even for the settlements across the Danube. The most abundant tree species is the poplar. Poplars have been systematically planted and constantly re-planted as after 20 to 25 years they are being cut for the industrial production. The poplar is known for its fast growth and almost sponge-like absorption qualities, but the water is also absorbed by the humus layer which developed in time on the forest floor. The natural forests are typical gallery forests, consisting of willows and poplars. The cultivated trees are hybridized Canadian poplar. The area is prone to storms. In 2004, a powerful storm destroyed thousands of trees. In September 2017, another storm ravaged of forest. In July 2019, Beljarica was hit by a heavy storm. A twister was formed which in only several minutes ripped out several thousand trees on an area of . It is estimated that a total of 66,000 m3 of wood was destroyed. The trees destroyed by the storm were planted between 2000 and 2004. Wildlife The wetland is home to 216 plant species, 139 species of insects and 98 species of fish. Beljarica is a major fish spawning and bird nesting area. Of 136 bird species which live in Beljarica, 108 are protected. There are several nesting couples of the largest European eagle, white-tailed eagle, and the black stork also lives in the area. After coming into the public spot, survey of Beljarica increased, so by 2020, a 166 species of birds were reported, of which 137 are protected. Other birds include ferruginous duck, pygmy cormorant, corn crake and Eurasian bittern. In October 2021, a large number of dead swans was spotted in Beljarica, but also in numerous wetlands all over Belgrade (Zemunski Kej, Vizelj, Kišvara, Jojkićev Dunavac, Čenta, Bela Stena, Ilićev Dunavac). It was detected that the culprit was the bird flu H5N8, which can infect other wild birds and poultry, but is generally not associated with humans. Mammals in the wetland include otter, wild cat, pine marten and beech marten, but also wild hog, coypu, jackal, badger and hare. There are 62 mammalian species in Beljarica. By August 2021, naturalists began warning on the possible overpopulation of coypus, non-native invasive species which were probably let into the wild when production on fur farms became too costly. They are especially a threat to the population of beavers, which were extinct in Serbia in the early 1900s, but were successfully