The 6th Meeting of the Western Balkans Landscape Fire Management (LFM) Network took place from 22 to 26 September in Ohrid, North Macedonia, bringing together LFMWB Programme partners from the Western Balkan countries and Switzerland. The event was organised by the Regional Fire Monitoring Centre (RFMC) in cooperation with the Regional Executive Agency (REA–Farmahem), as part of the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme—funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and coordinated by Farmahem. The meeting served as a platform to share experiences, strengthen regional collaboration, and advance knowledge in LFM across the Western Balkans.
The meeting included updates on Programme activities at the regional level, with insights into the contribution of the RFMC and outcomes from the first Plenary of the Global Fire Management Hub. The country project staff (CPS) from the Western Balkans presented progress at the country level, providing an overview of achievements and challenges across the Western Balkans.
Knowledge exchange with Switzerland was highlighted, demonstrating lessons learned from the LFM exchange between the Western Balkans and Switzerland. The meeting also showcased student research supported through the LFMWB Student Joint Research Grants Initiative. One notable study examined the impact of the 2024 landscape fire on small mammal populations in Galičica National Park, revealing significant effects on species distribution, behaviour, and ecosystem dynamics.
Ongoing community-based projects were reviewed, illustrating local engagement in fire prevention and mitigation. The launch of the Regional LFM Network online platform for monitoring, reporting, and collaboration was presented as a key tool to strengthen cross-border cooperation and data sharing.
Field visits provided a practical context for the discussions. In Galičica National Park, participants observed burnt areas from the 2024 fire, explored the traditional use of fire in agriculture, and assessed the effects of climate change and land abandonment on landscape fire risk. Innovative approaches, including the reintroduction of European red deer to reduce overgrown vegetation, were discussed as potential fire prevention measures.
The visit to Ezerani Nature Park highlighted the social and economic consequences of landscape fires, including damage to orchards, alder forest and the challenges of managing deliberate fires. These observations reinforced the importance of changing human behaviour as a critical component of effective fire prevention. The LFMWB Programme’s public awareness campaign, “One Action changes everything. Prevent. Act.”, is being promoted across the region to support this objective.
The event combined technical presentations, student research, field visits, and regional networking, emphasising the importance of regional collaboration, scientific exchange, and community involvement in managing landscape fires. These activities contribute to protecting biodiversity, reducing landscape fire risk, and enhancing resilience in the Western Balkans.