Training for Forestry Legislation Implementing Authorities Continues

FAO is training legal officers of MAFRD, Kosovo Forest Agency and Kosovo Police officers on procedures and preparation of documentation for filing cases and denouncing illegal forestry activities

Aiming to improve forest use legality, timber trade and law enforcement in the forestry sector, FAO through the program funded by the Swedish Embassy “Support to strengthening sustainable and multipurpose forest management to improve rural livelihoods and address climate change in Kosovo” is delivering a series of trainings to legal officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development (MAFRD), officials of the Kosovo Forest Agency, forestry inspectors, judges, prosecutors, police officers, and lawyers.

“The most pressing issue, which is also the most difficult solution, is to put an end to illegal logging, which is large and causes significant damage to the environment and economy of Kosovo. Forestry officials keep reiterating that one of the main causes behind this situation is the inefficient handling of cases by the courts,” underlined Tahir Ahmeti, Director of the Department of Forestry at MAFRD at the opening of the third training session on aspects of forest legality.

This session, which commenced on Friday and will continue on Monday, focused on better preparation of the necessary documentation for filing cases in the courts. The trainer, a renowned judge from Kosovo, is training the participants on preparing the documentation for filing cases, calculating the damage accurately according to the legislation on damage compensation, and better control of logging contracts, licenses, and transport, trade and processing permits. The discussion of this session also emphasized the need to raise awareness of the accountability of forestry inspectors, guards and other officials in case of abuse of their legal competencies and the consequences associated to such abuse.

Participants view this training as a very useful event and a special opportunity to improve their knowledge and law enforcement skills for practicing more efficient procedures.