The SDC’s Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme team participated in the 26th Agricultural Policy Forum (APF 2026), held on 3–4 June 2026 in Prishtina, Kosovo*, under the theme “Agricultural Policy Coherence in South-East Europe: EU Integration Dynamics, Institutional Reforms and Climate Adaptation.”
Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development of Kosovo* and the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group in South-East Europe (SWG), the Forum brought together more than 110 representatives from 14 countries to discuss key challenges and opportunities for agriculture, forestry and rural development across the region.
As part of the programme, Mr. Cvetan Nikolovski, Team Leader of the LFMWB Programme, delivered a presentation entitled “Integrating Landscape Fire Management Approach in the Western Balkans”, highlighting the importance of integrated landscape fire management as a cross-sectoral approach for addressing increasing climate- and fire-related risks affecting forests, agriculture, biodiversity, rural livelihoods, and human safety.
Additionally, Nikola Nikolov, Head of the Regional Fire Monitoring Center, presented the LFM approach, highlighting its importance for integrated and holistic fire management in the region.
The inclusion of integrated landscape fire management in the Prishtina Agenda 2026, which will be embedded in the upcoming Ministerial Declaration, represents an important milestone in advancing the landscape fire management approach within regional policy frameworks in South-East Europe. The Agenda emphasizes the need for stronger prevention and preparedness measures, coordinated regional action, climate- and fire-resilient landscapes, and enhanced cooperation among institutions responsible for agriculture, forestry, environment, and civil protection, while actively engaging local communities and land users.
Through its longstanding commitment to regional cooperation, the SWG provided an important platform for dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders across South-East Europe. The event further strengthened the partnership between the SDC’s LFMWB Programme and SWG, emphasizing the importance of continued joint efforts towards enhancing the resilience of landscapes and communities in the region.