Šumarski list, Vol. 147 No. 3-4, 2023.
Uvodnik
On the occasion of March 21st, International Day Of Forests
Uredništvo HŠD
; Hrvatsko šumarsko društvo
Sažetak
Editorial
In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the 21st of March as the International Day of Forests to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests for the benefit of humankind and the environment. By establishing the International Day of Forests, the UN encourages all countries to undertake efforts to organise different local, national and international forest-related activities, involving the protection and preservation of forests, with special emphasis on tree planting campaigns.
This year, the International Day of Forests in Croatia was marked by various activities, such as the appropriate planting of forest trees, an expert panel dedicated to innovations and sustainable development in forestry, as well as numerous articles on forests. It is evident that forests are gaining in importance not only as a natural resource but also as a source of other values. Forests and forest land (along with potable water, the sea and agricultural land) are the most important natural resource of the Republic of Croatia. They ensure favourable living conditions: pure air, clean and fertile soil, clean water and beneficial climate. Forests are a treasury of biological diversity. They are the only renewable source of wood matter.
This year’s theme of the International Day of Forests was Forests and Health, or Healthy Forests for Healthy People. The health function of forests stems from the long-known beneficial effect of forests on the physical and mental health of people. Forests provide areas for recreation, recovery and rest. They have a beneficial effect on people’s health by purifying air and water, protecting against noise and creating beautiful environment. It is not surprising, therefore, that people rushed to the forests during the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the provision of health and other functions of forests depends on the optimal condition of forests, which results from adequate forest management. Management should be implemented in every forest, regardless of its purpose or owner. Silvicultural treatments in forests should ensure their optimal development and prevent forest risks. By doing so, forests will be equipped with powerful defence mechanisms and will be prepared for forest risks. Should forest damage occur, it should be rectified as soon as possible, and forests should be regenerated and tended in order to be healthy, vital, productive and capable of natural regeneration.
Forest health has been recognized as one of the leading challenges of Croatian forests and forestry of recent times. Since 2013, large complexes of Croatian forests have repeatedly been exposed to extraordinary and intensive biotic, abiotic and anthropogenic stress factors, such as the rapid spread of pests and plant diseases, ice breaks, wind breaks and forest fires. Their increasingly frequent occurrence and high intensities are associated with climate change. Forests, forestry and the society as a whole suffer extensive ecological and economic damage. In the continental part of Croatia, intensive damage has been recorded in forests of narrow-leaved ash, pedunculate oak, common beech, silver fir and Norway spruce. In the Mediterranean area, forest fires threaten forests of Aleppo pine, black pine, holm oak and pubescent oak.
This is why the role of forests and forestry in creating and preserving favourable living conditions for humans and the entire biological diversity has never been as important as it is at present times. Forests and forestry can significantly contribute to mitigating climate change. Only by responsible management of forests, by prioritising the tending, regeneration and protection of forests, and by not viewing forests only as a source of raw wood or a passively protected object of nature can we preserve our forests and all their values.
Editorial Bord
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
300841
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.4.2023.
Posjeta: 673 *