The forest has economic, ecological and social roles. The economic role is, inthe main, taken up by private owners É in the Slovenian social system, this means above all that these owners sell different wood assortments. Woodcuttinghas diminished considerably of late, and this trend has been accompanied by faltering investment into forests. In 1998, incremental fellingamounted to less than 40 % of total felling with about 25 % of the increment directed by forest management. Depending on ownership, Slovenian forests develop in very different directions. In private forests, the increment accumulates mainly in the thinnest stem class. An intensification offelling increases the net profit from forests in a more than linear manner. Thus, a 30 % increase in felling leads to a net profit increase of 65 %. The extent of cutting has an additional impact on employment, in particular, at a local level. Moreover, a forest worker makes a yearly contribution of approx. SIT 980.000 to the state budget. The low intensity of forest management does not comply with the pan European process concerning forest protection in Europe, and does not make sense from an energy and holistic viewpoint.
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