On 19 November 2025, the Ministry of Environment of Albania, in close cooperation with the Regional Fire Monitoring Center (RFMC), held the third meeting of the LFM National Network in Tirana to validate the final version of the Landscape Fire Management (LFM) Country Report. The event was organized within the framework of the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans Programme, which is financed by the SDC and coordinated by Farmahem. It gathered 20 representatives from key national institutions and organizations engaged in LFM.
The meeting opened with remarks from Mr. Ylli Hoxha, a LFMWB’s Country Focal Point from the Ministry of Environment, who emphasized the importance of the Country Report as Albania’s first consolidated reference document for LFM and highlighted the need for science-based and prevention-oriented approaches. The Swiss Embassy, represented by Mr. Philipp Arnold, reaffirmed Switzerland’s continued support, recalling the severe impacts of the 2025 fire season and underscoring the urgency of coordinated national action.
The version of the LFM Country Report was presented by Mr. Arjol Lila, Country Project Staff (CPS), who outlined the development process and key components of the document. Participants were invited to submit final comments before the report was finalized. The meeting continued with collaborative group work on a GAP analysis, during which institutions jointly identified systemic weaknesses across prevention, preparedness, suppression, and post-fire management. Common challenges included limited fuel management programmes, insufficient early-warning tools, outdated equipment, unclear command structures, and the absence of structured post-fire restoration frameworks.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from the Ministry of Environment and all participating stakeholders to continue strengthening Albania’s LFM system. With the validation of the LFM Country Report and a clear overview of existing gaps, Albania has taken an important step toward a more prevention-oriented, resilient, and climate-adaptive fire management approach.