On April 24, 2025, the SDC’s Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme held its official kick-off meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, bringing together key national stakeholders to strengthen cross-sectoral collaboration and alignment of the roles of the institutions regarding landscape fire management (LFM) practices.
The meeting was organized and hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia in collaboration withthe Regional Fire Monitoring Center in the frame of the LFMWB Programme. The event marked the establishment of the National LFM Network in Serbia, where around 30 participants representing ministries, local authorities, forestry agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations gathered for a full-day exchange.
Opening remarks were delivered by Vladimir Nikolic, LFMWB’s Country Focal Point from the Ministry, and Cvetan Nikolovski, Team Leader of the LFMWB Programme. The session highlighted the urgency and relevance of cross-sectoral collaboration in tackling landscape fires, emphasizing the significance of focusing on prevention and the need for the cohesion of the LFM system at the national level.
The participants were introduced to the LFMWB Programme’s goals and the role of the national LFM network at the level of the Republic of Serbia by Cvetan Nikolovski. Moreover, Professor Nikola Nikolov, head of the Regional Fire Monitoring Center, presented the LFM approach, a regional perspective on LFM, and collaboration across the Western Balkans.
In the second half of the event, Ana Stefanović, Country Project Staff of the LFMWB Programme, presented the draft Country LFM Report for Serbia. The presentation triggered a constructive dialogue, with participants providing input to ensure the report accurately reflects local realities and priorities.
The SWOT analysis session encouraged collaborative reflection on Serbia’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to LFM. The session revealed a strong desire to develop integrated fire risk reduction strategies and strengthen institutional LFM capacities.
As part of the LFMWB Programme’s mission to build fire-resilient landscapes, the Serbia kick-off meeting established the foundation for national collaboration and future joint actions as a science-practice-policy interface. The stakeholders expressed a clear interest in continuing knowledge exchange and contributing to a cohesive National LFM Network. The LFMWB Programme financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and coordinated by the Regional Executive Agency – Farmahem, with backstopping support from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, remains committed to supporting Serbia in advancing effective and inclusive LFM practices.