The development of national policy guidelines for landscape fire management (LFM) in Kosovo has officially begun, marking an important step toward strengthening the country’s institutional approach to landscape fire risks.
The process was initiated during a meeting of the National LFM Network, held in Prishtina on 16 April 2026, bringing together around 20 representatives from key institutions and organisations engaged in LFM and policy development.
Opening remarks by Tahir Ahmeti from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and Cvetan Nikolovski, Team Leader of the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme, highlighted the increasing complexity of landscape fire risks and the need for coordinated, cross-sectoral action. Both emphasised the role of the National LFM Network as a platform for sustained policy dialogue and institutional cooperation.
During the meeting, the proposed structure and methodology for developing the policy guidelines were presented by Dardan Abazi a local policy expert from the NGO Belgrade Open School. Participants contributed practical insights and country-specific perspectives, ensuring that the policy guidelines reflect Kosovo’s institutional context and operational realities.
Rather than a standalone event, the meeting marks the beginning of a broader, consultative process. Inputs gathered will inform the drafting phase, with further stakeholder engagement planned in the coming months.
The future guidelines are expected to support a more coordinated and integrated approach to LFM, covering prevention, preparedness, response, and post-fire recovery, while strengthening cooperation among institutions involved in the sector.
The workshop was organised within the framework of the LFMWB Programme, financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and coordinated by Farmahem – Skopje as the Regional Executive Agency, with backstopping support from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation.