About Project

The two-year EU-funded Twinning project "Improvement of forest management in Serbia as a contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation" was launched on 11 January 2021. This project is being implemented by the Twinning Project Consortium of Austria and Slovakia together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia – Directorate of Forests as the beneficiary institution of this project. The Member State partners include the Austrian Research Centre for Forests and Austrian Federal Forest Office (BFW), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Regions and Tourism, Austria (BMLRT), the Austrian Federal Forests (Österreichische Bundesforste AG, ÖBF), the Environment Agency Austria (EAA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Slovakia (MARD) and the National Forest Centre (Národné lesnícke centrum, NLC).

The purpose of this project is to strengthen the capacities of the forestry sector in Serbia and so assist the Serbian partners to further harmonise regulations and implement obligations stemming from EU regulations and standards in forestry and related fields, including timber market, Forest Information System, subsidies, Natura 2000 nature protection network and use of wood and other forest products in the bioeconomy. The main priorities, capacities and challenges in sustainable forest management will be identified. They are best addressed through an interdisciplinary approach and evidence-based policy formulation in line with the Serbian obligations towards the EU. The project will contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation in forestry, entirely in accordance with the European Green Deal. This Twinning Project is aligned with and fully supports the Government of Serbia's strategic target to provide the regulatory, institutional, and economic frameworks for the implementation of sustainable forest management.

The activities within the three project's components will help improve forest governance in Serbia and introduce a comprehensive sectoral policy to ensure the resilience of forests to climate change.

Component 1: Assessment and improvement of the current policy and administrative capacities in the forestry sector of Serbia

Policy and administrative capacities in the forestry sector of Serbia will be assessed and improved. Specifically, a road map for a national forest programme will be developed, and a competency-based Training Needs Assessment conducted. Capacities will be built through training events and study visits for forestry professionals.

Component 2: Assessment and improvement of the current payment system in the forestry sector 

The payment system of subsidies in the forestry sector will be assessed and improved. An information system for state-of-the-art online management of subsidies will be designed, while the database structure will be adapted to beneficiary needs.

Component 3: Assessment and alignment of the current timber trade system legislation with EU requirements

Timber trade system legislation will be harmonised with EU requirements. This will be accomplished by properly assessing the current situation of timber harvesting and trade in Serbia, a case study, field trips and training of inspectors, gap analysis of existing legislation, study visit, and drafting of Law and bylaw as required.