Collection permits for harvesting asparagus in Croatia’s state forests
Description
Brief description of the instrument and its modus operandi
Anyone, who wishes to harvest asparagus in state forests, either for personal use or for doing business needs a permit and has to pay a collecting fee. // One harvesting asparagus for subsistence or personal use, has to have a permit and pay a fee, which depends on the amount of collected asparagus – app. 60 EUR cents per 10 pieces (50 lipas[1] for one piece). // If one wishes to collect asparagus for business, he should first get an approval for commercial picking from the Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection, then obtain a permit from the public enterprise Hrvatske Šume[2], where specific territory for harvesting is defined and afterwards pay a fee based on collected amount (same as for recreational pickers). // Some (mountain regions) forestry districts have only permits and do not charge harvesting fees. [1] One Lipa is 1/100 of a Kuna (HRK), Croatian currency (1 HRK = 0.1390 EUR; 10.12.2013). [2] Hrvatske Šume is a public enterprise responsible for managing state owned forest lands (app. 75% of all forest lands). The enterprise carries out assignments on forest management planning, harvesting and trading wood and wood-based products, managing hunting, protection of nature, coordinating use of NWFP etc.
Which problem the instrument is supposed to solve?
It tries to address the problem of overharvesting or forest asset protection.
Purpose or main objective / overall goal of the instrument?
To ensure sustainable harvesting of NWFP.
Side objectives/goals of the instrument?
Assures income also from NWFP in the state owned forests.
Innovation content or potential of the instrument?
None
Which laws and regulations support the implement of this instrument?
Forest Act (National Newsletter, no. 140/2005, …, 68/2012), Nature Protection Act (NN, no. 81/2005, …, 80/2013) and Establishment act of enterprise Hrvatske Šume are all basis for the core act, Regulation on secondary forest products from Hrvatske Šume.
The initiator/promoter of the instrument?
Public enterprise Hrvatske Šume
Which organizations are involved in the operationalization of the instrument?
Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection issues approvals for commercial harvesters to be allowed picking. // Regional offices of Hrvatske Šume issue harvesting permits to commercial and non-commercial pickers and collect fees.Public Agency - SIE
How the monitoring is ensured?
Monitoring is assured by on-field inspection measures – inspectors.
How the compliance is ensured?
For one not having a permit for collecting, fine from 130 to 920 EUR (1000-7000 HRK) is foreseen.
How is the overall performance of the instrument?
ly HACCAP standards), and, as well, around 20% were from food industry. Also, 28.8% of grant receivers were from Šumadija and Western Serbia region.
References
Various information sources: web portals, acts and regulations, and articles in professional journals (i.e. Croatian Forestry Journal).
Brief description of the context for the emergence of the instrument
Some media highlighted the problems of overharvesting and overcrowding and negative influence picking asparagus has on natural environment. The instrument is to mitigate this problem.
Have any of the items mentioned above changed since the instrument entered into force?
Yes
Details
In some areas inspection control increased
What are the main reasons or drivers behind changes mentioned?
Pickers from other countries were claimed to enter the forest and pick asparagus with no permits.
Is there any qualitative or quantitative study of the impacts of the instrument?
No
| Instrument | |
| Year | 1994 (issue of the Regulation) and 1995 (issue of the pricelist). |
|---|---|
| Affected actors | Picker/harvester/hunter |
| Products | Other NWFP |
| Countries | Slovenia |
| Regions (NUTS 2) | Western Slovenia |
| Geographical scope | National |