In Montenegrin forests, the use of almost half a million cubic meters of wood is planned this year, while the state must simultaneously respond to the consequences of drought, the spread of bark beetles and the risk of fire, so sanitary felling is planned for 27.466 cubic meters, mostly in the forests of Pljevlja, and a total of 121.599 euros has been allocated for fire observers, fire-fighting equipment and pest protection.
This is stated in the Annual Forest Management Program for 2026.
The document warns that climate change and prolonged droughts in recent years have significantly weakened the resilience of forests, leading to more widespread bark beetle infestations and the drying out of large areas of coniferous stands.
"During 2023, there was a manifestation of forest drying, which was recorded during 2024 and 2025, so the continuation of intensive activities prescribed by the profession is planned for 2026, aimed at monitoring and suppressing the gradation of bark beetles," the Program states.
An expert commission that visited coniferous forests in Berane, Rožaje, Petnjica, Pljevlja, Andrijevica and Plav concluded that the drying of spruce, fir and some birch trees is a consequence of the overgrowth of bark beetles, which have affected large areas of forests.
The administration states that the priority next year will be sanitary marking and felling of infected trees, establishing forest order, exporting wood assortments from endangered areas, and setting up a larger number of pheromone traps to monitor and suppress the spread of the pest.
Pine gall midge will be controlled on a total of 507 hectares in the areas of Danilovgrad, Nikšić, Podgorica and Kotor.
Fires remain among the biggest risks
The program warns that forest fires represent a global ecological and economic problem, and that Montenegrin forests are particularly endangered due to their geographical location and the increasingly pronounced consequences of climate change.
Therefore, during the summer months, the Administration will organize observers in the most endangered locations, invest in fire roads, water intakes, fire protection lines, purchase of fire extinguishing equipment and preventive cultivation works.
68.000 euros are planned for the engagement of fire observers, while another 9.500 euros are planned for the procurement of protective equipment.
The administration plans to carry out silvicultural works on 343 hectares during 2026, including forest care on 36,68 hectares, forest restoration on 231,18 hectares, and the establishment of new forests on 75,35 hectares.
The total value of these works is estimated at more than 408 thousand euros, but the budget currently provides 170 thousand euros, so it will be possible to carry out works on about 145 hectares and plant approximately 387 thousand seedlings.
Priority will be given to reforestation of fire areas and restoration of degraded forests. At the same time, the administration will distribute 100.000 seedlings free of charge to private forest owners for reforestation of bare and burned areas.
The production of around 1,9 million seedlings is planned in three state nurseries in Kolašin, Rožaje and Bar.
Almost half a million cubic meters for use
The program envisages that a total of 485.354 cubic meters of wood mass will be used next year, of which 202.619 cubic meters in state forests and 282.735 cubic meters in private forests.
Of this, 44.098 cubic meters refers to regular logging, 27.466 cubic meters to sanitary logging, while 85.372 cubic meters is planned for supplying the population in rural areas.
The largest volume of sanitary felling is planned in Pljevlja, where the removal of almost 17.700 cubic meters of wood is planned, mainly due to the consequences of drying and pest attacks.
Total revenues from forest use in 2026 are estimated at 5,13 million euros.
The program notes that forest conservation in the coming period will depend on the state's ability to respond to the consequences of climate change, prevent the spread of bark beetles, and improve the fire protection system, which is increasingly common during long and dry summers.
During 2023, there was a manifestation of forest drying, which was recorded during 2024 and 2025, so the continuation of intensive activities prescribed by the profession is planned for 2026, with the aim of monitoring and suppressing the gradation of bark beetles," the Program states.
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