Donor:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), through the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme
Implementers:
Lead applicant: Association for Ecology EKOMENLOG Ohrid
www.ekomenlogohrid.org
Type of Project:
National
Project Duration: 2 Dec 2024 – 1 February 2026
Total Budget: CHF 30,000 (of which CHF 26,880 requested from LFMWB)
Scope:
Lake Ohrid region — Municipalities of Ohrid, Struga, and Debrca, North Macedonia
Main Beneficiaries:
Local communities and farmers; youth and students (50 Youth Ambassadors); municipal authorities and cultural/heritage experts; visitors/tourists; biodiversity and natural ecosystems of the Lake Ohrid area
Overall Goal:
Enhance fire-management capacity and long-term sustainability by engaging youth and the wider community through education, eco-friendly practices, and innovative technology, while preserving Lake Ohrid’s cultural heritage and biodiversity.
Expected Results:
- Eco-friendly firebreaks: Pilot establishment of 1000 m of native, eco-friendly firebreaks.
- Youth & community engagement: 50 Youth Ambassadors engaged; 5 camps, school clubs, and community workshops deliver skills in prevention, preparedness, and stewardship (≥200 participants)
- Cultural heritage integration: 15 traditional fire-related practices documented and integrated into modern LFM approaches; interpretive trails/signage planned to connect visitors and residents with heritage and risk awareness
- Public awareness & tools: Outreach materials (1,000 brochures, educational videos), a participatory mobile app and use of GIS, drones, and satellite imagery for monitoring and preparedness
Current Activities:
At the initial project phase, the location for establishing eco-friendly firebreaks was selected near the PA Belchishko Blato, after careful ecological assessment and strong collaboration with local authorities. This location now stands as a beacon of landscape fire prevention and community resilience.
Between April and May 2025, the project delivered a suite of educational and strategic materials, such as Study on Plant Species for Firebreaks, complete with land ownership and nursery availability data, a Training Manual tailored for youth and local stakeholders, Public Educational Booklet and a Report on Traditional Fire Practices, bridging ancestral wisdom with modern fire management.
To empower communities with real-time tools, the team conceptualized a mobile app focused on wildfire education, prevention, and response
Additional Information (Optional):
Innovation: The project blends traditional fire knowledge with modern LFM tools (participatory mobile app, GIS/drone/satellite monitoring), delivered through a youth-ambassador model to ensure local ownership, intergenerational learning, and durable community capacity.
