engleski

THE STRUCTURE AND POTENTIAL OF SMALL SCALE FORESTS IN THE NORTH-WEST OF CROATIA

In the Republic of Croatia almost one quarter (23%) of all forests and forest lands belong to private forest owners (593, 027 ha). This research was prompted by the lack of empirical data concerning growing stock, areas, annual increment, annual felling and forest roads of private forests in the northwest of Croatia. Sustainable development of rural environments is one of the primary European Union goals. The area has good possibilities for rural development based on the forest industry on one hand and wood utilization with support of private forest owners’ associations on the other. Forest management possibilities and other parameters of these forests indicate the insufficient use of these forests and of their immense potential. The main reason for neglecting this economic potential lies in the historical development and disregard of this issue by professional foresters in the past. According to recent estimates, there are 600, 000 forest owners who manage their forest properties of 0.51 ha and leave the unused potential to forestry economic management. The research has shown that the average stand volume of 199 m3/ha is higher than the previous estimates of 45 m3/ha, and so the annual increment is 6.19 m3/ha (compared to the previous 4.7 m3/ha). The paper deals with the issues of development and results of the Forest Extension Service in this region, the establishment of private forest owners’ associations, small scale forest characteristics compared with the EU member states, regional project research results, as well as the supporting and impeding factors.

small scale forests; management; potential; private owners; northwest Croatia

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