9th Interim Meeting of the REAWG on Forestry and Coordination with the 2nd Task Force Meeting on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture (CCAA) was held from 16-17 October in Durres, Albania.
During the 2nd Task Force Meeting on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture (CCAA), it was emphasized that forestry plays a vital role in addressing the impacts of climate change and must be fully integrated into broader policy frameworks and adaptation strategies. The inclusion of forestry in climate change adaptation is essential for achieving long-term sustainability, resilience, and environmental protection in the Western Balkans. As part of ongoing regional cooperation, forestry policies are increasingly being aligned with the EU acquis, ensuring that measures implemented across the region contribute to the European Union’s overall climate goals. These policies aim to strengthen the sector’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to the negative impacts of climate change.
The 9th Interim Meeting of the REAWG on Forestry focused on advancing regional cooperation and strategic planning in the sector. Mr. Boban Ilic, SWG Secretary General stressed out that as of January 2026, collaboration with Germany will continue, highlighting the growing importance of forestry within regional and international cooperation efforts. The strategic goal of this work within the Regional Expert Advisory Working Group (REAWG) on Forestry is to develop Road Maps that will guide future actions and enhance coordination across countries.
Although forestry is positioned under Pillar IV of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans, it currently does not form part of the EU negotiation chapters. Nevertheless, the Western Balkan countries have demonstrated readiness to align with and implement EU competences in this field.
In the forthcoming period, national team will engage in discussions to identify key priorities and ideas for the next phase of work. Conducting detailed policy analyses will be crucial to better understand existing gaps in relation to EU negotiation processes and to enable informed and timely policy responses. The group emphasized the need for clear guidance for the next phase of activities. During the meeting, each national expert also presented an overview of their respective National Forestry Workshops on Biodiversity, providing valuable insights and setting the foundation for further regional collaboration.
During the meeting, participants received Certificates of Participation for taking part in the Exposure Visit on Climate and Biodiversity Integrated Forestry held in Hesse, Germany, from 22 to 27 June 2025.
1. Report on National Trainings Workshop Albania
2 Report from Workshop Kupres FBH
3. Biodiversity National Workshop Republic of Srpska
4. Presentation National Trainning Blinaja Kosovo
5. Report National Workshop North Macedonia
6. Presentation National Workshop Montenegro
7. Report National Workshop Serbia
9. Next steps on project implementation
