FORESTS IN SLOVENIA,    FORESTS IN EUROPE

Forest management and forest use in Slovenia are directed by The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food as the supreme state institution in the field of forestry and by the Slovenia Forest Service as a public forestry service.

Main national documents that serve as the basis for forest treatment and management in Slovenia are:
– The Act on Forests of the Republic of Slovenia (1993), which regulates protection, silviculture, exploitation and use of forests on the basis of forest management plans;

– The Forest Development Programme of the Republic of Slovenia (1996), adopted by the National Assembly, which defines the national policy on close-to-nature forest management, guidelines for the preservation and development of forests and conditions for their exploitation or multipurpose use.
Besides, there are acts regulating the sphere of nature protection, environmental protection, space management, protection of plants, hunting and wildlife, building and construction, information of public interest and media.
Forest management plans include:
– regional forest management plans and plans of forest management units,
– silvicultural plans,
– regional hunting management plans.

Fundamental principles of forest treatment and management are:
– sustainability (sustained preservation of forests, sustained use of their goods and non-material functions),
– close-to-nature management (exploitation of forests to such a degree and in such a way as to ensure the preservation of all their natural constituents),
– multi-purpose management (a balanced significance of ecological, production and social roles of forests).
In accordance with professional foundations provided by the Slovenia Forest Service, forests are managed by forest owners, who are:
– private owners (natural and legal persons),
– local communities,
– state.
Approximately three quarters of Slovenian forests are private property.
In performing its work the Slovenia Forest Service co-operates with numerous institutions and organizations in the field of administration, education, scientific research, with professional and non-governmental organizations and it also participates in the international field. This co-operation is based on legal regulations, contracts and agreements, on common interest in projects and other activities. Among the most important institutions are the following:
Administration: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food; Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning; Ministry of Defence; Slovenian inspectorate for agriculture, forestry and food; Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia; The Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Agricultural Markets and Rural Development; Farmland and Forest Fund of the Republic of Slovenia; Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia; Directorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Roads; Phytosanitary administration of the Republic of Slovenia; Slovenian veterinary administration; communes and administrative units.
Education: Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources; Slovenian Institute for Adult Education; the National Education Institute of the Republic of Slovenia; Secondary Forestry and Wood Technology School Postojna; primary and secondary schools.
Scientific research: Slovenian Forestry Institute; Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources.
Professional field: Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation; Slovenian Geodesic Institute; Triglav National Park; Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia; Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia.
Non-governmental field: associations of forest owners; Slovenia Hunters’ Association; Forestry association of Slovenia; Tourist Association of Slovenia; Alpine Association of Slovenia.
International field: UN-FAO, UN-ECE, ILO, IUFRO