, which covers 650 ha of forest and forest land. HŠ will establish a web platform with publicly available data, which will expand the capabilities of their geoportal by introducing new functions for displaying publicly available data collected through remote sensing. HŠ will use drones to monitor forest health, its changes over a specific period such as changes in the ecosystem caused by weather conditions or adverse weather events, seasonal changes, or the impact of human activities on the ecosystem itself, mapping of forests and forest complexes, and development of a geoportal that would consolidate all collected and processed data in one place, thus making it accessible to a wider audience. Partner will use different sensors in recording: multispectral and digital cameras (RGB). HŠ will enable remote pilots of the Lead Partner to receive training for operations in the open category at CCAA. HŠ will provide field training in the form of unmanned aircraft operation, methods of data collection and processing using these aircraft. The main contribution of HŠ is to establish restauration model of endagered repairan forests in Danube crossborder area as a pilot action of this project and to create jointly developed digital platform for monitoring progress in protecting cross border forest area.