Forests represent one of the greatest natural wealth in Croatia. They cover an area of 2,688,000 ha or 47% of the Croatian mainland. Commercial forests cover an area of 2,416,000 ha, protective forests 154,000 ha and special purpose forests 118,000 ha. Our forests are natural, mixed forests with a rich and diverse vegetation where, along with the tree species of commercial significance, there are also various other types of trees, bushes and low vegetation, mushrooms and a large number of accompanying fauna representatives, from the tiniest insects, amphibians and reptiles, a large number of bird species, to small and large mammals.
There are around 400 million m3 of wood supplies (wood mass) in our forests with an annual growth of around 10 million m3. Deciduous trees are the most prominent tree type in commercial woods with beech taking up around 36% of the total mass followed by common oak and sessile oak with around 22%, hornbeam with around 9% and a large number of other species with around 23%, while conifers, with around 10%, are represented by fir and spruce trees.
The forests in Croatia, in addition to commercial significance, also have a very important ecological, protective, recreational and landscaping role. Since they represent a priceless natural wealth and since Croatia would be unimaginable without them, constant forest care and protection, as a natural and complex ecosystem, is needed.
How can we preserve our forests?
Each one of us, with our responsible behaviour in nature and towards nature, must contribute to the protection of nature, that is, forests.
One of the ways to preserve and protect forests is professional and responsible management that implies forest growth and protection as well as logging, with the obligation to regrow forests in the areas where trees have been cut down.
Fire protection also plays an important role because, unfortunately, large areas have been destroyed by fires. Many years are needed to regrow the forests in those areas.
When we plant trees on areas with no trees (afforestation), we increase the forest ecosystem area.
When we act responsibly in forests, manage waste, cause no harm to trees and other plants, and protect animals, we ensure survival of our natural forests and forest ecosystems.
Let us not forget!
We inherited our forests from our ancestors and borrowed them from our descendants. Let's protect them and give them back preserved to our descendants!
Marijan Grubešić, PhD,
Professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb
