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Group Members: Lilijana Memija, Andina Vllahiu, Rea Kryeziu, Sinan Thaqi, Donita Macula
Deforestation
LAW NO. 2003/3 ON FORESTS IN KOSOVO
Reference: http://www.gazetazyrtare.com/e-gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=244&Itemid=28
These are PDF Files and Reports on Kosovo's Environmental Status.
Arben Qerimi - Capstone Project Report 5-07-2011.PDF
Action Plan of the Economic Vision of Kosovo 2011-2014.PDF
Wood Processing - A Strong Tradition in Forestry and Wood Processing
Over 40% of Kosovo's land mass is covered by forest, representing an area of approximately 465,000 hectares. Broadleaved forests created through natural regeneration cover more than 90% of the forest area. Kosovo has a long wood processing tradition and its soils are generally nutrient-rich providing a very good growth medium for natural plants and trees. Hard woods are the dominant tree species, mainly beech and oak. The raw material is of a very high quality and generally considered to be one of the best in Europe, especially beech wood as the timber is white, clean and knot-free. It is internationally highly regarded by the Wood Processing Sector. Wood Processing is considered one of Kosovo's most dynamic and promising industry sectors.
Reference: http://www.invest-ks.org/?cont=14
Life in Kosovo Discussed Protection of Kosovo’s Forests
28 02 2008 This Thursday’s Life in Kosovo discussed the environment. The show had a special focus on Kosovo’s biodiversity, the current state of Kosovo’s forests, the reasons for their destruction and the ways they could be protected. Forests cover 40% of Kosovo’s territory, with state property accounting for 60% of that, and private property for 40%. How are they being managed? Are these forests being destroyed? Who is destroying them? Who is protecting the forests from illegal logging? Are the authorities able to stop the illegal woodcutters, and are they working on protecting nature and its values?
Reference: http://birn.eu.com/en/1/50/8277/
Illegal wood-cutting - one of Kosovo’s most difficult rule of law issues
In June 2012, in a valley near Leposovic in northern Kosovo, Kosovo Police, EULEX and forestry officials were assessing the scale of illegal wood-cutting in the area. Their convoy discovered evidence of logging such as abandoned tractors with chainsaws and loaded trucks of wood. As the convoy drove down a bumpy track, they came under gunfire. EULEX police officers, who were there in a monitoring and advisory role, said the shooting lasted for several minutes. Bullets ricocheted off the ground nearby. KP returned warning fire with their AK 47s. As the convoy maneuvered its way out of the danger zone, the shooting gradually ceased. Thankfully, no one had been injured.
Reference: http://www.eulex-kosovo.eu/en/news/000383.php
Mbrojtja e pyjeve në Istog-The protection of forests in Istog
The article was written in 2008 by Ismail Hetemaj, the director of the department for Agriculture, Forestation and Hydro economy of Istog, Kosova. The article depicts the phenomenon of deforestation as one of the most worrying environmental issues in the region, especially in a place such as Istog, whose main sources for economic survival are considered to be agriculture and forestry.
Furthermore, Istog consisting primarily of 19,198 hectares of wood has experienced staggering losses in its forestry structure as the amount of the illegal cutting of the trees was at a growing rate, particularly with the lack of direct means/legislation that would protect the woods. As such, the Municipality of Istog decided to take certain measures in the form of administrative orders to prevent the expansion of the environmental issue. The administrative guidelines were performed by the "Radusha" forestry corporation for the public woods, whereas the department for Agriculture, Forestry, and Hydro economy of the Municipality, controlled the private woods. Moreover, in the article you may find the main objectives of the Municipality for the maintenance of the woods and the continuous cooperation with KFOR and the KPF.
Reference: http://www.unmikonline.org/albanian/pub/focuskos/june02/focuskmunaffair4.htm
Se shpejti menaxhimi i pyjeve i'u ipet komunave - Forest management soon in the hands of the municipalities
This article was published in the web site of the government of the Republic of Kosovo, in May 2010. According to this article deforestation is a worrying issue especially in the region of Dukagjin specifically in Istog, Decan, Peja including also, Ferizaj. Moreover, there was a debate held to inform the public about the alarming factor of deforestation, where the Head of the Department of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Abazi was present. Abazi claimed that there has been massive deforestation in Kosovo and that this occurrence is irreparable. According to him the illegal harvesting of trees is done due to economic difficulties, but it has to be done in accordance with norms and criteria of wood chopping. The Ministry of Agriculture officials say that the competence of managing and overseeing forests will be passed on to the municipal level. This is foreseen in the Ahtisaari package, which is legally binding and incorporated in our constitution. In this case, the municipalities are obligated to protect and use forests. Furthermore, 90 percent of forests will be in the hands of the municipality, to license wood chopping and forest management.
Reference: http://kk.rks-gov.net/ferizaj/News/Se--shpejti-menaxhimi-i-pyjeve-ju-jepet-komunave.aspx
Procesi i certifikimit të pyjeve në Kosovë inciativa me e rëndësishme
Prishtinë, 28 janar - Në takimin informues që u mbajt sot, i organizuar nga USAID-i, ku morën pjesë ministri i MBPZHR z. Idriz Vehapi, ambasadori i SHBA-ve në Prishtinë z. Christopher Dell, Daved Cowley, drejtor i Programit KPEP dhe përfaqësues të shumtë të organeve dhe organizatave relevante, është diskutuar gjerësisht për procesin e certifikimit të pyjeve në Kosovë. Certifikimi i FSC-së konsiderohet në masë të madhe si një prej iniciativave më të rëndësishme të dekadës së fundit për promovimin e menaxhimit të përgjegjshëm të pyjeve në botë.
Reference: http://www.ekonomia-ks.com/?page=1,5,2576
BE ndihmon Kosovën në menaxhimin e pyjeve
Zyra ndërlidhëse e KE-së lansoij një projekt dy vjeçar për përkrahjen e menaxhimit të pyjeve në Kosovë. Nga ky projekt përfitojnë Ministria e Bujqësisë, Pylltarisë dhe Zhvillimit Rural dhe Agjencia Pyjore e Kosovës, të cilat do të udhëzohen për menaxhimin e pyjeve shtetërore dhe private sipas praktikave më të mira evropiane. Ekspertiza do të jetë e përqendruar në zhvillimin e rrjetit kombëtar të rrugëve pyjore, menaxhimit të parqeve kombëtare, si dhe në trajtimin e çështjeve të prerjes ilegale të drunjve dhe fillimin e përdorimit të bioenergjisë nga drunjtë. Projekti do të vendos standardet e BE-së për menaxhim të qëndrueshëm të pyjeve në Kosovë.
Reference: http://www.fshatismire.com/lajme/304-be-ndihmon-kosoven-ne-menaxhimin-e-pyjeve.html
Biodiversiteti dhe rendesia e tij
Vlerësimet e fundit shkencore parashikojnë se, me ritmet e sotme të shpyllëzimeve, brenda 25-30 viteve të ardhshëm do të zhduken deri ne 10 % te llojeve te njohura në planet. Pasojat e kësaj humbje do të reflektohet edhe në ekonomin botërore dhe në zhvillimet shoqërore në përgjithësi, duke pasur parasysh faktin se afro 40 % e ekonomisë botërore dhe 80 % e nevojave te njeriut plotësohen nga resurset biologjike. Ekzistojnë shumë faktorë të cilët janë shkaktarë të zhdukjes se llojeve, por më të theksuarit janë: rritja e numrit të popullsisë në botë, shkalla e lartë e shpyllëzimit të sipërfaqeve te pyjeve, tharja e moçaleve, zhvillimi i hovshëm industrial, ngrohja globale, shirat acidike etj.
Reference: http://www.ammk-rks.net/repository/docs/Biodiversiteti_dhe_rendesia_e_tij.pdf
Integrating Environment into Agriculture and Forestry Progress and Prospects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
The most pressing environmental problems in agriculture are fragmentation of farmland; water and soil pollution from crop and livestock production; industrial pollution; and the fast-paced conversion, before and after the war, of agricultural land to industrial, commercial, and housing uses. Primary agricultural impacts on the environment include soil erosion; landslides; loss of biodiversity; and flooding due to poor irrigation infrastructure and management. In forestry, the most urgent environmental problems are deforestation and degradation of forest land caused by uncontrolled gravel extraction, illegal logging, pests and diseases, and forest fires. Although a large part of Kosovo is covered by forest, only a third of the forested area is considered ecologically healthy and economically productive.
Forestry. The Kosovo Forest Agency, established in 2003, is responsible for managing forests, i.e., public forests, and supervising private forest land. A Forestry Law, approved in 2003, is based on core principles of sustainable development, as defined in the Rio Convention of 1992. Best practices from the EU include establishing advisory services and promoting cooperation among private forest owners, who account for 38.4 percent of all forest area. Overall, the sector is characterized by poorly organized management and control functions, and weak inter-agency coordination.
Reference:http://www.worldbank.org/eca/pubs/envint/Volume%20II/English/Review%20KOS-final.pdf
Thaqi, Q.- People of Prizren Prefer to Use Wood for heating.
"The best and most practical solution for heating still remains the one with woods. Mr. Izet Osmanaj sees this as a threat for the forests of Prizeren, since this causing the deforestation of these parts. This article further continues by mentioning how the forests have suffered several fires during the summer, and now during the winter they are threatened by the massive wood-cuttings which are taking place in this region. Also, it mentioned that the region of Prizren does not have big surfaces woods, therefore, with each passing day, the deforestation can be noticed more and more." 14 Oct. 2012, sec. Municipalities: 17. Print.