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Integrated Forest Management in Practice - Insights from Decan
Last week, CNVP Kosovo welcomed a delegation from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), including Mr. Heinz Habertheurer, Head of Programmes and Projects International, Ms. Rita Glavitza, Head of the ADA Office in Kosovo, along with representatives from the ADA office in Pristina.
The visit was conducted together with Ms. Astrid Taus, Program Manager from ICEP, local institutions, and forestry experts from the regional project "Integrated Forest Management (IFM) Along the Drin River Basin."
Local institutions that were present included Mr. Bashkim Ramosaj, Mayor of the Municipality of Deçan, alongside representatives from the Kosovo Forest Agency, the public company “Higjiena,” as well as academic and technical experts.
During the visit, participants explored concrete results of integrated forest management on the ground:
- Chestnut forest rehabilitation - For the first time in Kosovo, an integrated model for rehabilitating degraded chestnut forests is being successfully implemented. These interventions improve forest health, support natural regeneration, and create a sustainable basis for local value chains.
- Anti-erosion measures - Nature-based solutions, such as the construction of “double fences,” are helping stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and protect watercourses.
- Biomass energy – a practical local model - The visit also included the biomass heating system of the public company “Higjiena,” which uses residues from forest management activities. This system demonstrates how sustainable forest management can be directly linked to renewable energy, reducing reliance on coal-based electricity and lowering heating costs.
- Partnerships for long-term impact - The visit highlighted strong cooperation between ADA, ICEP, CNVP, the Municipality of Deçan, the Kosovo Forest Agency, and academic institutions. The Municipality of Deçan reaffirmed its commitment to continue chestnut forest rehabilitation using its own resources, building on the success of this pilot.
This field visit clearly showed how integrated approaches can translate regional strategies into tangible results - contributing to climate resilience, rural development, and sustainable energy solutions.
The IFM project has been implemented since 2022 in Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, and Montenegro. It is co-financed by ADA, managed by ICEP, and implemented by CNVP.