Five-year FAO programme helps Kosovo advance in sustainable forestry management

An intensive forestry programme on strengthening sustainable and multipurpose forest management, improving rural livelihoods and addressing climate change has concluded in Kosovo.¹ Funded by the European Union and Sweden and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development and the Kosovo Forestry Agency, the programme left a lasting legacy on the sustainable management of forest resources for the benefit of current and future generations.

The programme supported the formulation of long-term policies and the preparation and strengthening of forestry legislation. Innovative approaches were introduced for preserving forests, as well as multipurpose forest management to sustain the balance of forest functions and their sustainable use. 

One of the key achievements made by the Programme is development of the Kosovo Forest Information System –, a digital tool designed for to enabling enable integrated administration and transparent decision-making processes within the forestry sector. 

Knowledge sharing and training were a central pillar of the programme. More than 500 forestry staff from forestry-related institutions, the private sector and local communities were trained in modern forestry practices, counteracting illegal forestry activities, preventing wildfires, monitoring forest health, conducting inventories and planning multipurpose forest management, developing forest-based value chains, and many more topics.

The renovated Centre for Capacity Building in Blinaja/Lipovica now provides a permanent hub for knowledge sharing and professional development for the forestry sector in Kosovo.

A particular focus of the programme was promoting gender equality and ensuring gender mainstreaming in the forestry sector. This resulted in better and more gender-responsive policies, legislation, programmes and action plans for the forestry sector. A gender-transformative curriculum (including training materials, exercises and case studies) was developed as a practical resource, equipping and training 24 forestry professionals with the tools to integrate gender perspectives into their work.

An event on 22 January in Pristina concluded the project, bringing together key stakeholders and resource partners. Speakers reflected on the project’s achievements and stressed the importance of continued investment in sustainable forest management.

“Through this programme, we translated the importance of forests into concrete action — from new forest management plans and non-wood value chains to improved legislation, training facilities, and operational equipment. The foundations are now in place, and sustained national investment in people and infrastructure is essential to build on these results,” said Eva Palatova, Acting Head of the European Union in Kosovo, at the event. Palatova also spoke appreciatively of the dedicated cooperation among the partners.

The Ambassador of Sweden in Kosovo, Jonas Westerlund, emphasized that the programme focused on strengthening institutions and governance, while supporting modern forestry practices that turn policy into implementation. “By strengthening institutions, data systems, and professional forestry practice, the programme laid the foundations for sustainable forest management that protects biodiversity, supports rural livelihoods, and enables Kosovo’s green transition,” he said.

Kosovo has high forest coverage (45 percent), but the demands and available capacities make it challenging to manage them, said Ekrem Yazici, FAO Lead Technical Officer of the programme. He highlighted the project’s great achievements in raising and sustaining the profile of the sector but pointed at the need for more sustainable investments by responsible authorities in stronger institutions.

The foundation and legacy of this five-year intervention are tangible, Yazici said. The programme helped strengthen institutions, improve policies and enhance professional skills while enabling conditions for the sustainable management of forests in Kosovo. Yazici stressed that the great collaboration among national institutions, the European Union, Sweden and FAO made these achievements possible.

The closing ceremony was followed by an exhibition featuring photographs and paintings showcasing the programme’s main results.

¹References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).