Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans

The Landscape Fire Management in the Western Balkans (LFMWB) is a project financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation – SDC and coordinated by Farmahem from Skopje, North Macedonia with backstopping support from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation from Switzerland. The first phase is designed to be implemented in the period from 01.02.2022 until 31.12.2026. The LFMWB Programme is dedicated to achieving the overarching goal of enhancing the resilience of Western Balkan forests and landscapes against fires, benefiting the communities relying on these areas for their livelihoods and socio-economic development. This goal is in line with the SDC's Framework strategic components, namely Climate-resilient development and Sustainable management of natural resources. To accomplish this, the Programme focuses on three key outcomes: 1. Better cooperation: Establishing a sustainable regional network that facilitates cross-boundary knowledge exchange and cooperation in landscape fire management (LFM). 2. Better capacities: Strengthening capacities in broader LFM approaches to enable effective cross-sectoral collaboration at multiple levels. 3. Better policies: Implementing revised policies and strategies on LFM to promote sustainable landscape management at local, national, and regional levels, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration and involving communities and key stakeholders in the development processes. By creating national and regional networks for LFM, the Programme aims to initiate multi-stakeholder policy dialogues, foster better cooperation, and enhance capacities throughout the Western Balkans region. Additionally, the Programme actively promotes the integration of LFM into climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, recognizing its crucial role in building resilience and sustainability.