This Strategy focuses on the governance, protection, and modernization of forest ecosystems across Kosovo. It addresses historic vulnerabilities, including high rates of illegal logging, institutional resource constraints, and escalating climate risks. A central priority of the Strategy is the transition from a traditional timber-extraction economy toward an ecosystem-based management approach. This shift aims to balance the economic output of the sector with essential ecological and social functions. A significant portion of the Strategy focuses on transforming low-yield, degraded coppice forests into high-quality, mature stands. Environmental safeguards and climate change mitigation are integrated throughout the entire Strategy. Enhanced tracking mechanisms to counter timber theft are introduced and inter-institutional task forces to enforce compliance on the ground are established. Additionally, the Strategy outlines active monitoring networks to defend ecosystems against forest fires and tree diseases, explicitly prioritizing biological controls over chemical interventions to protect localized habitats and wildlife. The Strategy also emphasizes the socio-economic potential of rural communities through the formalization of the forest economy. It details plans to standardize the commercial market for non-wood forest products, such as medicinal plants and wild berries, which offers targeted livelihood opportunities for rural women and youth. The Strategy further supports the creation of green jobs by mapping ecotourism zones, building visitor infrastructure, and modernizing local wood processing industries. The Strategy mandates the implementation of the digital Kosovo Forest Information System to transition data streams for cutting permits and tracking into real-time cloud technology. Furthermore, it funds vocational training and advanced academic degrees in forestry to build a skilled local workforce capable of executing these modern standards.
科索沃 (联合国安理会 1224) · 2021-12-15