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Risk of displacement of people and communities
due to wildfires.
Some cities, such as Dubrovnik (Croatia) and Pristina
(Kosovo
1
), are reported to have Emergency Response,
Fire Protection and Evacuation Plans in place.
Risk of progressive decline in soil moisture
leadingtoincreasedfirerisk,reducedagricultural
productivity, economic losses, and ecosystem
functioning due to rising temperatures. Risk of
land degradation due to wildfires.
EU-funded regional initiatives such as the Drought
Management Centre for South-Eastern Europe
(DMCSEE), the Adriatic Ionian Program 2014–
2020, the Danube Transnational Programme 2014–
2020 and the Balkan-Mediterranean Transnational
Programme 2014–2020 contribute to addressing the
risks of land degradation.
At the national level, legislation for land protection
is generally poor. Only a few policy documents
regard land resources as a distinct sector; it is
usually treated as part of the agriculture, forest or
water management sectors. However, national plans
containing specific initiatives on climate change
adaptation that are related to land resources have
been implemented.
All Western Balkan countries are active in terms of
legislation on biodiversity and nature protection at
the national level. Forest legislation deals with water
protection, climate, biodiversity and other social values of
forests through establishing a framework of forest areas
conserved and managed for such purposes. Synergies are
therefore possible between adaptation and mitigation in
this sector. Programmes focusing upon resilient forestry
management and the development of ecosystem services
might diversify livelihoods away from high emitting
activities such as coal production, while at the same time
sequestering carbon through reforestation activities.
• Lack of/limited institutional coordination
across sectors
• Lack of/limited adequate vertical integration
from EU to local administrations
• Scarce regional/national/local policy coverage
for adaptation to forest fires causing displacement
of population
• Lack of/limited institutional coordination
across sectors
• Lack of/limited adequate vertical integration
from EU to local administrations
• Lack of/limited institutional coordination
mechanisms across sectors
• Lack of proper infrastructure and tools
• Lack of/limited adequate vertical integration
from EU to local administrations
Key Policy gaps:
Key Policy gaps:
Key Policy gaps:
Impaired ecosystem functioning and
loss of species
Land degradation
Risk of loss of valuable species and habitats
due to rising temperatures. Risk of changes
and disruption to ecosystems leading to loss of
ecosystem services and change of ecosystems
distribution and diversity (e.g. migration
of species to higher altitudes), due to rising
temperatures.
Besides national efforts to implement the CBD,
24
Western Balkans participate in the Bern Convention
and the Emerald Network. At the EU-level, the
Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive form
the legal basis of the largest network of protected
areas in the world called Natura 2000, to which all
Western Balkan countries tend to harmonize their
legislation. Subregional activities include the Dinaric
Arc Initiative (DAI) and the proposed Framework
Convention on the Protection and Sustainable
Development of South-Eastern Europe Mountain
Regions, aiming to preserve the wealth and integrity
of the Dinaric Arc and other mountain regions in
South-Eastern Europe.
Mountain landscape in Bosnia and Hercegovina