Civic Initiative for Prevention from Forest Fires in Berovo and Tetovo
In the summer of 2025, R.N. Macedonia faced an increased risk of forest fires. From the beginning of July, when the authorities introduced a ban on entering forests and declared a state of crisis, until the end of August, there were reports of new fires almost on daily basis. According to the data of the Centre for Crisis Management (CUK), on certain days (such as, for example, on 27th and 28th July), there were even more than 50 fires registered. These figures confirm the urgency of prevention, fast reaction of the institutions and active involvement of the citizens in nature protection.
It is in this context that the Centre for Climate Changes (CCC) and partner organizations reacted proactively, organizing additional, project activities for dealing with the current situation. They educated the citizens by organizing a public event in Berovo and practical training in Tetovo, in order to raise the awareness and develop skills for prevention and dealing with forest fires.
On 26th July 2025, at Berovo city square there was a public event “Fire Does not Forgive, and the Forest Is Life”, organized by Eco Green Movement from Berovo and the Centre for Climate Changes, within the project “Regional Partnership for Better Implementation of the Green Agenda at Local Level”, financed by the Swiss Government via Civica Mobilitas. At the time when the fires endangered the nature and life in the region again, this gathering aimed to send a strong message for prevention and protection of forests, to mobilize and call for joint responsibility.
The key moment of the event was the declaration, with which the citizens pledged not to set fire outside allowed places, report every danger of fire and transmit these values to the neighbours and the next generations. The event showed that when the local community, institutions and CSOs are united, a string voice for responsible forest management is created, while the youngest participants sent a strong message for love to nature via creative activities and exhibitions of drawings. “The children of the local kindergarten sent the most powerful message that their future depends on our current decisions. They are our inspiration and a reminder that the investment in forest protection is an investment in their life”, stressed a representative of the Centre for Climate Changes.
The event took place in cooperation with the Municipality of Berovo, relevant institutions and local organizations. The people present had the opportunity to ask questions and a symbolic part of the programme was planting of trees and the group photo.
Representatives of the National Association Private Forests gave their contribution, by presenting the data on the situation with forest fires at global, European and local level, while the people from TPPE Berovo spoke about the most frequent reasons for the occurrence of fires and made a demonstration of the extinguishing equipment. The people from the District Department for Protection and Rescue stressed the role of the coordination and logistics in such situations, and representatives of the Public Enterprise National Forests, together with the Forest Police spoke about the supervision, offences and fines related to forest protection. The voluntary firefighting association Pehchevo stressed the importance of volunteering and active civil involvement in prevention and rescue from forest fires.
The event brought together around 100 citizens and sent a clear message that the forests cannot wait and that this is not only a local but also a national priority. At CKP they said: “We need legal changes, bigger coordination of the institutions, bigger investments in forest protection and active involvement of the citizens and the young people”. They appealed to all institutions, volunteers and citizens: “They should mobilize and help in extinguishing the fire at Goten.”
A month later, on 25th August, in Tetovo, at the offices of JU Shar Mountain National Park, there was training on prevention and managing fires in the open. The training was attended by 14 representatives of the institutions, CSOs and local people, and the programme combined a theoretical and practical part with addresses by the Director of NP “Shar Mountain” Evzal Elezi, Vesna Dishlijovska from CKP and Vulnet Zenki from “Eco Action”, who stressed the importance of timely preparation.
The participants heard about the history of the fires in the park, the riskiest areas and the consequences for biodiversity, but also about strategies that include joint action, be it early warning systems or coordination with local authorities. “With limited resources we cover an area of 63,000 hectares. The education of the population and the good preparedness with such trainings are crucial”, said Anela Stavrevska-Panajotova, the Head of the Department for Nature Protection at the park.
The practical part moved and shook the participants. By using extinguishing tools, demonstrating safety procedures, even simulating a forest fire where everybody had a task and a role. Special attention was paid to protocols for evacuation and protection of visitors, with scripts that needed fast and precise decisions.
Especially important was the presence of the Mayor of the Municipality of Tetovo, Bilal Kasami. “The Municipality of Tetovo is dedicated and supports every initiative for prevention from fires. We have put all of our capacities, both material and human, at disposal”. He announced the establishment of a Voluntary Firefighting Unit for the Polog region, for the local community to receive additional protection. The interest, according to him, was especially big among the young people.
Via these activities, CKP and the partners demonstrate that the care for nature does not wait, that prevention is a joint responsibility and that the joint efforts of the citizens, institutions and CSOs are crucial for the safety of the nature and the life of the people. Raising the awareness, education and practical trainings are the basis of long-term prevention and an example of how CSOs can have a specific and measurable impact in their communities. “Nature has no spare copy” every careless move can have irrevocable consequences, was the message that remained echoing even after the end of the event.
