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While climate change poses risks to current and
future crop and livestock production, other factors
play an important role in determining productivity,
which is currently considered low within the region.
Although the yields in Western Balkans countries
have improved since around 2000, they remain
below the EU average, and most of the countries
remain net importers of agri-food products (Volk,
2010). The key weaknesses are predominantly
small-scale farms, poor execution of agricultural
policy reforms, inefficient institutions and a lack of
infrastructure (Volk, 2010; World Bank, 2014). The
considerable portion of the Western Balkans that is
mountainous or hilly is less suitable for agriculture.
In addition, ageing and depopulation/migration of
these areas can hold back agricultural development
(Volk, 2010).
Forests and biodiversity
Forests occupy a large proportion of the land area in
the Western Balkans – from 28 per cent in Albania
up to 44.7 per cent in Kosovo
1
(Tomter
et al.
, 2013,
World Bank, 2012) – and play a significant social and
economic role in all of the countries, both in terms
of the national economies and local livelihoods.
People in rural areas rely heavily on fuelwood
not only for energy, but also for employment
and additional income. The wood industry is an
important contributor to the development of local
economies. In some countries, the contribution of
forestry to GDP is high (8 per cent in Montenegro),
but in other countries it ranges between 0.5 and 2.5
per cent (Markus-Johansson
et al.
, 2010); however,
the true value to local economies and livelihoods is
estimated to be much higher. Forests also provide
numerous ecosystem services including maintaining
biodiversity, mitigating and adapting to climate
change effects and regulating soil and water regimes.
Forests coverage per country
Source:The WorldBankDatabank
(databank.worldbank.org,access October2015)
0.20
0.15
0.25
20
28
32
34
40
42
%
FYR Macedonia
1 007 200
0.30 0.35
0.45
0.40
0.50
0.60 0.65
0.75
0.70
0.80
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
2 185 000
Montenegro
543 000
Serbia
2 807 800
Albania
774 020
Croatia
1 926 800
0.55
Percentage of land (2013)
** Forest rents are roundwood harvest times the product of average prices and a region-specific rental rate.
*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.
Forests rents (percentage of GDP)**
Data not available for Kosovo*
Forest area
Hectares
0.85 %
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Cartografare ilpresente/NievesLópez Izquierdo
0
Hectares
2010
2011
2012
2013
20 000 40 000 60 000 80 000
Croatia
Serbia
Montenegro
Albania
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
FYR Macedonia
Kosovo**
Forest fires
Area burnt by fires between 2010 and 2013*
* Estimates derived from satellite imagery for burnt areas of at least 40 ha or above.
Sources:EuropeanCommissionJointResearchCentre, “ForestFires inEuropeMiddleEast
andNorthAfrica”,2010,2011,2012and2013.
**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.
Data for Kosovo** 2010 and
2011 and for Serbia 2010
are not available.
Copyright© 2015GRID-Arendal
Cartografare ilpresente/NievesLópez Izquierdo