Forest functions

Wood is a fundamental renewable natural resource in Slovenia. Economic activities related to wood are important for the employment and contribute to the GDP of the country, they are important for the development of the countryside. For forest owners, wood is a source of supply for firewood, a source of income, but it also represents economic security (a reserve for "hard" times). Wood is our most important natural building material and a key element in the green circular economy chain of rural and urban areas. Numerous forest areas in Slovenia enable production of high-quality wood, which is also shown by the values ​​of forest wood assortments at the annual wood auction. Lower quality wood can be used for many products such as posts, viticulture stakes and fences, wooden playground infrastructure and the like.

Wood of lower quality can be used for energy purposes in various forms, for individual use firewood is the most common. The term wood biomass refers to biomass that is used for energy purposes from various sources, most of which is obtained from the forest. We use biomass in various forms, such as firewood, wood chips and pellets. In addition to individual fireplaces, wood biomass district heating systems (DOLB) are also a large consumer of wood biomass.

Wood is in some parts also important for the traditional forestry activity of charcoal making, which is important both from the point of view of obtaining and selling charcoal, as well as a tourist offer of the place where the piles are made.

In forests where wood production is important, the owners manage them in accordance with forest management plans, taking into account the forest habitats, the condition of the forest stands, the objectives of the forest owners, as well as any other importance of these forests.

Forest is a source of non-wood forest products, the most important of which are mushrooms, chestnuts, blueberries, blackberries, etc. In recent years, the activities of beekeeping and herbalism have gained importance, as people are increasingly aware of the good impact of natural products on health. When gathering non-wood forest products, it is necessary to take into account the legal regulations regarding the permitted quantities, method of gathering and other restrictions and rules of behaviour in the forest area.

Forests for seed collection are important for obtaining seed material in compliance with the provisions of the Forest Reproductive Material Act and other regional by-laws.

Hunting activity is an important tool for sustainable management of game populations, for ensuring a favourable state of game populations and protected species. At the same time, it can be important as self-sufficiency in food, and it also represents a certain income for hunting associations. Forests in fenced hunting areas, and areas where hunting tourism is intensively practiced, are in particular important for the promotion of the game management.

Slovenia is an alpine and extremely hilly country. Forests therefore have an important role of protecting forest sites and their surroundings (indirect protection) from erosion, landslides, avalanches, etc. They also prevent different erosion processes, the movement of debris, retain fine floating material and preserve the fertility of the forest soil.

With increasing intensity and frequency of natural disturbances in recent years (e.g. floods, torrents), the importance of the protective function of forests is increasing. In these forests, measures (harvesting, silviculture and protection measures) are aimed at ensuring and improving the protective effects of forests. The protective effect of the forest is strengthened by a suitable stand structure, continuous forest cover, small gaps that also allow regeneration, due to extreme conditions there are longer production and regeneration periods. In protection forests, special attention must be paid to the appropriate cutting and harvesting technology, which also includes the appropriate time for the execution of works and the implementation of additional works.

Certain forests also have direct protection function. In endangered (risky) areas, they significantly protect infrastructure (roads, railways), settlements and other infrastructure from natural hazards such as rockfall, avalanches, landslides and torrents, thereby ensuring the safety of people and infrastructure. In these forests, the guidelines for forest management are similar to those for indirect protection function. Also, additional measures are implemented; in areas prone to rockfall, it is recommended to leave higher stumps, and properly anchor the trunks of cut trees at a suitable angle to stop the triggered rocks. In critical areas, protection can also be carried out with other biotechnical measures if necessary (e.g. planting in combination with wooden barriers, fences against falling stones). The value of the protective function of the forest is inestimable, and the cost of providing it is significantly lower than in the case of technical facilities or economic damages that could occur if the forests were not present.

Drinking water is an indispensable condition for quality living, although its supply is increasingly threatened by natural (e.g. drought) and human activities (e.g. pollution). Forests make an important contribution to maintaining the quality of water resources, regulating runoff and maintaining the soils water-holding capacity. Forested areas, particularly those designated for water protection or with potential for such use, are crucial for securing a sustainable supply of drinking water.

In the future, the condition of the forest will play a critical role in preserving both the quality and quantity of water resources, as well as shaping the water regimes in the water catchment areas. In all forests with high hydrological importance (classified as 1st and 2nd degree), management regime must be adapted - nature-friendly technology, using environmentally sound machinery, use of biodegradable oils, adapted construction of forest skidding tracks and roads. It is also necessary to strictly take into consideration the protection regimes and carefully examine any interventions in forest area.

Forests are the largest preserved natural ecosystem in our country. They are the habitat of many plant and animal species and are therefore extremely important for the preservation of biodiversity in the landscape. Due to their high conservation state and extensive areas, they represent a piece of wilderness in which large animals such as bears, wolves and lynx build their environment, and many endangered and rare plant species find refuge. The forest floor, trees (especially thick trees) and dead biomass in the forest are habitats for many species such as birds, insects, mosses, lichens, fungi and the like.

We promote biodiversity in all forests by establishing a natural tree species composition, a balanced proportion of forest development phases, and planned network of dead biomass. In the forests, measures are also taken to improve the living environment of wildlife. Additional measures are also important, such as the preservation and establishment of a network of areas where stands are left to natural development, the removal of invasive non-native species, adapting the time and method of harvesting to the requirements of species in areas of rare and endangered species, and the like. For forests that are included in Nature 2000 or EPO (Ecologically important) areas, special guidelines are prescribed for maintaining the favourable condition of individual species, which must be taken into account when managing forests. Cooperation with institutions and organizations in the field of nature protection and forest owners is also crucial when determining management guidelines.

Monitoring and control in conservation areas are also critical and are conducted in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act, including regulations governing vehicle use in natural environments.

Forests have a significant impact on the local and global climate. Due to climate change, their importance for regulating climate conditions, mitigating and adapting to climate change is increasing. Forests moderate the winds in the landscape, reduce noise and filter particles from polluted air, thereby improving its quality. In urban areas, the impact of forests on mitigating temperature extremes (heat islands) is known. Forests can lower the air temperature in these areas by several degrees and act as natural air conditioners.

Forests act as carbon sinks since they absorb vast amounts of carbon from the air as they grow. At the same time, forests also serve as carbon storage, with carbon sequestered not only in wood but also in forest soil, roots, leaves, and needles. Slovenia is a signatory to various European agreements that emphasize the role of forests in contributing to carbon sink. For the first time, the goals and guidelines related to carbon were included into regional forest management plans for 2021–2030.

Climatic function is conditioned by the stable, healthy, resilient forests which are commonly characterized by natural, site-adapted forest. Climatic function is therefore provided with all important measures to support and increase stability and resilience of forest stands. It is key that forest areas important for providing climatic function are preserved.

Forests protect our environment from various forms of pollution (they filter small harmful particles, absorb gases and prevent the spread of aerosols). Forests are also a very good sound barrier around roads and industrial buildings, and their role is crucial in the surroundings of settlements, hospitals and spas, where it is important that the air is as clean as possible.

The »hygienic-health« function is conditioned mainly by stable, healthy, disease-resistant forest stands, which are usually characterized by natural, site-adapted forest. To ensure this function, we plan all important measures to increase the stability and resilience of forests. It is also crucial to preserve the area of ​​forests with an emphasized hygienic-health function.

Recreation and tourism

More and more people are visiting the forests, either for recreation and spending free time, or to retreat from the increasingly fast pace of everyday life. Forests, particularly in urban environments, significantly enhance the quality of life by positively impacting on both physical and mental health of inhabitants. Forests in the vicinity of tourist places and attractions are also important for the development of tourism; along many learning or thematic routes, tourist guiding also takes place.

Forests with recreational and tourist function must be maintained in such a condition that they are attractive to visitors. In these forests, alongside maintaining suitable forest stands, the construction and maintenance of recreational infrastructure, information and guidance of visitors are also important. In recent years, mountain biking has grown in popularity, making it essential to carefully designate areas for this activity to prevent conflicts and minimize negative impacts on the forest ecosystem. In forests that are important for recreation and tourism, the density of visitors is significantly higher than in other forests, and there are more opportunities for conflicts between different users and owners of the forest. Therefore, cooperation between various stakeholders and a respectful attitude towards both private property and other visitors to the forest is essential.

Forests are an excellent outdoor classroom about nature and at the same time an exceptional environment for childrens development and lifelong learning. They are important for raising awareness and imparting knowledge about the forests and their management to the public. An important educational function is provided by forests that are used as learning spaces (outdoor classrooms), forests where forest learning trails and other teaching facilities for the implementation of practical lessons in the system of forestry education are located.

In promoting the educational function in forests, cooperation with schools, kindergartens, the local community and other experts is key in determining the contents for the implementation of educational programs; arrange outdoor classrooms, thematic trails and other educational infrastructure either on municipal or state parcels or in agreement with private forest owners; and ensure the safety of visitors.

Forests in which planned collection, observation and determination of facts about forests, their exploitation and use take place provide research function. These are, in particular, forest reserves and forests in which research plots, research facilities, and various measuring devices are located, which are managed by research institutions as part of research projects or programs.

The basic guidelines for the research function are defined by the Decree on Protection Forests and Special Purpose Forests. Carrying out individual research or educational activities is permitted with the approval of the Ministry, according to the opinion given by the Slovenia Forest Service and the Institute of RS for Nature Protection.

Forests are important from the point of view of protecting natural values, i.e. protecting rare, valuable, famous or other valuable natural phenomena. These are, in particular, forests which, according to the regulations governing nature conservation, have the status of natural value, protected areas and exceptional trees in the forest area.

The guidelines for protecting natural values ​​come from the Nature Conservation Guidelines prepared by the Institute of the RS for Nature Conservation.

The protection of cultural heritage is particularly important in forests that, according to the regulations governing the protection of cultural heritage, have the status of cultural heritage, or are located in their immediate surroundings, and the remains of preserved traditional forms of forest management (e.g. forests for litter gathering, beehives, groves, logs).

The guidelines for cultural heritage protection are derived from the guidelines prepared by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia.

Aesthetic function is relevant in unique forests in exceptional landscapes and areas of national recognition and areas of cultural landscape, in areas of landscape diversity and forests intended to cover degradation processes or other visually disturbing elements in the landscape.

In order to promote the aesthetics of forests, it is important to preserve the forest in the landscape, to preserve attractions in the forest area, to pay attention to the impression that the forest has in the surroundings of cultural heritage buildings or in the area of ​​educational, recreational or touristic functions, etc.

This function is relevant in forests that are used as training grounds for police or military units, as well as forests that protect drinking water pumping stations, police and military facilities. The management of these forests is adapted to the function of the defence facility.