EU4Forest supports Albania in a structured process of institutional and technical capacity strengthening in the forestry sector, with particular attention to sustainable forest management and the reduction of wildfire risk. The project accompanies the country in aligning with European Union standards and policies, promoting an integrated approach that combines environmental protection, climate resilience, and the sustainable development of local communities. Through regulatory, operational, and training interventions, EU4Forest aims to consolidate national and local capacities, fostering more effective forest governance.
GOALS AND EXPECTED RESULTS
EU4Forest intends to achieve the following results:
- alignment of the national forest strategy and development of additional regulatory instruments for the full transposition of EU forest legislation and policies;
- strengthening of the administrative and technical capacities of national and local authorities through training programs dedicated to sustainable forest management;
- definition of a protocol for monitoring and reporting forest data and support to the process of accounting for forest emissions and removals, in line with the LULUCF Regulation (Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry);
- development of forest management plans and support for their implementation, including through the preparation of a list of priority measures;
- reforestation of priority areas and enhancement of technical capacities for sustainable forest management (SFM), through the use of state-of-the-art equipment and the establishment of a central coordination structure;
- definition of a grant scheme for the implementation of SFM measures, including those dedicated to the prevention of wildfires and soil erosion;
- implementation of awareness-raising campaigns targeting local communities, aimed at promoting sustainable forest management.
CIMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION’S CONTRIBUTION
CIMA Research Foundation contributes primarily to the development of the grant scheme. In particular, it provides very high-resolution (100 m) wildfire risk mapping at national level in Albania, based on the results of the IPA Floods and Fires project. The mapping also takes into account potential impacts on the population and ecosystem services, facilitating integrated planning approaches capable of jointly addressing environmental and social vulnerabilities. It further incorporates future climate projections to support the identification of priority intervention areas.
In parallel, CIMA makes available its expertise in Early Warning Systems and monitoring activities, including the use of innovative technologies and artificial intelligence. It contributes to the identification of strategies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent fire ignition under extreme weather conditions and provides propagation models to develop scenarios that ensure the safe and effective use of fire in forest management.
These activities are complemented by training programs for local emergency and disaster response teams, focusing on wildfire prevention techniques, advanced technological applications, and post-fire management, as well as by the implementation of awareness-raising campaigns for local communities.
Photograph: Pastoris Giovanna/UIF
