Forest fires in Serbia-influence of humidity conditions

Abstract

This study focuses on the possible impact of forest fires on the destruction of forests in Serbia. The variability of forest fires in NUTS 3 regions in Serbia was investigated. By analyzing the data for the period from 2009 to 2018, it can be concluded that there were pronounced oscillations in the number of forest fires and the size of the burned forest areas. It was determined that during the observed period, the maximum number of fires was recorded in 2012, and the minimum in 2014. The largest burned forest areas were 7,460 ha in 2012 and 2,036 ha in 2011, which is correlated with high air temperatures and lack of precipitation. The damage caused in the forest fire, expressed in m3 for the felled wood mass is the highest in 2012 and the lowest in 2010. The greatest threat to forest fires were in Raska oblast (Uzice) and Zlatiborska oblast (Kraljevo), and the lowest were in Severnobanatska oblast (Kikinda), Zapadnobacka oblast (Sombor), and Srednjobanatska oblast (Zrenjanin). The correlation of forest fire occurrence dynamics and humidity conditions were observed on the basis of statistical indicators of the number of forest fires and the values of Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). The number of forest fires, depending on the influence of humidity conditions is the highest in the dry season.