Donor:
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), through the Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) Programme
Implementers:
Lead applicant: Association LAG PLACKOVICA
www.plackovica.lag.mk
Type of Project:
National
Project Duration: [02.12.2024 – 02.06.2026]
Total Budget: 38.510 CHF
Scope:
North Macedonia, on teritory of LAG Plackovica including the teritory of four (4) Municiplalities (Konce, Karbinci, Radovis and Stip)
Main Beneficiaries:
Local government officials, Community leaders and representatives, Emergency response teams (e.g., firefighters, medical personnel) Local NGOs and community-based organizations, local residents of high-risk wildfire areas.
- Municipal Authorities and Local Government Officials
- Local Firefighters and Emergency Responders
- Local Stakeholder and Community Volunteers
- General Population of the Municipalities
- Agricultural and Forestry Workers
- Local NGOs and Other Institutions
Overall Goal:
To enhance the resilience of the municipalities of Konce, Karbinci, Radovis, and Stip to wildfire risks by strengthening the capacities of local stakeholders, improving coordination, and increasing community awareness and preparedness.
Expected Results:
– Enhanced Knowledge and Skills of Local Stakeholders in Wildfire Management
– Improved Coordination and Collaboration among Local, Regional, and National Entities Involved in Wildfire Management
– Increased Community Awareness and Preparedness for Wildfire Risks
– Establishment of Local Structures (Committees/Task Forces) Dedicated to Ongoing Wildfire Management Efforts
Current Activities:
At the initial phase of the project four (4) Introductory meetings were organized with municipal focal points and mayors of the four participating municipalities (Konče, Karbinci, Radoviš, and Štip). A steering committee was established, composed of representatives from each municipality together with the project team. The committee serves as the main governance body, ensuring joint decision-making, oversight, and alignment of project activities with local priorities.
Few coordination meetings were held in municipalities as part of the landscape fire resilience project. These gatherings brought together mayors, municipal representatives, emergency services, and local institutions to align efforts in landscape fire prevention and response. Through structured questionnaire needs assessment was conducted to identify specific challenges, capacities, and gaps in landscape fire management across the four municipalities, as a part of the Regional Landscape Prevention and Management Plan for the municipalities of Karbinci, Konče, Radoviš, and Štip.
A major milestone was the regional workshop held in Štip, gathering over 40 participants from municipalities, public enterprises, national institutions, NGOs, and academia. The event concluded with a shared commitment to develop a regional lanscape management and prevention plan, supported by data analysis and historical wildfire trends.The outcomes will be further supported by an analysis of current practices and resources, and by the review of historical wildfire data to identify recurring risks and impacts.
