Are Slovenia’s forests deviating from sustainable development?

Abstract

For groups of ecological and social functions of forests, we critically assessed how individual functions at the first level of emphasis determine the management approach. For all these functions, we reviewed the Slovenian scientific literature in the fields of forestry, growth and yield science, nature conservation and legislative sources influencing forest function, and then we prepared our proposal on how to evaluate functions in the future. We propose an updated system of assessing and mapping of emphasized forest functions and an emphasis on close-to-nature management in these forests.

A Five-Step Framework for Creating Forests for the Future

“…The first option, demanding to reduce the rate of harvesting and increase the net forest sink [9,10], is not appreciated by many key stakeholders because it changes the current concept of sustainable forest management [11], forest use, and bioeconomy, and introduces a variety risks (e.g., forest aging, proneness to natural hazards, and reduced wood quality). In contrast, the second option is grounded on increasing mean forest growing stocks and sustaining them at high Citation: Kovač Academic Editor: Isabella De Meo levels for a longer period [12]. Like the first option, this option is not risk-free.…”

“…Furthermore, generic pathways should also address disturbances sparked by humans (e.g., game management). The problems of fir, pedunculate oak, and some rarer species that are becoming extinct in their native range and habitat types are well documented [12,62]. This issue is not trivial because these species are the key species of the Natura 2000 forest habitat types and need to be monitored, assessed, and conserved.…”