Forests for People

[

] 190

saving bank, seed bank and genetic bank of forest

tree species, to secure additional preconditions for

biological forest regeneration in case of crises, such

as situations in which natural restoration of forest

communities is not possible.

The fact that the overall area of forests in the

Republic of Croatia compared to 1996 increased by

203,077 hectares while the wood stock increased by

73.7 million cubic metres in the same period, speaks

in favour of the regeneration plan. Furthermore, the

Republic of Croatia can be proud of the fact that all

three existing species of the European large carni-

vores, bear, wolf and lynx, inhabit its forests, and for

these species, as well as for other natural resources,

management programmes have been drafted in coop-

eration with the local community.

In order to ensure conditions to finance sustainable

management of forests, the Republic of Croatia devel-

oped a ‘green tax’ twenty years ago. The system is based

on the payment of compensation for general benefits

of forests which are manifested through the benefits

provided by the forest ecosystems. General benefits of

forests are prescribed by law, and are as follows: soil

protection from erosion; balancing the water relations

in the landscape and flood prevention; water puri-

fication and supply of drinking water; reduction of

the greenhouse effect through carbon sequestration;

favourable impact on agricultural activity; purification

of polluted air; as well as a number of other benefits

that forests provide us with. The taxation mechanism

functions in such a way that each legal entity engaged

in economic activity is required to pay a fee amounting

season, asked for felling records, gave practical instructions on

seed sowing and acorn planting, prohibited harmful interven-

tions, and introduced fees for acorns and new provisions aimed

at forest protection and preservation. It also established the first

forest offices in the area.

Since extensive expertise is a precondition for the implementation

of high-quality sustainable management, the fact that forestry is one

of the oldest professions in the Republic of Croatia is no surprise.

Education of forest personnel was initiated as early as 1860 with the

establishment of the School for Forestry and Economy, the first of

its kind in this part of Europe, while the higher education of forest

personnel started in 1898 with the establishment of the Academy of

Forestry in Zagreb.

Today, the laws of the Republic of Croatia regulate the planting,

protection, utilization and disposal of forests as a natural resource,

with the purpose of maintaining biological diversity and ensuring

management based on principles of economic sustainability, social

responsibility and environmental acceptability. The laws prescribe

drafting of forest-management plans that specify conditions for

harmonious use of forests and forest-covered areas, interventions

in the area, required scope of planting and protection of forests,

possible utilization degree as well as terms and conditions for

fauna management. Laws of the Republic of Croatia prescribe that

the management plans for all natural resources, forest-manage-

ment plans among them, have to include all defined measures and

conditions for nature conservation and that they have to be drafted

in cooperation with local communities.

Conservation of forest genetic resources and seed storage for

the purpose of cultivation of planting material necessary for the

restoration of biological forests are of paramount importance for

the development of forestry and sustainable forest regeneration.

Consequently, the Republic of Croatia has established a seed

Image: Dubravko Stipan

Photography from the ‘Forest through the Eyes of a Forester’ exhibition. (L) ‘Where are you, Earthlings?’; (R) ‘Puzzle’

Image: Željko Gubijan