ANALYSIS OF THE FOREST FIRES IN THE KONJIC MUNICIPALITY IN THE PERIOD OF 2009-2013 YEAR Analiza šumskih požara na području općine Konjic u periodu 2009 – 2013 godine

Forests as one of the largest renewable sources in nature, are extremely important for human survival. They cover about a quarter of the Earth's surface and are the lungs of all living beings. Rapid technological development has significantly improved the life of a man, but also made a great contribution to the destruction of the natural balance, and reducing biodiversity. They represent a significant social wealth not only by producing precious and for its quality values in many ways irreplaceable wood material, edible and medicinal plants, but also because its existence is a very positive impact on the protection and improvement of the environment, regulation of climate and water regime, reducing damage from erosion, flood and spate, development of recreation, tourism, hunting and many other economic activities. Fires are one of the strongest and most dangerous agents that man were served in suppressing forest since ancient times, but unfortunately still used today. In many parts of world man suppresses forest and brush with fires, creating a short-term favorable conditions for its economy. Research that are the subject of this paper is an analysis of the volume of forest fires in the period 2009-2013 year in the municipality of Konjic. The conducted analysis in this area in the period 2009-2013 year recorded 37 fires. Of that number, 20 fires were in the category of crown-fires and 17 ground-fires. The largest number of fires was 14 in 2011, with 310 hectares of fire-affected areas, while the lowest number was recorded in 2010, only three fires and burnt area amounted to 7 ha.


INTRODUCTION -Uvod
There are many factors that have destructive impact on forest ecosystems but one of the most devastating long-term consequences of is a fire which is manifested through the fires. According to PYNE ET AL. (1996) fires are among the most important natural destabilizing factors. Fires not only destroy the forest but destructive of the pedosphere leaving the soil without humus, which is a reservoir of nutrients and carbon. The appearance of the forest after the fires is changed, remaining trees are susceptible to infections that further spread on the surrounding forest (mostly bark beetles and wood decaying fungi). Ecological problems have wider significance than those who are directly visible. For a successful re-cultivation of burnt areas is necessary to an understanding of these processes, because the ecological effects of fires can be extremely complex, which is in connection with the accompanying negative, usually less predictable consequences (WHELAN, 1995).
At the same time forests are exposed to negative effects of wind storms, snowfalls, insects and other diseases that cause a variety of damage. The greatest damage to our forests inflict forest fires, which mainly causes man. Up to 90% of forest fires are caused by human activities, primarily through the uncontrolled use of fire during the cleaning of forests and forest lands for agriculture and industrial development (NIKOLOV, 2006). According to its destructive effect, forest fires as abiotic factors are particularly important (JURJEVIĆ, 2004). From forest fires the most vulnerable are coniferous forest, then the forest near settlements and roads, as well as places where the wood mass is harvested.
A lot has been made on protection of forests against the fires, but is still insufficient, it is necessary to improve the methods and to take additional measures to prevent the occurrence or spread of the fires. The more preventive measures we have, there will be less fires, and easier access to their extinguishing and much less damaging consequences (JURJEVIĆ, 2004). USČUPLIĆ (2001) states that the fires are widespread phenomenon, and when they occur in the forest, they have not only economic but also ecological effects. Hazardous economic impact is just one of the problems and there are far away more harmful ecological effects, which are directly manifested. For the re-cultivation of burnt areas is necessary to understanding these processes, because the ecological effects of fires can be extremely complex, which is in connection with the accompanying negative, usually less predictable consequences (WHELAN, 1995).
Forest fires in the forests of the world inflict great damage, depending on age and area of forest tree species, and vegetation and the type of fire and his strength. The vulnerability of certain areas from the forest fires is different. There are allocated three very vulnerable areas in the world: the Mediterranean, the area of North American pine forests and area of the African savannas (JURJEVIĆ ET AL., 2009). FLOLLIOTT (1988) believes that the impact of fires on ecosystems depends on the nature of fire, fire-affected habitat characteristics and characteristics of of the natural inventories exposed to fire.
According to GLAVAŠ (2005) it is estimated that in the world per year is burned about 70 million hectares under various vegetation. Forest fires can be classified among the most powerful forces of nature, which in its crusade destroy the people material goods and natural resources.
The burning of biomass and humus release huge amounts of coal in the form of CO 2 and go to the atmosphere. Fires destroy the seeds of useful species of trees, shrubs and ground vegetation that prevents regeneration. Fires are a global problem, over 10 million hectares of forests are lost globally each year (MLADINEO, 2001). According to forecasts, fires in vegetation which include fire clearing in tropical areas, will reduce forest areas in the world by 50 % in 2030. In Europe every year is burned more than 10.000 km 2 of different vegetation, and in Russia and North America up to 100.000 km 2 . About 20% of CO 2 emissions is caused by forest fires (KÜHRT ET AL.,

2001).
FAO has made a global assessment of the area that was hit by the fires in 2000, which amounts to 350 million hectares, of which most of them were covered by forests and afforested areas. In the same review is indicated that people are the biggest cause of fires in all regions. The most common causes of forest fires are: cleaning soil especially for moving crops, other agricultural activities, and maintaining grasslands in order to fed to livestock, drawing non-timber forest products, industrial development, resettlement, hunting, carelessness and setting a fire purposely. The review concludes that the prevention and suppression of fires is often difficult, and least due to the unclear lines of institutional responsibility, and conflicting policies and laws.
Earlier researches conducted by FAO about laws of forests fires are mainly focused on international agreements on forest fires. The initial review of existing national legislation on fires was also made at the same time, and there is a need for "deeper analysis and evaluation".
In the accordance with the recommendations of the International Summit of protection against wildfires in 2003, the Ministerial Meeting on sustainable maintenance of forests in 2005, and the meeting of the FAO Committee on Forests from 2005 (COFO), FAO coordinated the process that resulted in the 2007 with Guidelines on voluntary fires management -the principles and strategic actions (FAO guidelines). The guidelines prescribe a number of priority principles aimed at, among other things, to support the establishment of legal and regulatory requirements for a holistic approach to managing fire. The guidelines underline the importance of truly appropriate legal framework for the effective management of the fires, and prescribe certain principles which can guide legislators in this regard.
According to to the latest data at EFFIS (The European Forest Fire Information System), Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2012 was affected with more fires than the last five years together. According to these data, 58% of the total burnt area are forests and forest lands (Table 1). According to the data of the Federal Administration of Forestry, in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was registered 1082 forest fires, burned area was over 43,000 hectares and estimated the damage to the timber stock and planting material up to approximately 50 million BAM. Fires in low vegetation, forests and wide areas are enormous and sustained threat to human life, health and life, economic development and human environment.
The most vulnerable are pine cultures and stands, then other conifer cultures, followed by oak coppice forests and shrubs (Image 1 and 2). As for the economic, but also because of the environmental effects generated as a result of fire, it is necessary to understand this process, and improvements in the forestry profession through continuing education of employees and the local population, primarily the youngest population as a way of reducing the risk from fire (VESELINOVIĆ & MILENKOVIĆ, 2007). According to MARGALETIĆ & MARGALETIĆ (2003) the most common cause of forest fires is the man who intentionally or negligently causes forest fires and the very small number of fires occur by a lightning strike or railways. Previous findings indicate that most of the fire was initiated by lighting the fire on the abandoned weedy and agricultural land (MAMUT, 2011).
Image 1 and 2. Burnt areas in Konjic municipality in coniferous and broadleaves stands Slika 1 i 2. Opožarene površine na području općine Konjic u četinarskim i lišćarskim sastojinama As part of many measures aimed at reducing the number of fires in the forest and on forest land, takes a prominent place and propaganda among the local population and tourists. Insufficient is emphasis on the dangers and harmful effects from fire in public space, insufficient familiarity of the local population, especially visitors. There is a lack of advertising materials and lectures. Forestry profession that is often best place to address these problems, especially when it comes to forest and forest lands, is not sufficiently represented, and often marginalized in prevention, especially in firefighting on open space, so that its role is mainly reduced to the assessment damages (NODILO, 2003). The fire can not spread if flammable material contains more than 25% moisture, and if the air temperature is not too low. In case of high air temperature and humidity covers less than 10% fire very easily and rapidly expanding (VULETA, 2001).

MATERIAL AND METHODS -Materijal i metode
Research that are the subject of this paper was performed analysis of forest fires in the period 2009-2013 year in the municipality of Konjic.
This research was conducted in the area of the forest management area "Konjičko" which is also the administrative border of the municipality of Konjic. The forest management area "Konjičko" geographically belongs to the sub-Mediterraneanmountainous area which extends in the higher parts of the Mediterranean-dinar area, mostly above 800 m, to the highest regions that pass 2000 m above sea level.
According to orographic characteristics is an extremely mountainous area with widely represented subalpine belt. Mediterranean dinar territory covers parts of Dinarides, which are influenced by Mediterranean climate, including parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In this area there are three mountain massifs: Prenj, Visočica and Bitovnja, then in the border areas of the field and Ivan mountain, Pogorelica and Borašnica, but largely in this area interfere the slopes of Bjelašnica, Treskavica and Crvnja.
In order to realize the a task of research, which is to establish the intensity of forest fires (five-year period, from 2009 to 2013 year) in Konjic municipality was registered the data by type of fire, the type of forest and soil, and management classes to which these fires was reported, then the causes of the fires. Determining statistical differences in the number of of fires by type of fires in the municipality of Konjic was performed using χ2 test (p = 0.05). This analysis was performed using the statistical program PHStat2 (version 2.70), (Multiple options -Sample Tests, Chi -Square Test).

RESULTS -Rezultati istraživanja
In Table 2 is presented the number of fires and burnt areas in the municipality of Konjic in period of from 2009 to 2013 year. Another factor that affects the occurrence and spread of fires is a type of forest, and its impact on the occurrence and spread of fire. Table 3 presents the number of fires and burnt area affected by breeding forest types and the types of fires for a period of 2009-2013 year. In continuation of this work was determined statistical significance in the number of of fires for the municipality of Konjic in the period of 2009-2013 year. The null hypothesis were: "There are no statistically significant differences in the number of of fires, by type of fires, in the municipality of Konjic in the period 2009-2013 year". The results of the tests are presented in Table 4. In fact, on occurrence of fires affect many factors, and in Table 5 is presented the number of fires and burnt areas, by causes of fires in the period of 2009-2012 year. To determine which human factor most influences the emergence and spread of forest fires, it was examined the cause of fires, and it is characterized as fires that occurred by carelessness (agricultural works, communications, etc.). In Table 6 are presented information on the number of fires and burned area incurred by carelessness, for the period 2009-2012 year. Information about the causes of fires in 2013 were not considered because they were not available at time of writing the work.

DISCUSSION -Diskusija
Forests are significant social wealth not only because they produce valuable and for its high-quality characteristics, in many ways irreplaceable, wood raw material, edible and medicinal plants, but also because their existence have a positive impact on protection and improvement of the environment, regulation of climate and water regime, to help minimize damage from erosion, flood and flooding, development of recreation, tourism, hunting and many other economic activities.
In recent years, the stability of this valuable resource is increasingly undermined, and one of the main causes of the degradation changes are forest fires (ŠPANJOL ET AL., 2011). Fires are a widespread phenomenon, and if they occur in the forest then have not only economic but also ecological impacts. With their effect almost instantly disappear huge forest complexes, which brings change in the general appearance of the whole areas where they raged. From the rich and stable forest they generate the ruins and the bare surfaces, and to forest sites bring enormous damage and disruption of business, which, in many cases, is difficult to repair. Knowing the critical period of the appearance of forest fires, characteristics of overgrows and climatic conditions of the site, allows us to organize the efficient protection of forests against of fires (USČUPLIĆ, 2001).
According to ROSAVEC (2009) with the relief, geological substrate and soil, on formation of forest fires and the size of the burnt area has the greatest significance state of vegetation and climate conditions. Analysis of forest fires was performed for the municipality of Konjic, based on data established by the Forestry "Prenj" dd Konjic, in the period of 2009-2013 year. At the research facility (Konjic municipality) was established the the number of fires, burnt area, type of of fires, surface affected by the type of forest and land.
With performed analysis in this area in the period 2009-2013 the year was recorded 37 fires. Of that number, 20 fires were in the category of crown-fires and 17 ground-fires. The largest the number of fires was in 2011 and it was 14 fires, with 310 hectares of fire-affected areas, while the lowest number was recorded in 2010, only three fires and burnt area was 7 ha. However shall not be ignored the potential danger, because every fire represents a specific disaster, damage and loss (GLAVAŠ, 2003). The largest surface affected is derived from the forest fires that have been in 2012, while the least fire-affected area was recorded in 2013, only 2,5 ha (Table 2).
Viewed according to the research results (Table 2) it can be seen that a large number of ground-fires in relation to crown-fires. However, the surface affected is much higher resulting harmful effects crown-fires. Observed according to the years of harmful effects forest fires shows that the largest number of ground-fires was recorded in 2011 and in 2012 was recorded the only crown-fires. The highest recorded fired area in the reporting period was in 2012, when fired area was 5159,3 ha and was recorded 7 fires.
A large number of factors that influence the spread of fires, and among them is certainly the type of forest, and its silvicultural form in which they occur. According to the research (Table 3) the largest number of fires and observed by type of vegetation were recorded in coniferous forests (12). Of this number, (5) fires is in the category of ground-fires and seven of crown-fires. A significant number of fires registered in the category ground (coppice) forest (8) and 7 ground-fires and one crown-fire. Type of fuel material determines the intensity and fire behavior. If we look at fires by type of wood forests are differently vulnerable to forest fires. Coniferous stands of are much more susceptible to ignition and burning without the presence of resins and ethereal oils. This is followed by mixed stands and culture conifers, hardwoods and finally stands of hardwoods. From tree species the most vulnerable are black and white pine, spruce and fir, and broadleaf species oak is the most sensitive. The risk of to forest fires is much greater among younger trees.
Similar results during the research of occurrence and spread of fires has got JURJEVIĆ ET AL. (2009). On our site of research is considerably higher percentage of of hardwood forest which resulted in greater burnt area (2006,3 ha) compared to the conifer forest (1612,5 hectares). Statistically significant differences in the number of fires by type were found in the area of research for this period of observation (Table  4). Many studies show that climate and intensity of to forest fires are closely linked, some believe that global warming will cause it to circumpolar forests be irreversibly damaged from forest fires which can not be controlled.
DIMITROV according to SWETNAM (1993), claims that it is true that forest fires and climate are intimately linked and that during the past fire regime has responded on changes in the climate. Hypothesis of Flannigan and others is that the recent warming is an analogue of future warming and future forest fires can react like those in the recent history of the fires (DIMITROV, 2000). NETOLICKI ET AL., according to MLADINEO (2001) states that fires a large worldwide problem, because in them each year in the world lost more than ten million hectares of forest.
Forest fires not only destroy wood mass, larger forest fires cause psychological restlessness with the population. Forest fires destroyed crops, homes, infrastructure (bridges, wires, etc.), and sometimes get hurt and human lives. In ten year period from 1998-2008 in fires or from the effects of fires in Croatia were killed 428 people, of which the darkest year was 2007, when was lost his life 51 human (MAMUT, 2011).
To determine which factors most frequently affect the spread of fires, or whether they are caused by natural phenomena or human activity, fires are divided on the causes of origin, their numbers by type of fires and burned area in the past. The largest number of fires is caused by carelessness (a total of 26 of fires), while most burned area was arson (3985,90 ha) ( Table 5). Studies of other authors show that in most cases the cause of forest fires is human. According to research by other authors largest number of registered forest fires is caused by human, while in many cases the cause of of fires remains unknown (DUCIĆ ET AL., 2007).
According to MARGALETIĆ&MARGALETIĆ (2003) on the Croatian territory during the period of 2000 year the largest number of forest fires according to the way of cause is made with carelessness and negligence, a little less is made intentional and from lightning strike. The human factor was and this time the most common cause of fires (burning the weeds on agricultural areas, discarding cigarette ends, burning uncontrolled waste dumps).
According to MAMUT (2011) number of fires in the Republic of Croatia in the period from 1998-2008 year by the way of cause of fires 75% was carelessness, 18% undetermined, 4% intentional, 2% children play and 1% natural cause. Knowing the cause of and the behavior is of great importance for the organization of preventive action, timely and effective action fire fighting .
The largest number of fires is caused by agricultural work (Table 6), as well as the size of the burnt areas, most frequently in the spring time when cleaning agricultural land by the local population. Previous studies indicate that the majority of fires was initiated burning fire on the abandoned weedy and agricultural lands, from where they spread to forest areas (MAMUT, 2011). Forest fires influence on the loss of organic matter from the soil which causes the return of carbon to the atmosphere and reinforcing global warming. At the fire site reported the occurrence of landslides and various forms of strong erosion. Forests which are affected by forest fires or damaged and physiologically weakened trees become a source of outbreak of insect pests and plant diseases.
The total damage from forest fires in addition to damages caused by the destruction of the wood mass includes firefighting costs, costs of remediation and restoration of damaged forests. The total damage from forest fires, including costs of amendments to planning documents such as the basics of forest management, protection programs and the development of protected natural resources, development of remediation programs for burnt areas and so on. One of the greatest damage is the time (decades) it takes to forest restoration and again to fulfill its function.
Unfortunately, the consequences of forest fires manifest many years after the fires on: biodiversity, the disappearance of rare, endangered and vulnerable plant and animal species, changes in the landscape and the beauty of landscapes, land, ie. Changing physical and chemical properties of soil, as well as microbiological composition, climate and microclimate and water balance (roughly disruption of hydrological regime, reducing water supplies and of flooding), and reduces recreational importance of the forest.
Current knowledge and experience are a basis for future efforts on combat wildfires. Its activities is necessary to continue and improve them in order to preserve bio-ecological, economic, commercial and social functions at the local, national and global levels.
Until today were conducted many scientific and technical researchs and the results of forestry experts must find a place in the education of firefighters and the implementation of the preventive and curative systems forest fires (combustible material, models of potential fire risk, models of spread of fires, etc.).

CONCLUSIONS -Zaključci
The problem of spread of fires and protection of forest from depends on many factors and the resultant of their work, as a starting point for planning and carrying out technical and biological measures of prevention, the organization monitoring and fire detection systems, personnel and resources for fighting, their operational capacity, the implementation of educational, promotional and other measures.
This study found that the most important preventive measures that will help prevent spread of fires, and they are certainly daily education of the local population and employees in forestry, and through breeding measures, growing mixed stands to increase resistance to fire, and if they occur in broadleave forests fire damage are far less.
Through education of young people is actively acts on prevent the occurrence of fires, because the results of these studies show that the largest number of fires and burned areas most commonly is reported during the cleaning of agricultural cultures, and that these fires were not controlled, after which they spread to forests and forest lands.
Knowing the silvicultural and of the management measures, which type and volume depend on the type of forests, we create the essential preconditions for successful fire suppression, and directly and indirectly reduce the negative impact of certain factors, thus reducing the vulnerability of forest ecosystems.
Way of the organization of observation-alarming service, selection of equipment, means and methods of fire fighting is the basis problem of forests from fire. The complexity of the problem of fires and forest protection against them requires the involvement and interest of foresters, forest enthusiasts and all other members of the community. In order to protect forests from fires are necessary first of all forestry experts which deal with the problem of fires, their fire fighting, as well as experts and scientists involved in research work for this purpose.