On 21 May 2019, representatives from the Swedish Embassy in Pristina (Ms. Nasrin Pourghazian and Mr. Fatos Mulla) visited two projects funded by Sida:

1. Strengthening Sustainable Private and Decentralized Forests (SSPDF) implemented by CNVP Kosovo; and
2. Sida Framework Environmental Programme implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning .

The Swedish guests were first introduced to Joint Forest Management (JFM) activities being implemented in Peja region, supported by CNVP Kosovo. Discussions were held with representatives of the National Association of Private Forestry Owners and local communities. The objective of JFM is to improve forest management and forest protection, as well as ensure a higher annual growth of forests and fulfil the firewood needs of rural communities.

The guests were then taken to another Swedish supported initiative implemented through SSPDF at the primary school in Drelaj, Rugova. There, they saw the innovative replacement of fossil fuels by wood biomass/chips used in the school’s heating system.

Afterwards, the embassy representatives visited “Bjeshket e Nemura” National Park which is receiving Swedish support through the Sida Framework Environmental Programme. They met with the owner of a guest house to discuss agri-tourism development within a national park setting with a view to improving the environment and increasing local economic development.