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 organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy, with support from the Regional Fire Monitoring Center and the Regional Executive Agency, under the framework of the SDC’s Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme.
The event brought together experts, institutional representatives, and stakeholders from various sectors to align on shared goals and outline concrete actions for sustainable and adaptive LFM in the country.
The first day featured a presentation of the draft Strategy by Bojan Mihajlovski, LFMWB Country Project Staff, followed by open discussion and inputs from participants. With guidance from the moderator, Aleksandar Karaev, the focus then shifted to developing the Action Plan. Participants were divided into groups to identify key priorities and propose actionable steps that align with national objectives.
On the second day, the participants continued to present their progress and further refine the draft Action Plan. The process not only resulted in a stronger strategic framework but also reinforced a spirit of collaboration across institutions, laying the groundwork for implementation. Together, the LFM network members reaffirmed their commitment to building resilient landscapes and communities through proactive and inclusive landscape fire management.