During 19-25 November 2017, the Strengthening Sustainable Private and Decentralized Forestry (SSPDF) project (implemented by CNVP Kosovo and funded by SIDA) organized a study visit to Slovenia and Austria.

Participants included staff from Kosovo’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD), the Kosovo Forest Agency (KFA), National and Local Associations of Private Forest Owners (NAPFO and APFOs), as well as staff from CNVP Kosovo.

The study trip visited public and private organisations to analyze existing management and governance approaches to sustainable forestry, renewable energy, biodiversity, advisory services and rural development.

Study tour objectives were to review:

• existing management and governance practices, especially regarding forestry land use management;
• existing management and governance practices, especially regarding regulations of forestry land use;
• advisory services in sustainable forestry;
• rural development activities related to sustainable forestry; and
• innovative project developments.

The hosts organized meetings and presentations that focused on all aspects of forestry. Field trips were held related to biomass from wood harvesting, trial demonstrations for fast growing species, and forest district heating plants.

In Slovenia, visits covered the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, the Forestry Service of Slovenia, a Local Action Group/co-operative (Owners’ association “Planinca” Begunje and Bled Machinenring), and the biomass district heating plant.

In Austria meetings were held with the Chamber for Agriculture and Forestry in Klagenfurt. A field visit was made to see a combined heating plant, wood chip, photo voltaic, and a heat pump. A forestry educational centre was visited to see practical security aspects of forestry harvesting. Another meeting was held with Mr Eckart Senitza, President of ProSilva Austria Association, including a field visit related to sustainable forest management. The group visited the Austrian Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry where the Department of Forestry gave a presentation on forestry policies and Information. They also discussed future cooperation possibilities with different stakeholders, and received a presentation on biodiversity in Austrian forests from the Austrian Council for Rural Development.

The successful study trip concluded that there is a significant difference between the forestry sectors in Austria/Slovenia and Kosovo!