As four days of FAO forestry management training get under way here today, the effort to improve management of Kosovo’s forest resources reaches a new stage. In northern municipalities, a group of foremen will learn about the implementation of forestry public works.

On the first day, participants will cover the necessary theoretical background before jumping to the real work: safe and effective handling of chainsaws, establishing and tending tree plantations, and use and maintenance of forest infrastructure such as roads and skid trails.

“This is already the second phase of an FAO project, developed to increase the forestry sector’s contribution to the national economy,” said Aleksandar Nikolovski, FAO chief technical advisor for the Finland-financed project. “A lot has been done already on the legislative and strategic level, so we aim to reach out to those responsible for the actual activities.”

Forestry has potential in Kosovo, especially in the north where people are struggling to find solid employment opportunities. Instead of a one-time harvesting of forest resources, the project aims for a more sustainable and long-term approach to managing Kosovan forests.

For this reason, the project takes into account the economic, social and environmental benefits of forests, as well as their contribution to climate change mitigation.

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

18 October 2016, Leposavic, Kosovo