DIGITALNA ARHIVA ŠUMARSKOG LISTA
prilagođeno pretraživanje po punom tekstu



ŠUMARSKI LIST 13/2003 str. 123     <-- 123 -->        PDF

S. Malić: ŠUMARSTVO U DRUŠTVENOM OZRAČJU DANAS I 1878. GODINE
forest inspection was founded in Istria, followed by a forest cadaster in 1584,
the first of the kind in the world.


When the Military Border region was established (1702) and regulated
(1746), the forest service was based on military principles. The Forest Law of
1852 and the two Laws of 1894 were very important not only for Croatia but
also for the entire European forestry. Among other things, these laws explicitly
stated that ´no forest land may be sequestered nor converted into another
culture´, as well as that ´sustainable management is to be applied to municipal
forests´.


The state of forestry in the 19th century was relatively difficult and complex.
Unsolved property relations between feudal lords and their serfs, excessive
cutting down and clearing of forests were only apart of the problems that
the forestry ofthat time faced (Klepac 1998). However, what was very important
is that both state and judicial authorities were aware of these problems
and that educational and professional institutions were able to rectify the
condition. Keen enthusiasm and know-how of Croatian forestry experts were
positively reflected on the activities in forestry and forests. Until the Agricultural
Forestry School in Križevci was opened (1860), foresters acquired their
forestry knowledge in forestry schools of Europe (Mariabrunn, Banska
Sćavnica and others), after that in Križevci, and then at the Forestry Academy
of the University in Zagreb, which was established in 1898 (Ma tie 1998).


This is the period of overall cultural, scientific, economic and national


flourishing in which the forestry profession, and especially the people working
in it, had a voy prominent role. Such social and forestry environment was
highly conducive to the establishment of the Inspectorate for the Afforestation
of Karst and Bare Areas and Torrent Management in Senj in 1878.


The establishment of the Inspectorate was a logical sequence in the
domain of Croatian forestry ofthat time. This move was assisted by the development
and formation of the legal state and modern legislature in the field of
forests and forestry. This trend continued until the end of the First World War
in 1918, when Yugoslavia was formed.


Despite the fact that all Yugoslav and other regimes were anti-Croatian
and that forests and forestry in Croatia from 1918 to 1990 were continually
under attack by the authorities in power, Croatian forests nevertheless continued
to be of the highest quality and were renowned for their exceptional natural
character both informer Yugoslavia and in entire Europe. The reason for
this lies in the advanced state of forestry profession and science and in
forestry spirit and knowledge promoted primarily in educational and other


forestry institutions and maintained by great names of the Croatian forestry,
who were renowned for their knowledge, integrity and patriotism. These
experts constituted a professional and moral pillar in the period 1919 to
1990, which preserved the reputation and autonomy of Croatian forestry.


Ever since the enterprise Hrvatske Sume (Croatian Forests) (1 January,
1991) came on the scene, the Croatian forestry has been left to the mercy of
the most ruthless ´tycoonisation ´supported by the current politics. Forest and
forest land is being sequestered with no compensation (roads, quarries, gravel
pits) while in the most recent period, we are witnessing the legalisation of
an anti-constitutional regulation allowing allotment of forest land (with no
compensation for its generally beneficial functions and no taxes) for the purposes
of establishing vineyards and olive groves, but always in attractive
locations. For all the reasons above, forest areas are decreasing daily, and
sustainability and sustainable development are disappearing, which is
against the valid Constitution and the Forest Act. Prices are being dictated
and controlled and the distribution of timber assortments managed from


Šumarski list - SUPLEMENT (2003). 111-122