Aleksandar Vasiljevic, Dusan Jovic, Predrag Jovic36
The present condition of the growing stock of Serbia and Montenegro is characterised by insufficient forest percentage and forest density, unfavourable forest structure from the aspect of silvicultural form and tree species, insufficient production fund, unfavourable stand condition, unsatisfactory forest health state. The share of stands with scattered canopy and weeded area is high. This conclusion is proved by high representation of coppice and degraded forests.Management of forests in Serbia has been entrusted to two public enterprises, PE "Srbija_ume" and PE "Vojvodina_ume". According to the Forest Law from 1991 management, utilization and regeneration of forests has been entrusted to the public enterprises. Public enterprises are taking care of private forests management. In Montenegro, the Forest Utilisation Enterprises was established by the new Forest law of 2000, with fourteen forest management Services, located in municipalities. The Enterprises manage state-owned forests and also provide services for private forests. Forest Utilization Enterprises (previously a part of PE Crna Gora Sume) are in the process of privatization.The need for a new forest law for Serbia is essential for including Serbian forestry in the modern process of European and world's forestry. The present law does not promote the introduction of action needed for the reform of the forestry sector. The intension is that the new environmental frame law and new forest law have to be in a great extent very compatible to each other and put emphasis on forest protection, as well as complete reconstruction of forest policy and organization in Serbia. Rapidly developed connections and cooperation with other European countries did increase environment awareness in Serbia. Recent environment trends are actively presented in various projects, which are dealing with development, education and research. Nature of Serbia presents unique diversity in Europe providing justified reasons for conservation and protection.According to the modern approach in development of national parks, multi functionality is main element of sustainable development. Management equally belongs to cultural, ecological, economical and social aspect of national park development as well as to surrounding areas. In Serbian conditions, these demands need huge changes in attitudes to create new cooperation among various stakeholders. By acceptation of multifunctional concept of national parks, forestry also can provide concrete self-financing and preconditions to improve diversity in rural areas. Resume of new approaches in development and management of natural resources in Serbia and it's adaptation to present environment, should present first step in solving all mentioned problems.
More then ten years long economic crisis, caused by UN sanctions towards Serbia and Montenegro and wars in their surrounding, in the grate measure affected their economy. After ten years of stagnation, the economy of Serbia and Montenegro started to recover since year 2000. During 2002 the strengthening of macro economic stability has continued, the process of transition has accelerated towards market economy and so as integration in international monetary institutions.The area of forests and woodland of the Republic of Serbia is 2,654,577 ha, which means that forest percentage is 26.7%. The area covered by forests is 2,360,400 ha, or 88.9%, and treeless area is 294,177 ha. Of the total forest and woodland area 56.2% (1,491,177 ha) is in state and public ownership and 43.8% (1,162,705 ha) is private property. The area of state-owned forests, managed by SE "Srbija_ume" and SE "Vojvodina_ume" is 1,373,553 ha, which is 51.4% of the overall forest area in Serbia, i.e. about 92% of the forests in state and public property.
T-1. Actual and potential forest percentage in Serbia (%)
Forest percentage per regions |
Central Serbia |
Vojvodina |
K&M |
R. SERBIA |
Actual forest percentage |
32.0 |
6.6 |
39.4 |
26.7 |
Forest percentage till 2010 |
37.2 |
10.8 |
45.2 |
31.7 |
Optimal forest percentage |
49.8 |
14.3 |
52.7 |
41.4 |
Data source: Spatial plan of the Republic of SerbiaTreeless woodland in Serbia accounts for 11.1 % of the total forest and woodland area, and in state-owned forests it is 18.6%. Long-term plans predict further afforestation until the estimated optimal forest percentage of 41.4 % is achieved in Serbia (so that total area of forests is 3,710,400 ha). The percentage of conifers should be raised to about 25%, high forests should account for 90% and coppice forests, scrub and brushland only 10%. In the total growing stock of the Republic of Serbia, the percentage of deciduous forests per area is 90.7%, coniferous forests 6.0%, mixed forests of broadleaves and conifers 3.3%. The most represented tree species are beech forests 27.6%, oak forests 24.6%, and other broadleaves 8%. The most represented broadleaf mixed forests are forests of beech-oak-other broadleaves, oak - other broadleaves, beech - other broadleaves. The most represented coniferous forests are pine forests 2.8% and spruce 1.4%.Actual forest structure in state forests per silvicultural form is as follows: high natural forests 40%, coppice forests 35%, artificially established stands 14%, scrub and brushland 11%.
T-2. Structure of state forests per silvicultural form
High natural forests |
Artificially established stands |
Coppice forests |
Scrub and brushland |
|||||
P (ha); (%) |
442,416 |
40 |
164,332 |
14 |
387,983 |
35 |
124,988 |
11 |
V (m3); (%) |
94,385,726 |
69 |
11,983,391 |
9 |
28,980,093 |
21 |
312,803 |
1 |
V (m3/ha) |
213.3 |
72.9 |
74.6 |
2.5 |
||||
Iv (m3); (%) |
2,246,061 |
56 |
654,286 |
16 |
1,065,558 |
27 |
11,154 |
1 |
Iv (m3/ha) |
5.1 |
4.0 |
2.7 |
0.1 |
||||
Data source: JP "Srbija_ume"Stand condition can also be assessed as unsatisfactory, if the criterion is the degree of forest conservation, vitality, quality and tending. The share of stands with scattered canopy and weeded area is high because of too intensive harvesting and felling of better quality trees. Because of excessive cutting there remained only the trees of rather inferior quality and vitality, leading to a stage of degradation. This conclusion is proved by the above high representation of coppice and degraded forests.The average size of private forests holdings is small, about 50 ares. Private forests mainly contain timber of poor quality and are largely unproductive. Due to their small size and low productivity owners cannot afford to pay for professional management of their forests. The timber produced is used mainly for fuelwood. Annual volume of timber felled for commercial purposes is 4 million cubic meters, of which 2,5 million m3 is extracted from the State forests and the remainder from private forests. There are no accurate records of timber coming out of private forests, or timber removals in Kosovo and Metohija.Extraction is by tractor in the plains and by skitters and draught animals (horses) in the mountains. No environmental impact assessment is carried out in harvesting areas. Average forest road density is about 5 m/ha. It is planned to increase road density to 12 m/ha in the planes and 15 m/ha in mountainous terrain. The output in forest seeds has declined from 1.289 t in the year of maximum production (1983) to only 9 t in 1996, or by almost 143 times, and that in medicinal herbs, from 344 t in 1987 to only 4 t in 1996, or by about 86 times. However, it should be noted that in the last few years, the best portion of the output and trade in these products has shifted into the "grey economy" sector, because the socio-economic changes that have taken places resulted in a decline in the organized collection and purchase of these products, so that a portion of them is not statistically covered.In the 1980-1999 periods, 214,840 ha of land were afforested, with the biggest year during that period being 1982 with 20,354 ha afforested. Afforestation was generally carried out using coniferous species, particularly in the latter half of the 1990s. Moreover, the extent of afforestation showed a tendency to decrease, from 20,000 ha in 1982 to only 2,653 ha in 1998. The decline in the scale of afforestation and the decrease of afforested areas (by about 12% a year) are jeopardising the achievement of the forestry policy objectives geared to a increasing forest area. This particularly applies to Montenegro, where only 14,681 ha were afforested throughout the period under observation, which amounts to 2.1% of that republic's area under forests. As for Serbia, 200,159 ha (or 8.6% of that republic's area under forests) were afforested over the mentioned period.One of the main causes of the failure to increase as planned the area under forests by afforestation was the chronic shortage of funds for such purposes. The longstanding government controls over the price of forestry products (primarily stumpage) made it impossible to generate the necessary funds for forest reproduction. Moreover, the alternative sources of funds for such purposes have gradually been removed (the Forest Fund of Serbia ceased to exist as of January 1997). Under these circumstances, it has not been possible to allocate substantial funds towards biological improvement projects (afforestation, cultivation, etc.).According to the official data, Serbia and Montenegro has 567 hunting areas totalling 7.6 million ha, According to new data's published by Yugoslav Survey No 2, 2001. Serbia has 321 hunting areas totalling 8.8 million ha, and Montenegro has 26 hunting areas on ~ 950,000 ha. One of the main benefits of the national parks in Serbia and Montenegro is in preserving forests ecosystem. The forest area within national parks is 116,912 ha (Serbia 103,955 ha, Montenegro 12,957 ha), which represents 3,9% of whole state forest area (Serbia 8,5%, Montenegro 1,8%). Forests in the national parks of Serbia and Montenegro represent of vertical diffusion of forest association, from the strip of alluvial - hygrophylic forests type along the Danube bank (national park Fruska gora) to the sub - alpine stunted, coniferous mugho pine on Sar planina Mt in Serbia, and from the mediterranean type of forests to the sub - alpine stunted, coniferous vegetation in Montenegro.The health condition of our forests can be assessed as medium. Average annual number of forest wildfires is about 175 fires, and the burnt area ranges from 1,500 - 7,000 ha. About 4 % of the growing stock is in the second, third and fourth degrees of defoliation.In our country to date, 18 global designations and 53 basic priority designations have been spatially defined by forest management planning. The inventory of forests in Serbia and Montenegro includes 78 tree species. The registered species occur in 184 stand entities, with 662 variations - stand units which are also often anthropogenically conditioned.
Forest resources have a significant role in sustainable development in Serbia and Montenegro. Yet, many of these potentials are not fully used. Much of the existing industrial wood processing capacity is not currently being utilized. Beside timber production, other natural resource values of the forest could be used much more. Management of natural resources has a direct impact on production and employment.Though, human capital is enhanced, present organizational structures are inefficient. Management, planning and control of natural resources are still limited. There are no new forestry laws to support reforms in the forest sector, which creates a lack of a clear forestry policy.The low technical levels in all activities connected to forestry lead to low productivity levels and high costs. The low level of technology is a consequence of among others, a lack of domestic capital, foreign investments, cooperation between enterprises, and low work motivation. An underdeveloped infrastructure presents a barrier for intensive use of equipment. The low quality of forest roads complicates transporting timber. Also, safety standards and labour laws are far below western standards.The condition of private forests in Serbia and Montenegro is characterised by insufficient amounts of high forests and a very high percentage of coppice forests, scrub, and brushwood. Still, it is thought that "despite some unfavourable management characteristics of private forests (such as small area, a great number of plots scattered over a vast area, insufficient timber supply), their potential can be almost twice as large as that realised nowadays" (Nikolić S., 1986).Forest ownership structure is the biggest problem for efficient management of the forests. Private forest estates are small, average 0.5 ha. Owners have little or no cooperation. Government support policies are inadequate and seldom are management plans made. Support to the inspectors of the Ministry and "on the ground" control is provided by forest engineers from Public Enterprises (PE). This practice constrains future development as tasks regarding extension; management plans, control and inspection should be properly identified and become a duty of independent stakeholders.Unless owners organize themselves into voluntary organizations like unions, associations or Chambers, to defend and present their interests, improvements in the sector are unlikely to materialize. Good cooperation and partnership between PE and private forest owners is the only way to improve management of forests. International cooperation is still very restricted. However, the wood-processing industry did make some cooperation contracts with foreign companies, mainly Italians focused on the sawmill industry.Due to the 15 years of isolation from the international community, the forestry sector in Serbia and Montenegro is not yet in a position to track international development. New concepts and holistic approaches in managing economic, ecological, social and cultural sustainability are relatively unknown. The same situation holds true with research in forestry and technical applications. War and the consequences of social disruption resulted in a decrease of production and processing of wood; increasing the unemployment in forest regions. Private enterprises exploited the situation with refugees, by giving them low salaries and neglecting payment of social security and taxes.There is a need for improving knowledge of non-wood forest products utilisation, like ecotourism, extension, collection and trade of berries and mushrooms, etc.From an environment perspective, various types of pollution are a problem, especially in national parks and protected natural areas. Large amounts of waste are left along roads and in the woods, damaging flora and fauna, soil and water. This problem is especially serious around tourist sites. Additionally, emissions from old machinery used for logging have polluted soils and brooks. The main user groups in forestry, and a forest industry has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Unemployment and social instability increased in rural areas and were influenced by factors outside of the forest sector. Biodiversity can be increased and protected, both in protection areas and in managed forests. The greatest threat for the maintenance of preservation areas is a lack of funding. National parks as public utilities are increasingly forced to sell timber from their forests in order to meet financial needs.In some national parks, the pressure of increased tourism is threatening biodiversity. Municipalities are contributing to this through liberal land-use planning, construction permits, etc. in order to increase economic activity in the depressed rural communities. Growth and protection of biodiversity has not been taken into account in forest management. The lack of education and the limited awareness of biodiversity are evident at all levels of organisations, both in state and in privately owned forests.There is probably great potential to increase and protect biodiversity in private forests. However, there is no relevant data available, since the inventory of private forests was stopped by the period of international isolation, which started in the 90s. Harvest and management, in general, has been very limited in private forests during the last decades. This has inevitably led to the regression of forest ecosystems, and to a decrease of biodiversity.Most of the institutional shortcomings in the forestry sector derive from the lack of a visible forestry policy, an outmoded legislative framework, an overly optimistic forestry development plan, and forestry institutions that are not structured, organized and equipped to deal with the challenges that emerge in the sector as the country makes sustained efforts to achieve its major foreign policy goal of accession to the European Union.There is an obvious imbalance regarding need, plans, number of employees and prescribed obligations for each forestry authority. All of them have an immediate need for the updating of information systems, coordination between each other and related institutions, as well as for decreasing the number of employees. Employees need initial and additional education, which is constrained by, among other things, a lack of programmes within educational institutions themselves. The following tasks are priorities:
- Adequate and competent analysis of education programmes; - Restructure of ecological education programmes to include elements and concepts of sustainable development.
- Introduce the concept of sustainable development to all other education segments in which ecological education has been absent.
Despite recognition of the multiple dimensions of forest resources, forestry continues to be dominated by a narrow emphasis on timber production. Accordingly, management plans for these areas, nearly always focuses on wood production as the main objective, with only an insignificant portion allocated to other primary uses. This single focus comes in marked contrast to:
- Rapidly growing "new" demands for environmental and biodiversity conservation, and other forest values from national and international communities.- Recognition of the need for greater sensitivity to the needs of poor rural population to supplement their incomes derived from forestry and related activities.
- Commitments by the Government, through agreement and resolutions, to protect the global significance and values of forests.
Forestry in Serbia and Montenegro has the potential to make an important contribution to the country's economic and social development. There is an overwhelming difference between what the forest resources are presently providing, and what they could provide. In spite of this, however, the sector is not receiving the emphasis it deserves. It needs higher emphasis and support in order to mobilize all available resources and means for its development. In order to justify adequate emphasis and support, as well as to perform effectively, it is essential that:
It is apparent that there are several issues with regard to forest resource management and its financing that require consideration and commitment. First of all the unbalanced approach to forest administration and management policy that gives higher emphasis to the state forest and forestland needs to be addressed and corrected. It is believed that private forests, with the potential they have, deserve at least equal emphasis.There are various areas where investments are required. The investments pertaining to institutional strengthening and capacity building should have priority. There are a number of donor-funded projects that would support institutions and provide a sound basis for development. Additional donor funded projects need to be sought, to relieve the government from the heavy financial burden.At present, forestry is not regarded as one of the priority sectors. For this reason, under the prospects for any significant budgetary increases to government funds is unlikely in the immediate future, meaning the sector will have to rely heavily on the resources that can be generated within the sector.In order to realize improvements to: forest resource administration and management, sector financing, and the overall socioeconomic and environmental objectives, it is important that the following issues are seriously considered and addressed:
The forest industry in Serbia is in the process of transition, (as is the total economy). The first and most important step in this process is privatization of forest harvest and wood-processing. As in other countries, the construction sector will play an important role in forest industry development. In that sense, simplified regulations have facilitated the process of permitting for housing construction. The expectations are that housing construction and renovation of residential and office buildings will increase significantly in the second half of 2003, and continue in coming years. This will undoubtedly increase consumption and production of forests products in Serbia.Government efforts are directed towards the creation of a positive investment climate for direct foreign investments in the wood processing sector, and the establishment of joint ventures between foreign and domestic companies. During 2002, some very strong multinational companies opened offices in Serbia, and during April 2003, preparations have started for building a new factory for the production of laminated parquet (a mutual investment of companies from Serbia and Sweden).Continuation of reforms, a stable macroeconomic situation, increasing consumption of products made out of natural materials (such as wood) in Europe, will all very much influence further production and exports of wood furniture from Serbia. In that sense, certain suitable programs for stimulating companies that produce and export wood furniture have been proposed to the Government. The increase of new housing construction and the renovation of existing buildings will additionally influence the increase of furniture consumption domestically, which will, in the end, influence production.
Current regulations i.e. the Forest Laws (Serbian, as well as Montenegrian), prescribe that "... forests as public welfare must be maintained, regenerated and utilised in such a way that their values and multiple benefits are conserved and increased, sustainability and protection is ensured, and increment and yield are permanently increased". In this aim, forest regions were formed by the same Laws "...to carry out rationally the measures of management in forests, woodland and other forest potentials in a defined territory". They include both state-owned and private forests. In this way, all forest management operations and tasks must be equally implemented in all forests, disregarding the category of ownership.Due to recent political and socio-economic changes, a new urgent requirement has arisen, namely the establishment of a system of forestry extension and consultancy to ensure that the basic principles of sustainable management are observed and applied in the practice of private forestry in accordance with the Forest Law. The organs and organisations of the public forest sector will provide extension services according to their particular professional competence. These will include technical guidance and advice, market information, supply of services needed by owners, training, and publication of manuals (for use by private forest owners dealing with correct field practices), forest policy, legislation and other relevant issues related to private forestry.The objective of forestry policy in education, is to prepare qualified employees for the forestry sector capable of carrying out their tasks efficiently and effectively. These tasks are aimed at sustainable management and development of forest resources, with due consideration being given to environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts. The state will be responsible for the development, organisation and maintenance of the national forestry education and training system. It will create suitable conditions for the education and training of the requisite number of qualified employees for all forms of forest ownership.The curricula of the forestry schools, at the, professional, technical and vocational levels, will be adapted to the needs of forestry practice in the changing socio- economic, scientific and technological conditions, particularly with regard to acquisition of new knowledge in ecology, social and cultural functions of forests, forestry legislation, economics, forest business management, competition in international timber trade, labour, and forest products. Attention will be paid to the special needs of private forest owners. According to the new organisational structure in Montenegro, the Forest Directorate has the right and obligation to give concessions on forest utilization. The Directorate will carry out all preparations needed in order to give concessions, e.g., overall land management plans, timber harvest plans (logging prescription and restrictions), and contract terms. Basics of these new relationships are market conditions that are the most favourable supply and most quality utilization of the concessions from the side of the companies that are in forest business. Bidding for the concessions is open to the public, but in the first and second years of implementation of the law, certain privileges will be granted to the newly founded forest companies (former public enterprises). At the beginning, concessions will be for a one-year period, with the possibility that concessions can be awarded over a longer period of a time. One of the priority needs of multi-purpose forest resource management planning is a sound and reliable database, which is presently lacking. The existing forest resource database is old and incomplete for state forests, and completely unreliable for privately owned forests. The system should not only accomidate forest resource data, but also all other data that would facilitate planning. It is further important that the new system should be in harmony with the European Forestry Information and Communication System.A new approach to multi-purpose forest resource management and planning would call for capacity building, and appropriate institutional and organizational restructuring that would facilitate an emerging operational environment. Present institutions and organizations would be required to adopt themselves in a way that would enable them to respond to these new requirements. In this respect, both the Faculty of Forestry and Forestry Schools, may also need to reorient their education and training All these institutions appear to have limited instruments and suffer the lack of financial means, creating a gap, which could possibly be filled via external donor support.The forestry and Forest Industry Sectors are important elements of the economy. The current contribution to the national economy 1.3%, but could be in the order of 4-8 % considering the values of non-wood products, and multiple effects. The potential of the sector as a provider of employment is even bigger, and has the possibility to account for as much as 6-8% of the total labour force. In areas rich in forests, the percentage could go as high as 15-20%. This places Serbia and Montenegro in a category of countries where the sector should be given high priority. For this reason, strong and coordinated development efforts should be taken, not only to restore the former importance of the sector, but also to provide for further expansion. The basis for this positive development scenario lies in: (i) well developed infrastructure, (ii) a skilled labour force, (iii) a tradition as exporter of high quality wood based products and (iv) access to a unique forest resource base.Forest sector development programs must take into careful account the function of the entire supply chain, including all elements and support functions. In Serbia and Montenegro, and in other transition countries where the sector plays an important role, the function and effectiveness of the following elements determines the strength of the sector:
I. a legislative framework
II. a skilled workforce
III. private forest owners associations
IV. restructuring the public enterprises
V. research institutions
As Serbia and Montenegro have been isolated for a long time, activities aimed at improving the performance of the forest sector will have to deal with all the mentioned elements.A number of projects have already been presented to various ministries. For this reason, and considering the need for coordination of projects, it might be important to define and allocate sector development work to potential contributing organizations.. The following are the various projects that to a great extent are in line with the needs expressed by the Forest Departments and the interest of some donor organizations:
The strategic development plans for the wood processing industry of Serbia by 2010 are divided into two groups. The First group of aims to satisfy the domestic market needs and develop newer products (wood flooring, LVL , laminated beams etc.) The second group of aims is to reach $120 million in forest sector export by 2005 and $270 million by 2010. The main forest products for achieving this aim are: furniture and furniture parts, sawn wood and residuals, plywood, pressed pieces for furniture, laminated wood boards, veneer, and other final products (windows, doors, floors, packaging, and moulding).
1. (2002): Country Profile of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Johannesburg Summit, UN.2. (2002): Environmental Performance Review of Yugoslavia. UN Economic Commission for Europe.3. Ranković N., Nonić D., Vasiljevic A. (2002): Serbia-Country Report, Proceedings I, International Conference "Privatisation in Forestry", Beograd 4. Ranković N., Vučković M., Nonić D. (2000): Forest and Forestry, Yugoslav Survey 3, Vol. XLI, Jugoslovenski pregled, Beograd 5. (2002): Report on the State of the Environment in 2000 and Priorities in 2001+ for Serbia, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Belgrade6. (2002): Report on the State of the Environment and Development in FR Yugoslavia, Federal Secretariat of Labour, Health and Social Care Environment Department, Belgrade7. (2001): Strategic Environmental Analysis of FR Yugoslavia, REC-Country office Yugoslavia, Belgrade
8. (2004): Forest and Forest Products Country Profile: Serbia and Montenegro, UN/ECE Timber Committee (in print)
36 Aleksandar Vasiljevic, Dusan Jovic, Predrag Jovic, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Serbia - Directorate of Forests, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro
