Values and use on NWFPs in Croatia

Description

Brief description of the instrument and its modus operandi

It was a cross-section survey, focused on three forest management areas which overlap with three municipalities – all of which gravitate to Petrova gora (Peters’ mountain) area. The latter is in addition to forestry use also important as a recreational destination The survey covered five thematic areas; (1) socio-economic status of local population; (2) rates of utilization of NWPF by local citizens; (3) attitudes of private forest owners towards forests; (4) interest for starting entrepreneurship; (5) existing use of NWFP and services. // The survey was carried out by means of face-to-face questionnaires on a sample of 208 households in three municipalities, namely Gvozd, Topusko and Vojnić. The questionnaire was composed of four parts, namely socio-economic characteristics of the respondent; characteristics of a private forest owner; interests for starting entrepreneurship; and current use of NWFP.

Which problem the instrument is supposed to solve?

Albeit area of Peters’ mountain is important for its timber potential, it also presents an important recreation destination for local people, within which an important share is also enjoying in harvesting NWFP – especially mushrooms. Given the fact that NWFP are largely untapped source of entrepreneurship and income generation, attempts are being made do define this potential in real terms (e.g. rates of utilization) as in terms of interest for entrepreneurship. Such opportunities are worthy of investigating.

Purpose or main objective / overall goal of the instrument?

The aim was to find out how local citizens recognized forest functions and its products and services, and do they use them and how. Special aim was to find out presence of interest for starting the entrepreneurship among local citizens.

Innovation content or potential of the instrument?

To improve knowledge on utilization of NWFP and potential for starting entrepreneurship (development possibilities) in the region.

Which laws and regulations support the implement of this instrument?

Not applicable.

The initiator/promoter of the instrument?

Hrvatske šume d.o.o.[1] (Croatian forests ltd. co) – state owned forestry company managing state forest lands. [1] http://portal.hrsume.hr/index.php/en

Which organizations are involved in the operationalization of the instrument?

Project partners: a) Croatian forests ltd. Co b)Forest research institute Jastrebarsko

How the monitoring is ensured?

This is a one-time sectorial survey - not applicable in this case.

How the compliance is ensured?

This is a one-time sectorial survey - not applicable in this case.

How is the overall performance of the instrument?

This is a one-time sectorial survey - not applicable in this case.

References

Link to the paper that describes the study: http://hrcak.srce.hr/36401

Have any of the items mentioned above changed since the instrument entered into force?

No

Details

(No such information is available.)

What are the main reasons or drivers behind changes mentioned?

Not applicable.

Is there any qualitative or quantitative study of the impacts of the instrument?

Yes, please specify

Details

Yes: Link to the paper that describes the study: http://hrcak.srce.hr/36401 Summary of the study: … Project is realized in cooperation of Forest research institute, Jastrebarsko, Department for forest management and forestry economics, Croatian forests ltd.co Forest District Karlovac and postgraduate student from Paris 12 University. Additionally this project will result with two master theses. // Presented results showing that this type of research, beside all its difficulties and imperfections provide valuable information and good basis for objective assessment of non-wood forest products and services use, as well existing interest for starting private entrepreneurship. Level of non-wood forest products usage can be assessed as high with prevailing use of mushrooms (76,0 %), followed by forests’ fruits (51,4 %), honey (25,5 %) and medicinal plants (20,2 %) (table 1). In case of recognition of forest functions’ importance, the most important is timber production function (79,3 %), second is health (67,3 %), and non-wood forest products (50,5 %). Beside the strong recognition of productive forest function important is to stress very strong recognition of social forest functions. // Majority of respondents (60 %) visiting forest often, 42 % of them even during Winter, and most frequently chosen reasons for visit are leisure and entertainment (41,3 %), health (36,5 %) and sport and recreation (21,2 %) (table 3). The frequency of visits, and interest for sport and recreation growing with achieved level of education and household income. Visitors while they are in forests most often picking forests’ fruits (75 %), walk (64,9 %) or observe wildlife (31,7 %). // Concerning their satisfaction with situation in forest and offer 45,3 % are completely satisfied, 42,2 % are partially satisfied and only 12,5 % are not satisfied at all. Level of satisfaction has reverse proportionality with level of education and household incomes. // Interest for starting private entrepreneurship is studied using model of logistic regression which put some light of direction and strength of influence of investigated variables on one Yes/No question. Results revealed that private forest owners has 2,6 times bigger willingness for starting the entrepreneurship than other population (table 2). On appearance of positive answer on that question use of non-wood forest products has positive influence. Based on results gained the average possible private entrepreneur can be described as private forest owner which use forest fruits for private purpose but also for sale, he has low level of education and low household income. In addition he is not enough informed on possibilities and existing development programs, he expecting primarily financial help from local authorities but also additional training; and he is not very keen to affiliate with other entrepreneurs. // On those findings clear need for more intensive influence of local authorities and Forest Extension Service is stressed out. Main areas of work could be raising awareness on possibilities for improving private forest estate, starting private entrepreneurship based on intensified use of forest products and services. Those activities has to be facilitated by Forest Extension Service but also by Croatian forests ltd.co which can act as motivator or work in cooperation with new private entrepreneurs.

More information about properties

Instrument
Year	2006-2011 The date "2006-2011" was not understood.
Policy area
Affected activity
Affected actors
Products	Mushrooms/truffles, Herbs/plants, Fruits, Honey and Bee products, Other NWFP
Subject
Promoter/initiator
Zone
Countries	Croatia
Regions (NUTS 2)
Focus on NWFP
Document category
Instrument type
Legal status	"{{{Legal status }}}" is not in the list of possible values (Binding, Non-binding) for this property.
Geographical scope	Local