Forest product industry and current problems of new forest owners in the Czech Republic

The general idea of the study is to address and explain the current process of establishing new economic relations in forestry-in-transition and assess opportunities for its sustainable development mainly by historical and political analyses approach. The scientific value of the study derives from the elaboration of multidisciplinary knowledge and the enhancement of practical applicability in a transitional economy of the concept of sustainable forestry development. Taking the forest sector of the Czech Republic as an example, the study draws on the state of affairs in forestry that is developing under changing economic conditions, examining failures and new incentives in economic and institutional reforms. The central objective of the study is to determine the appropriate forest policies and economic incentives to improve future output from Czech forestry, while making the sector economically efficient, socially acceptable and environmentally friendly. The way of the forest sector towards sustainable development is explored by analyzing the following: economics of forest use; contribution of forestry to country's economy; external trade and market in forest product; and issues affecting new forest owners, especially problems rising from the political and economic transition, and accession to the European Union.