Outlook on Climate Change Adaptation in the Western Balkan Mountains

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inventories. All countries, except Albania, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, 1 and Federation BiH (one of the two Entities within BiH), 18 have adopted new forest legislation aiming to introduce multifunctional and sustainable of forest management. A number of nature protection regulations have been integrated into forest legislation. Forest and nature protection legislation has not been designed specifically to deal with climate change adaptation.The legislation does, however, cover many important aspects for climate change mitigation and adaptation through the sustainable use of forests and nature, preserving biodiversity and maintaining the functions of ecosystems. Such laws regulate the conservation and restoration of biological and landscape diversity, environmental monitoring, establish a system of protection for natural areas and areas of high conservation value, as well as providing safeguards from harmful social and economic activities. Forest legislation provides the framework for the conservation and management of forests (e.g. silviculture, exploitation and afforestation). It also covers water protection, climate, biodiversity and other social values of forests through establishing a

framework of forest areas conserved and managed for such purposes (e.g. water protection zones, seed forests, high conservation value forests, recreation forests and protected forest areas). These laws also provide financial frameworks for afforestation and reforestation by establishing special purpose funds, which in most cases are replenished from profits of forest utilization, and taxes on air polluters such as vehicles and/or industry. With the exception of Kosovo, 1 all the Western Balkan countries have ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and have adopted National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) as the principal instrument for implementing the Convention at the national level. 19 Nevertheless, Kosovo 1 has adopted a NBSAP as unilateral commitment. Often these policies serve more than one goal by including sustainable use of resources, nature protection, and a climate change adaptation perspective. Protected areas Protected areas – which have been recognized as an essential tool for conserving biodiversity – are

According to Law on Forests in Serbia (Article 16), the owner or user (either state or private) of the forests shall perform rehabilitation and reforestation measures on specific areas. These include bare lands as a result of a natural disasters (fire, wind, snow, etc.), areas where rejuvenation and afforestation have failed, and devastated surface areas from illegal clear cutting, forest clearing and illegal cutting of rare tree species. According to Article 80, the budget of Serbia and Vojvodina shall include resources for the implementation of priority measures and development for programmes aimed at: • Increasing forest cover by afforestation • Improving the state of coniferous forest plantations • Conversion of coppice into higher silviculture forms • Production of forest reproductive material (seeds and seedlings). Afforestation measures prescribed by forest legislation in Serbia

FORESTRY AND BIODIVERSITY Policy Evaluation Matrix

Mainstreaming of adaptation goals and targets

Adaptation targets

Gender issues

1- low or not considered at all

2- low or mentioned at least

3- somewhat integrated/present

4- high or fully integrated

Bosnia and Herzegovina

FYR Macedonia

Availability of implementation tools

Regional (Joint responses)

Albania

Croatia

Serbia

Kosovo*

Montenegro

Participation

No data

Monitoring and Evaluation

Mountain adaptation considerations

No data

Regional/transboundary adaptation considerations

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

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