(Post)-transitional financing of forestry - The case of Slovenia

Before the process of transition took place at the end of the 1980s, Slovenian forestry was not financed from state budget, but exclusively from timber sales income from state and privately owned forests and other contributions of forest sector industry. Changes in forestry peaked in 1993, when organization of forestry and system of funding changed significantly. New public forest service was established, which is now financed entirely from state budget. New forest policy tools like co-financing of silvicultural and protection measures in private forests were also introduced and had replaced old system which covered full costs of silvicultural measures. The greatest share of the state budget for forestry is allocated for the activities of forest administration, primarily forest management planning, obligatory marking of trees for feeling and extension. One of the consequences of the changes in organization and funding is lower realization of silvicultural activities. Co-financed are those activities, which are defined in forest management plans and forest owners are required to implement them. Consequently, it is difficult to assess the influence of financial tools on forest owners, willingness to implement silvicultural measures. In addition, co-financing of forest measures also has the character of a regional policy and developmental measure in demographically endangered areas. Although forest legislation entails a kind of public tender for forest investment not one has taken place so far. Public funds for silvicultural and forest protection measures are increasing slightly.