PLANDISTE (Serbia): In a small woodland in northeastern Serbia, the cheerful chirping of birds echoes among the towering trees. Animal tracks can be seen on the ground, in damp grass and moss.Known as the Nightingale Forest, the 2-hectare piece of land is a rare piece of lush green space in Serbia’s flat agricultural region. The Balkan country’s Bird Conservation and Research Association purchased the land last year through crowdfunding to protect the forest and set an example in environmental protection.“This woodland is privately owned and we saw it being sold,” said Uros Stojiljkovic, a representative of the association, adding that if someone else bought the land, the trees might be cut down.“The value of timber is higher than the price of land,” Stogilkovic said. “That’s how we protect it.”The success of the crowdfunding initiative is seen as a sign of Serbian people’s growing interest in nature conservation, as the country faces environmental problems such as air and river pollution, waste management and profit-driven construction that threatens green spaces, especially in big cities.As part of the country’s EU membership, authorities promised to step up environmental protections, but conservation groups warn that little action has been taken in practice.Stogilkovic explained that the Nightingale Forest is home to a variety of birds and animals that thrive in moist habitats. The new owners now plan to list the flora and fauna found there, while leaving the woodland intact.Natasa Jancic, who was involved in the campaign, said the purchase price of 8,000 euros ($9,500) was raised in less than a month, with hundreds of people continuing to donate funds that will be used for field work or the purchase of additional land.“Individually, we can’t do much, but as an active and stable community, we can achieve a lot,” Jancic said.Yancic said that the Association for the Protection and Research of Birds, which was founded about 30 years ago as a small, expert-only group, has grown into a community of nature lovers, further evidence of growing interest in the environment.“We have a lot of families who are members and a lot of nature lovers who may not be that active in the field but want to contribute in some way,” Jancic added.Stojiljkovic said the protection of just 2 hectares won’t change much on a larger scale, but it’s a good first step.“Every village or town should have its own Nightingale Forest to have a cumulative effect,” he added, “It’s important to start somewhere.”