Serbia to afforest 7,000 hectares, revitalize 51,000 hectares of forests

Serbia intends to afforest 7,000 hectares with climate-resilient tree species and converse 51,000 hectares of degraded forests within the USD 84 million FOREST Invest project.

An agreement for the project ‘Enhancing the resilience of Serbian forests to ensure energy security of the most vulnerable while contributing to their livelihoods and carbon sequestration (FOREST Invest)’ was signed between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in its capacity as an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, as well as public enterprises Srbijašume and Vojvodinašume, which manage forests.

The project envisages afforestation of 7,000 hectares with climate-resilient tree species, the conversion of 51,000 hectares of degraded low forests into high forests, and the rehabilitation of at least 500 hectares of abandoned private agricultural land through agroforestry plantations, according to FAO.

The project is financed by FAO, Serbia and GCF

The project, valued at USD 84 million, is funded by the Green Climate Fund, the Government of Serbia and FAO. Over the course of seven years, FOREST Invest will enhance the resilience of forest ecosystems, improve energy security for vulnerable communities, and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

By implementing these and other measures, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by 8.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). Nearly three million residents of Serbia will indirectly benefit from improved forest resilience and sustainable management, FAO said.

Gonzalez: Progress in Serbia will guide future efforts in other countries

The contract was signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Aleksandar Martinović, Srbijašume CEO Krsto Janjušević, executive manager for forestry, ecology and development of Vojvodinašume Marko Marinković, and FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia Nabil Gangi.

According to Aleksandar Martinović, the project will help Serbia to establish foundations for long-term reforms in the forestry sector, ensuring sustainability, climate resilience and a better quality of life for people.

Henry Gonzalez said the innovative project in Serbia increases investment in sustainable forestry initiatives that include both mitigation and adaptation measures. Progress in Serbia will guide future efforts in other countries, he stressed.

The partnership between FAO and the government is built on a shared commitment to sustainable development, food security, and climate resilience, Nabil Gangi pointed out.

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April 2, 2025

by AEA in News

Seven cities, regions in Western Balkans to strengthen climate resilience with CLIMAAX

Seven cities and regions in the Western Balkans will receive financial and technical support to enhance their climate resilience.

Four local authorities in Albania and one each in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia are among the 69 in 23 countries selected within the CLIMAAX call for applications.

As a result of the two open calls, municipalities, cities and regions will receive more than EUR 12 million in total from the European Union’s Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, the announcement reads.

The maximum amount of financial support within CLIMAAX ranges between EUR 115.227 and EUR 300.000.

The selected cities and regions will conduct multi-risk climate risk assessments

Tirana, Vlora, Belsh, and Libohova in Albania became beneficiaries together with the municipalities of Neum in BiH and Bijelo Polje in Montenegro and the Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection in Serbia’s Autonomous Province of Vojvodina.

As for other countries tracked by Balkan Green Energy News, regions and cities in Bulgaria (7), Croatia (2), Cyprus (1), Greece (8), Romania (3), Slovenia (1), and Turkey (7) have also been selected, according to the List of selected beneficiaries 1 and List of selected beneficiaries 2.

The CLIMAAX program highlights the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related hazards as significant risks to economies, societies, and ecosystems across the globe. Therefore it is critical to understand the risks and develop effective strategies to manage and adapt to them.

Sempere-Torres: We are building a collaborative network of communities committed to climate resilience across Europe

The main objective is to support the implementation of the EU Adaptation Strategy and especially the first objective of the Horizon Europe Mission Adaptation: preparing and planning for climate resilience.

Selected cities and regions will implement the proposed methodological framework and toolbox to conduct multi-risk climate risk assessments. The regions are eligible for support from the CLIMAAX consortium in their work on the assessments.

“With CLIMAAX expanding to more regions, we are enhancing our efforts to make climate risk assessment into a practical process that leads to real, impactful action. By empowering regions with the necessary tools and financial support, we are not just improving local adaptation strategies—we are building a collaborative network of communities committed to climate resilience across Europe,” said Daniel Sempere-Torres, project co-coordinator of CLIMAAX and director of the Center of Applied Research in Hydrometeorology of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

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