CNVP Kosovo started implementing the new five-year project Sustainable Use of Natural Resources for Environment and Economic Development (SUNREED). The project is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Kosovo and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The SUNREED project will be implemented over five years from January 2022 until December 2026. 

The main objectives of SUNREED are to: 

• increase incomes from sustainably managed private forests;
• address issues related to climate change adaptation and biodiversity; 
• develop forest product market systems, including wood biomass (wood chips); 
• provide incentives for proper forest management and income generation for Private Forest Owners (PFOs); and
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The project is focused on poverty reduction in remote forest areas of Kosovo, by supporting Private Forest Owners (PFO) and their associations in 23 municipalities and the National Association of Private Forest Owners (NAPFO) to improve their service delivery. This will be done through direct encouragement of and support to improved forest management and engagement in the NWFP / MAP market systems, contributing to improved policies and legislation as well as encouraging a market system for wood biomass and income generation for PFO’s. Carbon sequestration will be increased in line with Kosovo’s current climate change policy.

The Market Systems Development (MSD) approach will be used to guide project implementation to ensure the project achieves maximum positive impact for poorer people, brings about sustainable changes in the behavior and expertise of all project participants, and improves PFOs’ access to forest product markets and incomes.

The project will be implemented by CNVP Kosovo working with a range of partners including private businesses, public agencies, and civil society organizations such as the National Association of Private Forest Owners (NAPFO) and the local Associations of Private Forest Owners (APFOs).