Support to strengthening sustainable and multipurpose forest management to improve rural livelihoods and address climate change in Kosovo

This Programme will support the development agenda of Kosovo as outlined in the National Development Strategy 2016-2021, and more particularly Kosovo’s endeavour to improve the sustainable management of forests as an important resource for the territory. Programme outputs and activities are aligned with the existing and proposed new Kosovo’s rules governing forestry, the European Union Forest Strategy, the Instrument for Pre-Accession with the EU, the 2010-2020 Policy and Strategy Paper (PSP) on Forestry Sector Development, as well as the evolving Forest Policy of Kosovo.

Programme’s strategy will enable Kosovo to improve forest legality, accountable governance, and skills and knowledge of rural people in the spirit of self-empowerment. This will increase productivity and broaden rural people’s participation in forestry, generating multiple benefits for vulnerable rural low-income women and men.

The Programme Outcome is that Kosovar forests in target regions are managed more efficiently through a multi-purpose, participatory approach, strengthened in accordance with relevant rules on forests and supported with gender-responsive value-chains for poverty alleviation.

• Kosovo Forestry Agency
• Department of Forestry
  

• MAFRD, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Rural Development
• Rural women and men in communities 
• Private forest owners/industries
• Local women’s and youth groups
• KFA
• KFI and nursery under KFA
• MESP
• Peja nursery under KFA

COMPONENT 1. Improve timber legality, trade and law enforcement in forest sector

Output 1.1 Necessary by-laws on timber legality, wood market and law enforcement in forestry prepared

Activity 1.1.1    Assess the number and scope of existing by-laws, and choose at least five key by-laws for drafting and analyze their implications to the Authorities’ budget
Activity 1.1.2    Conduct a fiscal assessment on the impact of forest illegality to Kosovo’s Budget
Activity 1.1.3    Organize multi-stakeholder consultations for the preparation of final draft of by-laws (through agenda, public discussion, comment period and inputs reflected in by-laws)

Output 1.2 Public service capacity is strengthened, and equipment is provided to detect and counteract illegal logging, transport and trade

Activity 1.2.1    Establish a baseline on timber legality
Activity 1.2.2     Set up a Kosovo Task Force on timber legality and ensure its Secretariat
Activity 1.2.3    Provide on-the-job training to forest personnel including Forest Inspectors for counteracting illegal activities (chain-of-custody and due diligence included)
Activity 1.2.4    Procure and distribute necessary equipment and organize on-the-job training for final users

Output 1.3 Public awareness is raised on legality in forestry and timber trade

Activity 1.3.1    Define the scope and communication tools for organizing awareness raising campaigns
Activity 1.3.2    Launch Calls for Proposal and select service provider to undertake media campaigns
Activity 1.3.3    Monitor implementation of media contracts and assess impact

COMPONENT 2. Enhance transparency and strengthen the institutional capacity in good governance and implementation of forest policies, strategies and programmes

Output 2.1 KFIS operationalized for transparent decision-making in SFM

Activity 2.1.1    Update design of KFIS modules (to operate database, balance sheet, price tools, brief reports, web-based systems, etc.)
Activity 2.1.2    Establish a KFIS Task Force (including specialists of forest statistics, market economist and IT unit) and train staff for administrating and maintaining KFIS for data/information update and monitoring
Activity 2.1.3    On-the-job training to use KFIS on all forestry operation levels (400 people)
Activity 2.1.4    Develop guidelines/manual on Monitoring and evaluation M&E for SFM and legality
Activity 2.1.5    Design a Blockchain IT-module into KFIS and train KFIS managers, forest technicians, lawyers and IT staff and engage with Kosovar Blockchain Community

Output 2.2 Implementation of PSP for Forestry Sector Development for 2010-2020 supported and evaluated and gender-responsive PSP 2021-2030 formulated

Activity 2.2.1    Conduct PSP gender-responsive evaluation in forestry sector and provide recommendations
Activity 2.2.2    Develop an assessment of the economic sustainability of the forestry sector in Kosovo and provide sustainability recommendations which will cover investments and subsidies in forestry sector
Activity 2.2.3    Organize Joint Annual Review event and produce sector reports
Activity 2.2.4    Organize third Kosovo Forest Think-Tank event
Activity 2.2.5    Support drafting of gender-responsive PSP 2021-2030

Output 2.3 Implementation of NFHP Action Plan for Early Warning System to monitor and prevent pest and disease outbreaks supported

Activity 2.3.1    Provide on-the-job training to KFI personnel in data collection, monitoring and reporting on forest health and support implementation of NFHP
Activity 2.3.2    Provide on-the-job training to KFI personnel in applied research in forestry
Activity 2.3.3    Increase capacities on forest health and pest management to respond effectively to outbreaks
Activity 2.3.4    Facilitate cross-border exchange of information and risks

Output 2.4 Implementation of NARP supported inclusively engaging women and men, ethnic minorities and rural SMEs

Activity 2.4.1    Support drafting of Annual Operational Plans of NARP (procedures and guidelines)
Activity 2.4.2    T-o-T of 12 forestry officer and on-the-job training on OSH- Security in the work for 100 public employees
Activity 2.4.3    Identify, demarcate afforestation and demonstration site, train and engage 100 casual-labor to afforest 2 000 hectares (planting, re-planting, tending, protection, irrigation, fertilizing)
Activity 2.4.4    Organize seeds collection from seed stands to start nursery on broadleaved seedlings 
Activity 2.4.5    Improve seedling production of broadleaved trees (oak, beech, energy wood, etc.) as identified fit for MPFM (at Peja nursery with KFA)

COMPONENT 3. Introduce MPFM and inclusive forest value chains for poverty alleviation of rural women and men

Output 3.1 MPFM Plans introduced and implemented

Activity 3.1.1    Carry out needs assessment and develop a standard methodology for preparation of multi-purpose FMP and field guidelines on implementation
Activity 3.1.2    Identify the opportunities for AiK’s subsidies to promote multi-purpose forestry: areas of eligibility, target area size, target groups (ethnicity, gender), granting & monitoring system, etc.
Activity 3.1.3    Provide on-the-job training for implementing MPFM and pre-commercial silvicultural works: Target Group: 80 private forest owners/enterprises and 40 public forest workers
Activity 3.1.4    Provide Hands-on training on multi-purpose management techniques, pre-commercial silvicultural works (recreation, NWFPs, mixed forest afforestation, reforestation, tending, irrigation and first thinning): Target Group: 400 school leavers on Forest Summer Camps, the rural poor, minorities, inclusive of women and men

Output 3.2 Gender-responsive forest-based value chains to reduce non-regulated logging and alleviate poverty developed

Activity 3.2.1    Conduct value chain mapping and analysis to identify, analyze and evaluate forest-based value chains (members, gender, income distribution, grant needs), define intervention criteria and select 12 value chains for direct support (grants, training and monitoring)
Activity 3.2.2    Conduct hands-on training for technical support for the development of selected 12 value-chains for 120 people (10 people each with minimum 30 percent of least represented sex)
Activity 3.2.3    Support and monitor the established value-chains
Activity 3.2.4    Develop on-line MIS
Activity 3.2.5    Exchange of know-how and dissemination of best practices

Output 3.3 Forest fire prevention and preparedness capacities established and integrated in forest management planning

Activity 3.3.1    Prepare ToRs for dedicated forest fire units and T-o-T Training Manuals
Activity 3.3.2    Train on-the-job 200 fire-fighters and fire prevention volunteers and public forest workers
Activity 3.3.3    Procure and distribute equipment (portable field type fire extinguishers, pumps, hoses, etc.) and train final users.

Measurable indicators of the Programme impact will be:

1. At least 2 000 hectares of A/R achieved in collaboration with communities and with funding from the AiK;
2. At least 0,5 percent-units increase in forestry contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Programme’s calculated figure from KAS using the same methodology);
3. At least 30 percent reduction in illegal logging; and reversely: 30 percent increase in regulated forest-based activities (i.e. worked according to FMPs) among beneficiaries in target regions);
4. 30 percent increase in tax revenue from forestry; and
5. 30 percent increase in rural women’s incomes in target households.

Shiroma Sathyapala
FAO HQ Technical Officer
email: [email protected]