On 2 December 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD) of Kosovo*, as the Country Partner Institution of the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme, hosted the 9th meeting of the Landscape Fire Management (LFM) Network. The workshop, held in Prishtina, marked a key moment in the validation process of the Strategy for adaptive landscape management and LFM for Kosovo*. The event was organized within the LFMWB Programme financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), coordinated by Farmahem (Regional Executive Agency).
The meeting was opened by Mr. Tahir Ahmeti, Director of the Forestry Department at MAFRD and the Country Focal Point of the LFMWB Programme. In his remarks, he welcomed participants and emphasized Kosovo’s strong progress in implementing Programme activities, noting that the country has remained ahead of planned timelines thanks to the continued commitment of partner institutions. He expressed appreciation for the contributions made since the beginning of the project, acknowledging the importance of coordinated efforts in strengthening LFM at the national level.
Following this, Mr. Cvetan Nikolovski, Team Leader of the LFM Programme in the Western Balkans, addressed the participants with sincere gratitude for their engagement and collaboration. He highlighted the developmental journey of the draft Strategy, which has been shaped through inputs from all key stakeholders present. He underlined the importance of aligning the document with Kosovo’s legal framework, with a particular emphasis on integrating prevention as a core component alongside suppression. He expressed hope that the Strategy would be validated during the meeting and congratulated MAFRD for the successful coordination and implementation of planned activities.
The core of the workshop focused on the presentation of the LFM Strategy by Ms. Arlinda Gashi, LFMWB Country Project Staff. Her presentation laid the foundation for meaningful dialogue, outlining the strategic vision, objectives, proposed actions, and indicators for adaptive landscape management and LFM. The workshop gathered around 25 representatives from key institutions spanning science, policy, and practice stakeholders who played a central role in shaping the LFM Strategy and who, through constructive discussions, collectively validated the document.