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The First Draft of the Project, Deforestation in Kosovo
This is the Outline for the Final Project
Strategies for Improvement of Kosova’s Forest Resources
Legislation
"Kosovo forests management is based on international advanced standards, such as: precautionary, conservation of biological diversity, inter-generational equity and ecologically sustainable development. Those standards for the sector are assured by new law on forests. During the period of year 1999s, were done permanent attempts to create and enforce laws and regulations promulgated in the country by two institutions, UNMIK and Kosovo Assembly. In the legal framework of the existing laws in Kosovo still are some laws passed before year 1989s by the Kosovo Assembly and FRY which are accepted as applicable by current government. The law that is in force and that directly affects the forest sector is Law No.2003/3 on Forests, formulated in cooperation with UN / FAO office in Prishtina."
Policies
"The MAFRD during year 2006s had completed the work on the document “Agriculture and Rural Development Plan 2007 - 2013”. Eight development measures were identified and only one, Measure 5 -Improving Natural Resource Management, was applied to the forest sector. Another document that was completed and published from the MAFRD through inter-ministerial Working Group is the “Policy and Strategy Paper on Forestry Sector Development 2010 - 2020” which is appointed through policies and strategies to govern the future development of the Kosova’s forest sector. Suggested policies and strategies on this document are consistent with the existing legislation on forestry that set the stage for the major decisions concerning the sector for the next 10 years."
Integrating Environment into Agriculture and Forestry - Progress and Prospects in Eastern Europe and Central Asia / Volume II November 2007
"Forest legislation, including the Law on Forests, and the regulatory framework emphasize the principles of environmental protection, sustainable forestry development, and biodiversity conservation. Nevertheless, uncontrolled illegal logging remains an alarming issue. Informal estimates suggest that approximately 100,000 m3 per year are cut illegally. A draft of the Forest Management Strategy and Action Plan was prepared in 2000, but needs to be finalized and approved. Forest fires are also widespread, often in connection with farming practices or the burning of farmland as a de-mining measure. Nonetheless, the incidence of forest fires has decreased significantly in the post war period."
KOSOVO CLIMATE CHANGE - A Strategic Approach to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference 2009
"Deforestation: Unregulated logging of Kosovo’s forests is reducing the country’s positive contribution to combating climate change through the absorption of CO2."
• Raising political and public awareness of the importance of Kosovo’s forests;
• To ensure effective forest management and the enforcement of legislation protecting forests;
• The development of replanting programmes and plans to reduce the use of firewood for heating and cooking.
"Around 40% of Kosovo’s 10,904 km2 territory is forested. However, since the end of the war, and probably before, considerable deforestation has occurred as a result of logging – much of it illegal or unmonitored – for firewood and construction. According to Kosovo’s Forestry Department, around 222,000 m3 of wood is exploited annually. Kosovo’s forests need to be seen as an asset to be protected. They are important for their key role in absorbing CO2. Reducing forest cover results in greater atmospheric CO2 levels which in turn result in higher temperatures. As well as deliberate deforestation, Kosovo loses an average of 40 km2 to forest fires every year. If temperatures rise significantly, the frequency and severity of such fires will increase."
USAID - EVALUATION OF FOREST MANAGEMENT IN KOSOVO’S PUBLICLY OWNED FORESTS
"Like most of its neighbors in the Balkans, Kosovo and enjoys hardwood forests with merchantable volumes, low stump-age prices and relatively low labor prices for conversion. Its focus has always been on timber as a commodity. However, unless steps are taken to have these forests certified to international standards Kosovo will be unable to participate in European and North American wood product markets. Kosovo lags behind all of its neighbors, with the exception of Albania and Bosnia, in developing capacity to understand and apply international verification standards and practices. The most significant obstacles to a viable forest products sector in Kosovo is inadequate forest planning and management, which undermines needed investment in conversion technology."
"Kosovo’s forest management suffers from obsolete and incomplete forest inventories necessary to determine sustained yield; weak forest management planning capacity and multiple use orientation; an inability to identify, set aside and protect high conservation value forests; outdated harvest techniques and technologies; and harvesting practices which unnecessarily threaten groundwater resources. A major concern in Kosovo where irregular power supply is a common feature, and most households are not equipped for oil heating, is inadequate protection from illicit cutting."
Ergin Hajredini - Summary of climate change dimensions
"After 1999, forestry in Kosovo was supported by various international donors, with the primary objectives of institutional capacity building, organization and training. Reflecting the recent conflict in the country, the priorities for government institutions were in other fields, such as infrastructure, rebuilding war-damaged housing, and health concerns. Apart from lack of human resources, limited budgets preclude the possibility of undertaking research activities and monitoring in the forestry sector."
"Kosovo is a country in development with a simple economy. As the primary energy source for the country is coal, future economic development can be expected to lead to increased CO2 emissions. There is no data regarding GHG emissions. The only data that might be used as a source of information are data from 1985--1989, but that is outdated in view of the political, social and economic changes since then. There is no study or related research on this subject. Kosovo is not a Party to UNFCCC. It is crucial that, in the near future, Kosovo should establish a body responsible for policy-making and which would be responsible for actions on climate change."