An important conference dedicated to forests and their sustainable management, as one of Kosovo's most precious natural assets, was held in Pristina. According to official data, about 45 percent of the country's territory is covered with forests.
This conference was attended by environmental experts, representatives of local institutions, as well as international organizations, who discussed the main challenges facing forests in Kosovo, including illegal logging, the impact of climate change, and the need for more effective policies for their protection and sustainable use.
The purpose of the conference was to inform and mobilize all relevant stakeholders, as well as to issue concrete recommendations for the long-term conservation of forests and improving the quality of management in this sector.
The Acting Head of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Eva Palatova, said that the importance of forests has been translated into concrete actions, reports Telegrafi.
Photo: Ridvan Slivova/Telegraph
"Through this program, we have translated the importance of forests into concrete actions – from new forest management plans and the development of non-timber value chains, to improving legislation, building training capacities and equipping with operational tools. The foundations have already been laid, while sustainable national investment in people and infrastructure is essential to build further on these results," said Palatova.
The Swedish Ambassador to Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, emphasized that Kosovo's forests constitute a strategic national asset.
"Today we mark the conclusion of the program to strengthen forest management, implemented by FAO and co-financed by the European Union and Sweden. Kosovo's forests are a strategic national asset, important for rural livelihoods, rural development, biodiversity and resilience to climate change," said Westerlund.
Photo: Ridvan Slivova/Telegraph
The acting Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development, Imri Demelezi, stated that this project will contribute to a clearer picture of future challenges in the forestry sector.
"In the forestry sector, thanks to this project that is being concluded today, we believe that in the coming years we will have even more accurate data on the percentage and condition of forests in Kosovo, as well as a clearer understanding of the challenges we are facing and how to effectively use the information provided by this program," said Demelezi.
Photo: Ridvan Slivova/Telegraph
The Director of the Kosovo Forestry Agency, Menderes Ibra, thanked donors and partners for the support provided in the implementation of the project.
“On behalf of the staff of the Kosovo Forest Agency, I would like to thank the donors of this project – the Government of Sweden and the European Union – as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its implementation,” said Ibra.
Photo: Ridvan Slivova/Telegraph
Meanwhile, the Head of the FAO REU Technical Office, Ekrem Yazici, emphasized that overly protective approaches to forest management have often proven unsuccessful.
"Having high forest cover is a great advantage, but at the same time it also presents significant management challenges, taking into account the demands of the community and other sectors such as tourism, agriculture, energy, transport and urbanization. As a forester, I emphasize that overly protective approaches have often failed. On the contrary, it is imperative that the forestry sector is truly integrated with the developments of other sectors", said Yazici. /Telegrafi/
Photo: Ridvan Slivova/Telegraph
