From 2 to 4 September 2025, the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme organized a training on “Climate Change and Land Use in the Context of Landscape Fire Management” at Goč Mountain, Serbia. The event brought together nearly 30 participants from 22 institutions, including experts, institutional representatives, and practitioners, to exchange knowledge and strengthen capacities in addressing the impacts of climate change on land use and landscape fire management (LFM).
The training was held within the framework of the LFMWB Programme, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and was jointly organized by the LFMWB Regional Executive Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia.
The overall aim of the training was to equip participants with tools and strategies to integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation into planning and decision-making processes for LFM. The program combined expert presentations with active group discussions, ensuring that participants could not only gain insights from scientific and policy perspectives but also contribute to practical solutions tailored to the national context.
A special focus was given to gender perspectives in climate change and LFM. Participants discussed barriers to women’s full participation in risk reduction and emphasized the importance of inclusive approaches, stronger enforcement of equality laws, and targeted awareness-raising campaigns.
Keynote presentations were delivered by:
- Danijela Božanić, a climate change expert who provided an overview of global warming trends, climate risks and hazards, and relevant international, EU, and national policies for mitigation and adaptation.
- Nenad Petrović, land use expert who presented findings from the National Forest Inventory and land use change analyses, emphasizing forest ecosystems and their vulnerability.
- Slobodan Milanović, a fire management expert who introduced methods for forecasting landscape fire probability in Serbia and proposed measures to strengthen the national landscape fire protection system.
- Suzana Đorđević-Milošević, gender equality expert, who focused on the role of women in adaptation and risk reduction, barriers to participation, and strategies for ensuring inclusive approaches.
Group work highlighted two top priorities: afforestation and sustainable forest management as an urgent measure for mitigation and adaptation, and the establishment of a National Center for Fire Prevention to improve coordination and preparedness.
The training concluded with a consensus that effective landscape fire management requires both technical solutions and inclusive participation. Key recommendations included the need for stable financing mechanisms, integration of modern technologies, continuous education and training, and gender-responsive policies and practices.