Motor-manual work with a chainsaw is still an irreplaceable occupational activity in forest harvesting operations in Croatia and in many other countries. Chainsaw workers are exposed to different ...risk factors, such as noise and vibrations, heavy load lifting, awkward and preflexion postures, repetitive movements, etc. The working posture and the assessment of the center of mass plays an important role in understanding the exposure of forest workers to postural and occupational risks, either as a part of the entire work process or as a part of an individual element of the work technique. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the impact of three different chainsaw starting methods (from the ground, between the knees, and “drop starting”) on the postural load of the chainsaw worker and its association with personal and occupational factors. The field portion of data collection was conducted in the second and third quarters of 2022. For trunk posture assessment (n = 74), the rapid entire body assessment (REBA) tool was used, and for the center of mass measurement (n = 28), the Xsens MVN Link motion capture suit was used, a relatively new technology that allows data collection in real field conditions. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to verify and analyze the field data. Based on the obtained results, almost 50% of the sampled chainsaw workers ignored safety instructions and preferred “drop starting” a chainsaw. The results also showed that there is a significant difference between the three starting methods in the REBA score, as well as in the number of segments scored during the assessment. The obtained mean REBA score for all three methods is between 4 and 7, placing all methods at a medium level of MSD risk. Regarding the analysis of the Center of Mass (CoM) vertical deviation, the statistical difference is noticeable for the body mass index (BMI) group, the group related to experience with the chainsaw, and the age and height group in relation to three methods for starting a chainsaw. The safest method, which implies starting a chainsaw from the ground, resulted also as the riskiest in terms of postural strain, which, cumulatively over the time variable, can contribute to health problems in forest workers. In conclusion, related to the future process of professional training development for chainsaw workers, an integral part of the training must contain the most optimal postural-movement habits that need to be defined by further kinematic research in forestry.
The application of various graphic analytical software solutions in the research aimed at designing and determining the ergonomic and biomechanical harmony between forestry workers’ anthropometric ...measures and their working positions and movements is still scientifically incomplete and largely unexplored in forestry, especially regarding motor manual work with chainsaws. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to numerically represent the general kinematic model of forestry workers’ upper body while starting a chainsaw. The same is determined by using a state-of-the-art motion capture suit with inertial measurement units (IMUs). An additional research aim is to investigate numerical values of the forestry worker kinematic model against the three potentially applicable methods of starting a chainsaw and work experience with a chainsaw. Field data collection was carried out during the spring and summer of 2022 and 2023, and a total of 51 chainsaw workers were sampled in different relief areas. The results of the subject research show that none of the observed methods of starting a chainsaw are entirely safe for the worker, concerning the aspect of MSD development, if the body movements within the working element are performed in an incorrect way. From safety and kinematic aspects, regarding forestry workers’ upper body values, the most neutral work posture (N-pose) is when a worker is using the “between the knees” method. The method “from the ground” can be used as secondary option if the workers are educated in taking the correct position of the upper body, i.e., to practice the rule of hip hinge. With the aim of extending the working ability and working life of forestry workers, interdisciplinary cooperation between occupational medicine, kinesiologists, and forestry experts is needed to create a guide of statodynamic efforts and correct postural movement habits during motor manual work in logging operations.
Timber harvesting, especially motor-manual felling, in Croatia, as in many other countries, is one of the most hazardous economic activities. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to analyse and ...compare the latest trends and risk factors related to the incidence of work-induced injuries in structural organization units of national forest enterprise. A combined approach of literature review and assembled secondary data was applied to gather data on workplace accidents over the years 2014–2020. Work-induced injuries data were drawn from the records of the national enterprise Croatian Forests Ltd. which manages state forests (76% of total forest area). A total of 1626 work-induced injuries were processed and entered into the database. Data analysis was conducted using statistical and descriptive methods. Research results have proven a significant difference in the injury rate over the years 2014–2020 in the Croatian forest enterprise. During the analysed period the highest number of workplace accidents (51.35% of all recorded workplace accidents) occurred during the forest harvesting phase, i.e., during motor-manual felling. Trends in the incidence of work-induced injuries in the observed period do not show any significant improvement. The key findings have pointed out that forest administrations which practice even-aged forest management have 25% or more injuries than forest administrations which practice selective forest management. Related to the average rate of change by forest administration, the largest annual increase or decrease of the selected safety indicators is recorded for smallest forest administrations. Related to total number of injuries, the smallest forest administrations have the least injuries and show statistically significant difference compared to large forest administrations. When comparing the number of injuries per 1000 employees, medium sized forest administrations have the highest value of indicator and show statistical significance. Discussion and conclusion of the paper emphasizes the need for systematic research in the field of ergonomy, safety and health of forest workers in Croatian forestry sector. Additionally, the development and inclusion of proactive safety culture is recognized as a mechanism that can further reduce work injuries and improve occupational safety which should have a significant role in the process of certification of forest management according to the FSC standard.
Motor-manual felling and wood processing is a high-risk work process where the chainsaw, in connection to other variables in the working environment, is a key and constant source of risk and danger ...for forest chainsaw operators. Pursuant to the foregoing, the purpose of this research is to investigate and compare detected musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms among the chainsaw workers in Croatia according to their employer (state company – Hrvatske šume Ltd. or private forestry contractor) and self-evaluated Workability Index. A combined three-stage research method was used: (a) defining a sample; (b) preparation and administration of questionnaire; and (c) data analysis and elaboration. The Standardized Nordic Questionnaire (SNQ) was used as a medium to detect musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in chainsaw operators and the Workability Index (WAI) questionnaire was used as a medium for workability self-evaluation. The field part of face-to-face data collection was conducted in the first quarter of 2022 with a total of 158 sampled workers interviewed directly at the forest worksite. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to verify and analyze the data. The anatomical area with the highest 12-month period prevalence of MSD symptoms for all chainsaw operators is the low back (70.89%), followed by the shoulders (41.14%), neck (39.87%) and wrist/hands (36.71%). Research results, according to the employer, showed that workers employed by Hrvatske šume Ltd. have a higher prevalence of MSD symptoms in almost all anatomical locations compared to chainsaw operators employed by private forest contractors. Mean WAI Score among all respondents was 34.96 points (max. 49) falling into the rank »moderate«, while the current workability compared with the lifetime best was 7.33 (range 0–10). The results of MSD symptoms confirm the self-estimated higher values related to health problems caused by forestry work and lower WAI Score by workers employed in the state forestry sector compared to workers employed in private forestry sector. The prevalence of MSD symptoms, observed through WAI Score, showed a significantly lower percentage of affirmative responses for all anatomical regions except for shoulders in workers who need to maintain their workability. The obtained results show positive correlation with descriptive indicators, where younger workers with less chainsaw work experience have a lower prevalence of MSD symptoms and better WAI Score. In the discussion and conclusion part of the research in question, the need for development of possible solutions is emphasized. The proposed solutions can be included into educational programs or on-site training related to the MSD risks for professional chainsaw workers to change their behaviour that will reduce occupational risks.
Unatoč razvoju mehanizacije i primjeni visokih tehnologija u sustavima pridobivanja drva ručno-strojni rad motornom pilom i dalje prevladava u Jugoistočnoj Europi, ali i šire. Biomehaničko ...opterećenje šumskoga radnika u takvim operacijama kategorizirano je kao »vrlo veliko«. Procjena centra mase pritom ima važnu ulogu u razumijevanju izloženosti šumskih radnika posturalnim i profesionalnim rizicima, bilo kao dio cjelokupnoga procesa rada ili kao dio pojedinoga elementa radne tehnike. U skladu s tim cilj ovoga istraživanja sastoji se u određivanju položaja centra mase radnika s motornom pilom s obzirom na tri ključna radna elementa pri sječi stabala (izvođenje zasjeka, izvođenje završnoga reza i zabijanje klina sjekirom) te njegove povezanosti s osobnim i profesionalnim čimbenicima. Za mjerenje položaja centra mase (n = 28 šumskih radilišta, što ujedno čini 28 uzorkovanih radnika) korišteno je odijelo za snimanje pokreta Xsens MVN Link kao vrhunska tehnologija koja omogućuje prikupljanje podataka u stvarnim terenskim uvjetima. Za analizu snimljenih podataka primijenjene su deskriptivne i inferencijalne statističke metode. Promatrani profesionalni čimbenici (metoda rada, model gospodarenja i prsni promjer stabla) i osobni čimbenici (životna dob, visina i indeks tjelesne mase) rezultirali su statistički značajnom razlikom u pogledu izmjerenih vrijednosti centra mase. Na osnovi svega navedenoga daljnja kinematička istraživanja u šumarstvu trebala bi pridonijeti jačemu uključivanju rješenja Industrije 5.0 u sječu i izradu drva, posebno u ručno-strojni rad, primjenom tehnologija virtualne stvarnosti tijekom obuke radnika ili primjenom najnovijih tehnoloških rješenja u smislu jačanja ljudskoga rada s jedne strane te povećanja sigurnosti i zaštite zdravlja s druge strane.
Despite the development of mechanization and the application of high technologies in wood harvesting systems, motor-manual work with a chainsaw still prevails in the countries of South-Eastern Europe and beyond. The biomechanical workload of forestry workers in such operations is categorized as »very heavy«. The Center of Mass (CM) assessment plays an important role in understanding the exposure of forest workers to postural and occupational risks, either as part of the entire work process or as a part of a particular element of work technique. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to determine the position of the Center of Mass of the chainsaw workers in relation to three key work elements in tree felling operations (performing undercut, preforming final cut, and hammering a wedge with an axe) and its connection with personal and professional factors. To measure the position of the Center of Mass (n=28 forest sites, which also makes 28 sampled workers), the Xsens MVN Link motion capture suit was used as a state-of-the-art technology that enables data collection under real field conditions. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were used to analyze the recorded data. Considered professional factors (working method, management model and tree diameter at breast height) and personal factors (age, height and body mass index) resulted in statistically significant difference regarding the measured values of the Center of Mass. Based on all the above, further kinematic research in forestry should contribute to a stronger inclusion of Industry 5.0 solutions in logging operations, especially motor-manual work, by applying virtual reality technologies during worker training or by using the latest technological solutions in terms of strengthening human labor on the one hand, and increasing safety and health protection on the other.
Postupak prodaje drvne sirovine putem javnih nadmetanja uvriježen je postupak i svakodnevan proces u zapadnim zemljama Europe, dok u Republici Hrvatskoj dobiva sve veći značaj posljednjeg desetljeća. ...Iako se glavnina drvnih sortimenata koje proizvodu Hrvatske šume d.o.o. prodaje prerađivačkoj industriji prema unaprijed definiranim kvotama i cijenama kroz okvirne višegodišnje ugovore, samo se manji dio drva nudi, posebno onog izuzetne vrijednosti, putem javnih nadmetanja. U sklopu istraživanja analizirana su javna nadmetanja u Hrvatskoj održana 2022. godine po vrstama drveća i sortimentnim klasama u odnosu na početne i prodajne cijene (€/m3) te postotak ostvaren iznad početne cijene. Nadalje, uspoređene su ostvarene prodajne cijene (€/m3) u Hrvatskoj 2022. prema vrsti drva s cijenama koje su postignute na jednom javnom nadmetanju najvrjednijih trupaca u Sloveniji iste godine. Kroz rezultate istraživanja analizirano je 45 javnih nadmetanja koja su realizirana tokom 2022. godine u Republici Hrvatskoj, te jednog javnog nadmetanja prodaje najvrjednijih trupaca iz privatnih šuma u Sloveniji 2022. godine. Rezultati analize javnih nadmetanja u Hrvatskoj pokazuju da se veći prosječni postotak iznad početne cijene ostvaruje ako su drvni sortimenti razlučnije razvrstani (klasirani) unutar ponuđenih prodajnih grupa. U analiziranom razdoblju za hrast lužnjak ponuditelji su za određene grupe 12 puta dali ponudu koja je iznosila više od 2 000,00 €/m3. Dodatno, pokazalo se da za ostvarenje što veće prodajne cijene kod hrasta lužnjaka treba izbjegavati formiranje grupa koje sadrže kombinaciju furnirskih i pilanskih sortimenata (F-III). Osim hrasta lužnjaka, rekordne cijene postizao je i gorski javor koji je imao i četiri rekordne realizirane kupnje u rasponu od 2 752,92 €/m3 do 4 692,00 €/m3. Usporedno, u Sloveniji je utvrđeno da su prosječne prodajne cijene (€/m3) značajno veće za crnogorične drvenaste vrste u odnosu na ostvarene prodajne cijena na javnim nadmetanjima u Hrvatskoj. Analizom ostvarenih prodajnih cijena drvnih sortimenata na javnim nadmetanjima u Hrvatskoj 2022. godine u odnosu na početne cijene utvrđena je statistički značajna razlika što ukazuje na buduću potrebu formiranja cijena svih proizvedenih sortimentnih klasa u korak s tržišnim prilikama.
The process of selling wood raw materials (timber assortments) through public tenders is an established procedure and a daily process in the Western countries of Europe, while in the Republic of Croatia it has been gaining more and more importance over the last decade. Although most of the timber assortments produced by Hrvatske šume Ltd. is sold to the processing industry according to predefined quotas through multi-year framework contracts, only a small part of timber is offered, especially that of exceptional value, through public tenders. As part of the research, public tenders held in Croatia in 2022 were analyzed by tree species and assortment classes in relation to the initial and selling price (€/m3) and the percentage achieved above the initial price. Furthermore, the achieved selling price (€/m3) in Croatia in 2022 was compared with the prices achieved at the public tenders of the most valuable logs in Slovenia for the same year. The second chapter presents the procedure for conducting public tenders for the sale of wood assortments in Croatia, which is defined by the Decree on the Auction of Certain Wood Assortments (Official Gazette No. 100/15). The method of analysis, synthesis, compilation, comparison and description was used in the processing and analysis of the research results. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis with appropriate parametric and/or non-parametric models were used in data processing. Through the results of the research, 45 public tenders held in Croatia, and one public tender for the sale of the most valuable logs from private forests in Slovenia in 2022, were analyzed. Table 1 shows descriptive values of public tenders of timber assortments held during 2022 in Croatia. The testing of strength and direction of the connection between the basic indicators of the implementation of the public tender and the grouped realization of the percentage above the initial price for the pedunculate oak is shown in table two. Table 4 shows descriptive values of the achieved percentage above the initial price according to the class of wood assortments at the public tender during 2022. Presentation of realized quantities and prices at public tenders in 2022 for two most common types of broad leaves is visible in table 5 and for the two most common types of conifers in table 6. The results of public tender for the sale of timber assortments in Slovenia are presented in subsection 4.2. Table 7 shows the results of the sale of logs by species at the public tender in Slovenia in 2022. The results of the analysis of public tenders in Croatia show that a higher average percentage above the initial price is achieved if the timber assortments are more differentiated (better classified) within the offered sales groups. In the analyzed period, for the pedunculate oak, bidders made an offer 12 times for certain groups that amounted to more than 2 000 €/m3. In addition, it has been shown that to achieve the highest possible sales price for the pedunculate oak, the formation of groups containing a combination of veneer and sawmill assortments (F-III) should be avoided. In addition to pedunculate oak, record selling prices were also achieved by sycamore maple, which had four record offers ranging from 2 752.92 €/m3 to 4 692.00 €/m3. Comparatively, in Slovenia, it was determined that the average sales prices of logs (€/m3) are significantly higher for coniferous timber species compared to the realized sales prices at public tenders in Croatia. The analysis of realized sale prices of timber assortments at public tenders in Croatia in 2022 compared to initial prices revealed a statistically significant difference, which indicates the future need to form prices of all produced assortment classes in step with market opportunities.
Ovaj rad prikazuje analizu dvaju temeljnih mehanizama potrajnosti osnovne razine sigurnosti i zaštite na radu u šumarskom sektoru Republike Hrvatske. Za potrebe istraživanja proveden je telefonski ...anketni upitnik među poslovnim subjektima koji se bave osposobljavanjem radnika za rad na siguran način i stručnim osposobljavanjem radnika za rukovanje sredstvima za rad. Istraživanje je provedeno krajem 2022. i početkom 2023. godine. Uzorak ispitanika obuhvatio je 93 pravna subjekta koji su telefonski kontaktirani, njih 39 odnosno 42 % pristalo je na anketiranje. U rezultatima se vidi da od svih koji su pristali na anketiranje njih 36 provodi osposobljavanje za rad na siguran način u šumarstvu, dok njih 9 od 36 provodi i stručno osposobljavanje za rukovanje sredstvom za rad koje je primjenjivo u šumarstvu. Da bi se dobila bolja slika stanja te mogućnosti poboljšanja, provedena je usporedba sa sličnim istraživanjem objavljenim 2018. godine. Brojčani su elementi vrlo slični u broju izvođača svih osposobljavanja i broju zaposlenih, dok su uočena značajnija poboljšanja u broju održanih sati predavanja i praktičnoga dijela u korist posljednjega istraživanja.
This paper shows the elements of two basic aspects of providing safety and protection at work in the forestry sector of the Republic of Croatia – training for safe work and safe handling of equipment. For the purpose of the research, a questionnaire was conducted among business entities engaged in the above activities. The research was carried out at the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023. The sample was made of 93 respondents, who were interviewed by phone, of which 39 and 42%, respectively, agreed to be interviewed. The results show that 36 of all those who agreed to the survey conduct training for safe work in forestry, while 9 of them conduct professional training for safe handling of equipment applicable in forestry. In order to get a better picture of the situation and the possibilities for improvement, a comparison was made with a similar study published in 2018. The data are very similar in the segment of the number of performers of all trainings and the number of employees, while more significant improvements were observed in the number of lecture hours and the practical part in favor of the latter research.
Zaštićena područja imaju za cilj očuvanje bioraznolikosti, razvoj područja na kojemu se nalaze te kontinuirano financiranje javnih ustanova osnovanih za njihovo upravljanje. Održivo financiranje ima ...temelj u međunarodnim i nacionalnim financijskim mehanizmima, te u koncesijama i drugim naknadama koje čine vlastite prihode javnih ustanova. Financijsko poslovanje javnih ustanova, neovisno o kategoriji osnivača, propisano je zakonima i pravilnicima na nacionalnoj razini. Pregledom dostavljenih izvješća za poslovnu 2019. godinu uočavaju se obilježja financiranja pojedinih javnih ustanova te njihova usmjerenost prema izvorima novca za njihov razvoj.Polučeni rezultati strukture prihoda javnih ustanova na temelju razmatranja javno dostupnih financijskih obrazaca, ukazuju na potrebu privlačenja projektnih financijskih sredstava, posebice kod javnih ustanova na županijskoj/lokalnoj razini, kako bi se parkovni sustav intenzivno razvijao i unaprjeđivao. Drugi najzastupljeniji izvor prihoda u zaštićenim područjima predstavljaju sredstva iz proračuna države ili županije u ovisnosti o osnivaču, te su dostatna za osnovno funkcioniranje javne ustanove i plaće zaposlenika.
Introduction describes basic principles of existence of the park system, characteristics of national classification and number of public institutions per founder. Basic legal framework for functioning of park system in Republic of Croatia is also stated. The chapter on materials and methods presents a detailed elaboration of legislative framework in protected areas. The audit reports on which the elaboration of form is used for processing in results of work is also given. The chapter results and discussions provides a summary of all revenues of protected areas in the Republic of Croatia. The subchapter related to public institutions that manage national parks shows the elaboration of a form for all items with a detailed explanation of the characteristic financial characteristics. In the following subchapters related to nature parks and county and local public institutions, elements of form with explanations of specific activities for individual areas are elaborated according to the same principle. Conclusions presents precise conclusions related to the characteristics of financing protected areas in the Republic of Croatia, which show both the strengths and weaknesses of certain categories of founders.
Due to their modest 23% share, private forests in Croatia are a resource that is perceived as less important than state-owned forests. One of the basic characteristics of private forests is ...fragmentation, which is also the biggest obstacle to a successful and, economically speaking, sustainable management of private forests. The cases in which a private forest with its area and integrity can generate a sustainable economic income to its owner are not common. However, from an economic point of view, private forests still have one advantage. Unlike state-owned forests, private forests can be the subject of investment and change hands. Based on this, this paper investigates the supply of private forests on the free market. For private forests that were publicly put for sale in the period from 2010 to 2020, their spatial-temporal distribution and supply dynamics and trends (price and quantity) were analyzed. The data were collected from the leading real estate advertising platform in Croatia (Njuškalo.hr), and a total of 866 advertisements were analyzed, relating exclusively to the sale of raw wood material along with the accompanying forest land. On the other hand, in order to assess the demand, data were collected on the number of potential buyers who viewed the advertisements (period 2020-2021). In the observed ten-year period, a total of 1,890.63 ha of private forests with a total asking value of €32.14 million were offered on the market. The share of advertisements advertised through real estate agencies is 42.1%. The average total annual supply is 170 ha and has a growing trend (in the advertisements in the coastal part of Croatia, the average area is 1.3 ha, while the average area in the continental part is 3 ha). The prices are not constant but rising. According to compound interest, the price increase in the coastal area is 1.57% and 7.49% in the continental area. From the relationship between supply and demand or, more precisely, the relationship between price and the quantity, it was concluded that the market is not well developed and that the price is not affected by the supply/demand quantity of private forests. Furthermore, it was concluded that this market is developing in the direction of a typical real estate market in Croatia due to the fact that forest management and wood processing characteristics of forests do not define the price, but that the price is largely determined by a market with greater financial importance (the market in real estate near the Adriatic coast).
Rad u šumarstvu razumijeva sve ljudske aktivnosti koje su prijeko potrebne za obavljanje planiranih šumarskih poslova, a radi ostvarivanja dobrobiti od šume i šumskoga zemljišta. U skladu s tim ...šumarski radnici, tj. ljudi s potrebnim znanjima, vještinama i sposobnostima, uz odgovarajuća sredstva za rad i predmet rada predstavljaju temeljni čimbenik šumarske proizvodnje. Stručno osposobljeni, odgovorni, savjesni i motivirani šumarski radnici imaju odlučujuću ulogu u ostvarivanju uspješnih proizvodnih i poslovnih rezultata te čine neodvojivu sastavnicu u suvremenoj, općeprihvaćenoj paradigmi održivoga gospodarenja šumama. Međutim, danas u svijetu stalnih promjena šumarstvo se neprestano nalazi pred izazovom osiguranja kvalificirane i održive radne snage. Nedostatak šumarskih radnika postaje sve učestaliji problem u europskom i svjetskom šumarstvu, a razlog tomu su različiti globalni demografski, ekonomski, tehnološki i politički procesi, kao i specifičnosti samog sektora. U radu se stoga, uz opće značajke šumarskog rada prikazuju neki pokazatelji stanja i položaja radne snage u šumarstvu Europe i svijeta. Posebno se obrađuju aktualna pitanja i problemi u regrutiranju potrebne šumarske radne snage (nedostatak radnika, manjak interesa kod mladih ljudi, starenje postojeće radne snage, šumarski poduzetnici, neformalno zapošljavanje i sl.) te određeni alati i instrumenti važni za uspješno privlačenje i zadržavanje šumarskih radnika (razumijevanje motivacije, kompenzacije za rad, obrazovanje i trening radnika, nove tehnologije i sl.). Svrha rada se sastoji u pružanju podloga koje mogu biti važan doprinos u unapređenju stanja i održivosti radne snage u šumarstvu.
We can define workforce as the totality of human physical and mental abilities that is used to produce use values of any kind. The scope or size of the workforce depends on the total number of inhabitants and their numerous structural characteristics. As an economically active part of the population, it is the most significant factor in the production process in all types of society, regardless of the changes that took place during historical development in its role as the initiator and bearer of the production process. Work in forestry includes all human activities that are necessary for the performance of planned forestry tasks, in order to achieve benefits from the forest and forestland. In accordance with this, forestry workers, i.e. people with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities, along with the appropriate work means and the subject of work, represent a fundamental factor in forestry production. Professionally trained, responsible, conscientious and motivated forestry workers have a crucial role in achieving successful production and business results and are an inseparable component in the modern, generally accepted paradigm of sustainable forest management.Forestry work, especially wood harvesting, is a high-risk, physically intensive and professionally demanding activity, which requires a qualified and sustainable workforce. However, today in a world of constant changes, forestry is faced with the challenge of securing the necessary workforce. The lack of forestry workers is becoming an increasingly frequent problem in European and global forestry, and the reason for this are different demographic, economic, technological and political processes, as well as the specifics of the sector itself. Therefore, in addition to the general characteristics of forestry work, the paper presents some indicators of the status and position of the forestry workforce in Europe and the world. Special attention is paid to current issues and problems in obtaining and securing the necessary forestry workforce (shortage of workers, lack of interest among young people, aging of the existing workforce, forestry entrepreneurs, informal employment, etc.) and to certain tools and instruments important for successful recruitment and retention of forestry workers (understanding of their motivation, work compensation, education and training of workers, new technologies, etc.). It is emphasized that the discipline of human resources management should gain a much more prominent place in forest management and become the main task of forestry managers in efforts to solve the issue of workforce sustainability. Equally, the forestry sector should adapt its policies and activities to global processes affecting the workforce, especially in terms of social, economic and other trends, through the development of new skills and technologies, the establishment of flexible organizational structures, reorganization of work, adaptive forms of employment, introduction of “green jobs” and other procedures that can contribute to sustainability and competitiveness of the sector itself. The purpose of the paper includes provision of basis that can be an important contribution in improving the condition and sustainability of the workforce in forestry.
PDF
