Forest property in Slovenia is very fragmented. Stand and terrain conditions are partially favourable for mechanized cutting, whilst in education the subject of mechanized cutting remains neglected. Because of the aforementionedreasons mechanized cutting is hardly ever mentioned as one of the possibilities for performing forestry work. In the graduation thesis we have tried to find out how and in what way we can provide the forest owner with enough adequate information to allow him to make informed decisions from a selection of various possibilities for performing forestry work. More than one half of all farms in study are part-time farms and are occupied by the owners of the forests. They are in the 50-70 age range and have finished secondary or primary education. The cutting is highest on full-time farms withthe largest forest area and it reduces proportionately with the decrease of holding and in the direction from full-time via part-time to a non-agricultural holding. The pooling of the forest owners is noticeable at cutting and skidding on the small farms. With the increase of holding, however, more importance is placed upon the companies who transport the wood. Landowners do not pay enough attention to the silviculture of the forest. Opinions on how adequate the education is remain divided, although the fact isthat education relies on too much theory with too few practical demonstrations, and there is not enough emphasis on occupational safety and ecology. Above all, there is not enough teaching on mechanized cutting. Hence the reasons why the forest owners are afraid of the innovations like mechanized cutting and resist the introduction of this method into their work.This information is valuable as it indicates that with more intensive education, more practical demonstrations, and more emphasis on occupational safety and ecology (also ćin situć) we could achieve better care for Slovenianforests in at least some areas.
|
