About Us *
Not so long ago, private forestry in Croatia was utterly neglected not only by the state and adjacent institutions, but also by the forest owners themselves - they did not invest in their forests (or did on a low scale) and were mostly focused on a one-time basis benefit with no elaborate plans for the future or sustainable management.
Considering the latest changes that happened on the field of forest policy, mostly regarding directives and initiatives that the EU sets towards the candidate countries, this sector undertook some major policy and structural changes. In 2003, the Republic of Croatia issues National Forest Policy And Strategy, a broad document with general directives which was the basis for the creation of forest policy guidelines for the next ten years. Among other things, this document contains forestry development priorities which are founding of the forestry chamber accredited for licensing of forestry works (B 5.2), support and promotion of measures which ensure sustainable (long-lasting) management of private forests (B 2.3), founding of additional advisory services for providing technical assistance and help to private forest owners (B 2.2) etc. Forest Extension Service, specialized public institution with public authorities for conducting expert works in private forests, and Croatian Chamber of Forestry And Wood Technology Engineers were founded in 2007. Although a lot has changed in the private forestry sector since the founding of those two institutions, the need for institutional capacities development of the very private forest owners was still greatly emphasized, since they are the only true property rights holders of private forests. The other relevant document is the European Council's Regulation on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) from September 2005 which, among other things, also deals with private forestry issues.
The first private forest owners' associations are being founded in 2004 (Husto from Bednja, Gorski Kotar from Delnice and Kesten from Lepoglava). Until today, there are altogether 38 associations in the entire state. After this initial phase was completed, the need for further institutional strengthening emerged, with the aim of penetrating the international forest policy arena. In 2008, driven by the initiative of a few forest enthusiasts and experts, an umbrella organization was founded - Croatian Union of Private Forest Owners' Associations, as a roof organization which encompasses all PFO associations throughout the country. The Union was founded on June 7th 2008 as a necessary pre-requisite for merging with similar organizations on a European and world level. Among other things, the founding assembly also issued the Union's Statute and Rulebook on the Union's activities, members for the working bodies were elected and decision was brought about starting the process of enlisting the Union into the State's Associations Registry.
Union's major activities are representation of interests and strengthening of PFO's positions in Croatia, positioning the Union as one of the major stakeholders in framing of the forest policy at the state level, intensifying the cooperation with all relevant institutions from the forestry sector (the Ministry, the Chamber, Forestry Faculty, Forest Extension Service, Croatian Forests ltd., Croatian Forest Institute etc.). The priority tasks is the strengthening of the Union, primarily through the increased number of members and by founding new PFO associations, advisory work and support of the associations in their everyday activities and projects. While doing that, it is essential to continuously inform the members about laws and other regulations which are somehow connected or directly influence the forestry sector, especially those regarding private forests, and taking active part in their drafting and implementation, since a great number of PFOs is under some sort of informational blockade and are quite unaware of what's going on, and are particularly uninformed on their rights and obligations.
Within the scope of the Union 's activities is also collecting and exchange of data from the forestry field on the Union level, as well as through the network of local PFO associations, and finally starting of common bulletin in order to provide accurate and up-to-date information to as many people as possible. Furthermore, it is the Union's task to initiate, implement and take part in projects and programs regarding forestry sector, set up the necessary cooperation and exchange of experiences with other similar associations, scientific, educational and other institutions, encourage sustainable management of forest resources and utilization of renewable energy sources, forest biomass in particular, and also rising public awareness on importance of forests and forestry through more intensive cooperation with the media. One of the key roles of the Union is also to lobby towards the major political institutions in the country which are in charge of private forestry and to be active on the international forestry arena which would eventually lead to the accession to the CEPF, Confederation of European Forest Owners. By becoming the member of CEPF, the Union would gain access to a wide variety of possibilities, knowledge, information and means. CEPF has more than 16 million members and is the only organization of such type which represents interests of the private forestry sector within the EU, for which it lobbies through all major institutions of the EU. The European funds within CEPF provide possibilities of implementation of various projects, education and other, yet unknown, ways of cooperation and implementation of ideas and projects in the private forestry sector which could not have been implemented so far on a national level due to lack of finances or for some other reason.
Priority tasks and problems of the Union :
Exertion for the implementation of the most cutting-edge methods for the forestry development in Croatia ;
Taking care of the organization of forest production and placement of forest products;
Organization of educational and expert excursions for the Union 's members;
Taking part in organizing the circulation of forest products in Croatia ;
Taking part in defining the quality of forest products which will not be put into circulation and suggesting quality enhancement measures;
Pondering legislative suggestions regarding forestry, credit policy, incentives and subventions and suggesting actions for the development of crediting conditions and support to the forest production;
Increasing public awareness about the state of forests, expert problems and development of Croatian forestry through different types of media;
Organizing and participating in various exhibitions and auctions of forest products;
Cooperation with legal and physical persons regarding forest production, especially with expert organizations and institutions whose task is forest management;
Drafting of work and activities programs, taking measures in order to ensure financial means;
Taking care on protection of the environment and rural development in general;
Conducting of other relevant duties regarding the improvement and development of forestry;
Stewardship and maintenance of documentation and files;
Issuing of expert and organization publications regarding forestry development and the Union's activities;
Organizing of expert and scientific meetings;
Taking part in the drafting of Forest Act, its changes and amendments as well as subordinate regulations regarding forestry, protection of the environment and spatial planning;
Taking part in the work of expert bodies, in accordance with special rules and regulations;
Founding, in accordance with current rulebooks and own needs, a company for performing certain forestry activities in general.
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