Public debates

FORESTS ARE NATIONAL WEALTH, LET'S PROTECT THEM

Entitled “Public Awareness about the Protection of Forests”, ATRC in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development – Department of Forestry organized in May and June several lectures and debates with villagers and primary school students of the municipalities of Kamenica, Istog and Suhareka.  

Interruption and prevention of destroying forests, raising awareness among citizens about their protection and not destruction, were the discussion topics during the lecturers and debates. The aim of the meetings was to prevent the further damage of forests which are being cut without any criteria.     
Hysen Abazi, Director of the Forestry Department, stated that policy for protection of forests is on our interest and forests should be seen as national wealth of today, tomorrow and the future. He said that forests are vital and strategic wealth for the life of people and as such do not represent only wood wealth, but also water, thousands of species that protect climate, flora and fauna, because forests produce the oxygen we breath every second.

Students and villagers that attended these meetings expressed their interest for forests and concerns towards the damage of forests. They noted that forests management in Kosovo is not good enough due to the lack of inter-institutional cooperation. It is time for all institutional mechanisms, including civil society and media to coordinate their activities aiming to save the remained forests as the increased trend of cutting trees by illegal wood transporters risks the whole destruction of forests in Kosovo.

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