Today, as we celebrate the incredible diversity of our planet’s flora and fauna, we are focusing on a very special 2026 theme: “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods.” Many of the plants that heal us and flavour our lives call the cross-border regions of Serbia and Romania home. However, these natural treasures and the wildlife that depends on them face a constant, scorching threat: wildfires.
That’s where the FIREGUARD project steps in!
🔥 Protecting the Roots of Our Heritage
Wildfires burn the vegetation and destroy the fragile ecosystems where rare medicinal and aromatic plants thrive. In areas like the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve and the mountainous Cornereva (near Domogled National Park), the vegetation is uniquely vulnerable. Once a fire passes, invasive shrubs often take over, making it nearly impossible for the original forest and native plants to return.
🛡️ How FIREGUARD is Making a Difference
To ensure our “natural pharmacy” remains intact for future generations, this project is:
- Creating First Intervention Firefighting Units: Specialised teams on both sides of the border ready for lightning-fast responses.
- Developing a Joint Strategy: A unified plan for cross-border forest fire emergency management and risk prevention.
- Raising Awareness: Educating local communities on how to prevent human-induced species reduction.
🤝 A Cross-Border Partnership
This €1.392.184,64 initiative is a collaborative effort between:
- Lead Partner: Public Enterprise “Vojvodinasume,” Serbia
- Partner 2: City Firefighters’ Association Pancevo, Serbia
- Partner 3: Cornereva Municipality, Romania
The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg IPA Romania-Serbia Programme.
By protecting these habitats, we are safeguarding our health, our heritage, and our livelihoods.
