Application of Panevropian criterion 3: Maintenance and encouragement of productive function of forests in Kozara National park

Abstract

This paper presents the results of research on testing Pan-European Criterion 3 - Maintenance and encouragement of productive functions of forests in the Kozara National Park. The indicators of Criterion 3 are: increment and felling, roundwood, non-wood products, services, and forest areas managed according to a management plan. The testing is carried out on all of the mentioned criterion indicators. As a result, a recommendation for legal and institutional guidelines, forest management planning Guidelines, and forest management procedures guidelines is obtained. The testing shows that the Kozara National Park forests feature high values of volume and volume increment, but merely conducting sanitary felling is not enough for maintenance of forest structure.

The roundwood production as well as production of other wood assortments in the Park has decreased after passing the Law on National Parks which allows only sanitary felling in park forests.

Other limited-use non-wood products, which can be found in the Park, are: fungi, juniper, hip, limetree, hawthorn, St.John’s wort, and other aromatic, edible and medicinal plants. Use of these plants is spontaneous and elemental and therefore irrational from an economic and ecologic point of view. But in the future, it is necessary to establish control over using of these products.

When it comes to services, the Park should have a higher value of charged services considering its geographical location, climate, relief, vegetation, historical past, and developed tourist infrastructure (accommodation facilities, ski centre, hiking trails, climbing routes, trim trails for adults and children, picnic areas). The existing services should be further improved and developed.

The forest coverage indicator for management plans shows that, besides the existence of all other plans, it is necessary to create a management plan for the park forests as a basic premise for their sustainable management.