Еxtreme weather events such as long-lasting droughts create conditions for devastating fires. Climate change, land-use change, and the rural exodus are increasing the ecosystem’s vulnerability to landscape fires in the Western Balkans (WB), which represents one of the most affected regions in Europe by landscape fires (LFs).
To mitigate the negative impacts of LFs in the WB, the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation – SDC aims to increase the resilience of Western Balkan forests and landscapes against fires to benefit the people who depend on these landscapes for their livelihoods and socioeconomic development.
The LFMWB Programme within the period of 2022-2026 focuses on the following outcomes:
The Western Balkans united with the common goal of increasing resilience of forests and landscapes against fires.
Fostering public awareness of landscape fire management role in mitigating climate change in the Western Balkans.
A crucial step toward shaping the fire-resilient future occurred in Veles, North Macedonia, on April 1–2, 2025, where members of the National Landscape Fire Management (LFM) Network gathered to refine the country’s National Strategy and Action Plan. The meeting was...
On March 26, 2025, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTE) in Tirana, Albania hosted a significant meeting that marked the official establishment of the National Landscape Fire Management (LFM) Network. The meeting was organized as part of the SDC’s Landscape...
The development of the landscape fire management (LFM) strategy took center stage in Prevalla, Kosovo*, as members of the National LFM Network—including experts, policymakers, and other key stakeholders—gathered on March 20–21, 2025, to finalize the National Strategy...
The Western Balkan region is particularly vulnerable to landscape fires. Seasonal droughts, high temperatures, and strong winds create conditions conducive to the rapid spread of fires. This susceptibility is exacerbated by anthropogenic factors such as land-use...
A fire-resilient landscape is an intentionally designed and maintained environment to reduce the risk of landscape fire damage while promoting ecological balance. It incorporates adaptive landscape management practices to enhance the landscape's ability to withstand,...
Awareness is a cornerstone of effective landscape fire management. The increasing frequency and intensity of landscape fires, driven by climate change and anthropogenic activities, demand proactive strategies that prioritize awareness at individual, community, and...
