An intensive five-year forestry programme in Kosovo, focused on sustainable and multipurpose forest management, improving rural livelihoods, and addressing climate change, has concluded. Funded by the European Union and Sweden and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and the Kosovo Forestry Agency, the initiative left a lasting impact on the sustainable management of forest resources for present and future generations.
The programme supported the development of long-term policies and strengthened forestry legislation while introducing innovative approaches for forest preservation and multipurpose management to maintain the balance of ecological, social, and economic functions. A key achievement was the creation of the Kosovo Forest Information System, a digital tool designed to enable integrated administration and transparent decision-making across the forestry sector.
Knowledge sharing and capacity building were central to the programme, with over 500 forestry staff from government institutions, the private sector, and local communities trained in modern forestry practices. Training covered areas such as combating illegal logging, wildfire prevention, forest health monitoring, inventory management, multipurpose forest planning, and developing forest-based value chains. The renovated Centre for Capacity Building in Blinaja/Lipovica now serves as a permanent hub for professional development and knowledge exchange in Kosovo’s forestry sector.
A particular emphasis was placed on promoting gender equality and mainstreaming gender considerations within the forestry sector. This led to more gender-responsive policies, legislation, programmes, and action plans, supported by a gender-transformative curriculum developed to train 24 forestry professionals to integrate gender perspectives into their work.
The programme officially concluded with an event on 22 January in Pristina, where key partners reflected on its achievements and the importance of continued investment in sustainable forest management. Eva Palatova, Acting Head of the European Union in Kosovo, praised the programme for translating the importance of forests into concrete action, strengthening institutional capacities, and engaging local communities as active stewards of their environment.
FAO Lead Technical Officer Ekrem Yazici highlighted that while Kosovo has high forest coverage at 45 percent, managing these resources remains challenging due to high demands and limited capacities. He emphasized that the programme successfully strengthened institutions, improved policies, enhanced professional skills, and laid the foundation for long-term sustainable forest management. The achievements were made possible through strong collaboration among national institutions, the European Union, Sweden, and FAO.
The closing ceremony featured an exhibition of photographs and paintings showcasing the programme’s main results, celebrating the tangible legacy of the five-year intervention in advancing sustainable forestry in Kosovo.
