The Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans Programme’s Team leader Mr. Cvetan Nikolovski, participated in the 20th Annual Working Meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of South-Eastern Europe, held in Belgrade on 30 September 2026. The meeting was organized by the SWG and the host institution, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia.
Representing the LFMWB Programme, Mr. Nikolovski took part in the high-level discussions focused on the future of agriculture and rural development, climate resilience, landscape fires, crisis preparedness and stronger regional cooperation, together with ministers and heads of delegations from across the region. The discussion highlighted the need to move beyond fragmented approaches to fire management and strengthen cooperation across agriculture, forestry, environment and civil protection, while involving local communities and land users.
In his address Mr. Nikolovski invite the ministers to advance three priorities: first, to embed landscape fire management within agricultural, forestry, rural-development and climate policies; second, to assign clear institutional responsibilities and secure sustained financing for prevention and preparedness; and third, to strengthen cross-border cooperation and exchange of data, expertise and operational practice.
As part of the LFMWB Programme’s contribution to the meeting, Prof. Dr. Johann Georg Goldammer of the Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) delivered an online presentation entitled “Climate and Fire Risk in the Western Balkans.” The presentation provided expert context for the policy dialogue, highlighting the growing influence of climate change on landscape fire risk in the WB and the importance of coordinated, prevention-focused action across the region.
The adoption of the joint conclusions of the 20th Annual Working Meeting based on the Prishtina Agenda 2026 marks a further step in this process. The conclusions reaffirm the importance of regional cooperation, stronger crisis preparedness, improved data exchange and early warning systems, as well as coordinated responses to risks affecting agriculture, forestry, natural resources and rural areas. They recognize the Landscape Fire Management (LFM) approach as a regional priority and commit to strengthening prevention, preparedness, cross-border response and post-fire landscape restoration while promoting Close-to-Nature Forest Management, improved and compatible forest inventories, satellite-based monitoring and enhanced cooperation on equipment, training, knowledge exchange and applied research.
This represents an important milestone, as it elevates Landscape Fire Management from a technical discussion to a formally endorsed regional policy priority. The inclusion of this approach in ministerial conclusions creates a stronger foundation for future policy development, institutional commitment, and investment in prevention and preparedness across the Western Balkans. It also provides valuable political visibility and legitimacy of the approach ahead.
Through its contribution to the meeting, the LFMWB Programme brought practical experience, technical expertise and policy recommendations into the regional ministerial dialogue. This engagement supports the mainstreaming of the Landscape Fire Management approach across agriculture, forestry, climate, rural-development and crisis-preparedness policies, helping translate the Programme’s knowledge and tested solutions into lasting institutional commitments and more resilient landscapes and rural communities across the Western Balkans.
The Annual Working Meeting is organized each year by the Regional Rural Development Standing Working Group (SWG) in South Eastern Europe, together with the relevant ministry of the host country. It serves as a regional platform for dialogue and cooperation on shared agricultural and rural development priorities and serves as preparatory meeting of the Berlin Process.