History of Landscape Fires in the FBiH, Bosnia and Herzegovina (2000–2022)
Forest and landscape fires are a recurring and destructive phenomenon in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), causing significant environmental, economic, and social impacts. Despite the region not being classified as high-risk in European terms, several years—such as 2000, 2003, 2007, 2012, 2017, and 2020—stand out due to the frequency and severity of wildfires.
Key Impacts and Trends:
- Direct damages include the destruction of timber, ground vegetation, and young forest stands, as well as costly firefighting and post-fire rehabilitation.
- Indirect damages—such as the loss of biodiversity, habitat degradation, and disruption of forest functions—often exceed direct costs by 10 to 17 times.
- Fires are especially damaging in young forest plantations, which are more vulnerable to complete destruction.
- The majority of forest fires (up to 90%) are caused by human activity, particularly from unsupervised land clearing and agricultural burning.
Fire Statistics (2000–2022):
- The most severe fire year was 2012, with 1,538 reported landscape fires, of which 1,362 were in forests.
- Other peak years include 2003 and 2007, both recording over 1,000 fire events.
- In most years, approximately 80% of all open-area fires occurred in forested zones, with the rest in agricultural or other natural areas.
Recent Trends and Economic Damages (2017–2021):
- In 2020, a sharp rise was recorded with 675 fires, burning over 21,700 hectares, and causing damages worth 15.4 million BAM.
- The worst single year in terms of estimated damage was 2017, with 26,858 hectares burned and total damages of 17.3 million BAM.
- Between 2017 and 2021, nearly 72,218 hectares were burned, with 2.7 million saplings lost and damages exceeding 46.9 million BAM.
Forest fires data in FBiH, Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2017-2021 (source of data: FMAWF,2022)
Main Drivers and Challenges:
- Fires are primarily driven by human negligence, poor land-use practices, and the lack of coordinated prevention systems.
- Climatic variability and extended dry periods increase ignition risk and fire spread.
- Landmines from past conflicts in some areas limit firefighting accessibility and response.
- Inadequate funding, fragmented institutional responsibilities, and lack of public awareness further complicate fire prevention and control.
Fire Risk Management Needs:
To reduce the occurrence and impacts of landscape fires, forest fire protection plans should include:
- Preventive measures and awareness campaigns.
- Strategic firefighting infrastructure (roads, water catchments, detection systems).
- Trained intervention units (forestry workers, volunteer brigades).
- Coordination between cantonal forestry directorates and fire departments.
Map of burnt areas (2008–2023), based on EFFIS data