Forest roads are simple construction units that enable continuous and unobstructed traffic of motor vehicles throughout the year, primarily concerning sustainable forest management. By establishing an optimal network of primary forest roads, if suitably arranged and laid out, they enable the fulfilment of the tasks prescribed by the Management Plan at minimum cost and with maximum efficiency.
The research was carried out on the forest road »587 B1 004« of the station label 15 + 20.16 hm in the hilly and pre-mountainous forests in the Management Unit »Belevine« of the Forest Training and Research Center Zalesina of the Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb. Two different ways of collecting field data were used to create the Main Project for the reconstruction of the mentioned forest road. The first, classical method included the use of theodolite measuring device, levelling device and other measuring equipment, while the Sokkia Series 3030R workstation was used in the second, modern way of collecting field data.
The collected field data were processed in the computer program “Cesta”, while the statistical data processing was performed using the computer program STATISTICA 8. Statistical analysis of the data collected by two different methods of field measurements revealed that there is no statistically significant difference between the data related to the horizontal and vertical development of the forest road »587 B1 004«. A statistically significant difference occurs when comparing the cross-sectional areas and the volume of earth masses and pavement structures, which is directly linked to the different way and accuracy of collecting field data when measuring cross-sections.
Keywords: forest road, reconstruction, classical and modern method, horizontal and vertical alignment, cross-sections, erath-mass volume

High quality of forest traffic infrastructure is one of the prerequisites for rational forest environmental management. Inadequate openness and unfavorable distribution of primary and secondary transport infrastructure leads to problems in management and increases the costs of wood supply. This paper shows the present state of primary and secondary road openness of the Management Unit Belevine, presenting the actual timber extraction distances at compartment/sub-compartment level, and gives a proposal for further opening of the spatially separated compartment 18 of the researched management unit. Compartment 18 represents the least open area of the Management Unit Belevine and it is also fully surrounded by private forests and agricultural land. Computer programs ArcGIS 10.1, and QGIS 2.14.3 were used for analyzing the parameters of openness of the researched area. The actual average timber extraction distance at the management unit level was 156.7 ± 127.3 m, with a maximum distance of 762 m and a total off-road correction factor of 2.02. Off-road correction factor at compartment/sub-compartment level indicated a wide range of data, ranging from the lowest 0.32 to the highest 3.25, which prompted the use of converting factors at the lowest operating level. After the proposed reconstruction of the dirt track into the forest road, the geometric timber extraction distances were reduced in compartment 18 (478 m →253 m), and in sub-compartments 18 a (373 m → 254 m), 18b (509 m → 214 m) and 18c (677 m → 344 m).
Keywords: average timber extraction distance, primary forest openness, secondary forest openness, GIS

Transport of wood is one the most expensive components of wood production. It usually consists of three phases: winching, skidding and long-distance transport. The first and the second phase of transport are the most important in terms of costs. They depend on the distance between the tree-felling area in the forest and the nearest forest road. That distance is the skidding distance. Determination of the skidding distance is very important for forestry operational planning because it is an indicator of forest accessibility and it is directly connected with costs. The skidding distance can be obtained in several ways: by on-site measurement, by calculation using mathematical models and by using GIS software like ArcGIS 10. Skidding distance can be defined as geometric and real. Real skidding distance is a product of geometric skidding distance and skidding factor. Skidding factor depends on the terrain slope and presence of terrain obstacles. Geometric skidding distance can be obtained by using ArcMap module of ArcGIS 10 software, and it is defined as the distance between the compartment centroid and the nearest point on the forest road. In this research, the skidding factor was based on spatial analysis of Digital Terrain Model (DTM). The real skidding distance, calculated using ArcGIS 10 software, was compared with skidding distances from Operational Plans for eight compartments in the Management Unit »Bobija-Ribnik« in the Forest Management »Oštrelj-Drinić« Petrovac. The skidding factor for the given terrain conditions in the eight selected compartments was calculated as the relation between the real skidding distance from Operational Plans and geometric skidding distance gained by ArcGIS 10 software.
Key words: transport, skidding factor, DTM, GIS

This paper shows a procedure of processing Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data collected by airborne laser scanning (ALS) for the urban vegetation area of Zagreb (Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square). Furthermore, the comparison between tree heights obtained from LiDAR data and field survey was conducted. For each tree in the research area, tree species was determined and tree height (m) was measured by using ultrasonic Vertex III hypsometer. Field survey included 146 trees (out of which 140 were Platanus x hispanica and 6 were Acer platanoides L. trees). The average height was 24.0 m, ranging between 5.60 m and 36.0 m. Average diameter at breast height was 74 cm, ranging between 8 cm and 160 cm. From raw LiDAR data, a georeferenced point cloud was obtained and classified into 4 categories using LAStools software, while QTM software was used for visualization. In total, 134 trees were extracted from classified point clouds. The average tree height measured from the point cloud was 23.07 m, while the minimum and maximum tree heights were 5.31 m and 33.34 m, respectively. Statistical analysis and comparison between LiDAR and field data confirmed high (correlation coefficient rs = 0.91; coefficient of determination R2 = 0.83) and statistically significant correlation (p = 0.000) indicating the great potential of LiDAR data for measuring and monitoring urban vegetation
Keywords: LiDAR, 3D point cloud, tree height, urban forests

Forest stand microclimate is affected by macroclimate of the surrounding area, but also by soil type of forest ecosystems, topography, tree species composition, age and structure of forest stand. Numerous ecological and biological processes in forest ecosystems are tightly connected with meteorological conditions and, therefore, it is necessary to know them. Microclimate researches were made in the area of the Island of Mljet. Microclimate stations were established at four locations, two in Aleppo pine forest, and two in Holm oak with myrtle forest. Apart from different main forest tree species, stands had different silvicultural form, tree species composition, stand canopy, age and structure. Air temperature (°C) was measured at one meter above the ground, and soil temperature (°C) and soil volumetric water content VWC (%) were measured at a depth of 20 cm. Average air and soil temperatures were the highest in the stand with sparse canopy stand in Aleppo pine forest. Average soil volumetric water content was the highest in the high forest stand with dense canopy of Holm oak. Analysis of microclimate in Holm oak and Aleppo pine forest ecosystems is used to better understand ecological conditions in these forest ecosystems and habitats.
Keywords: microclimate, stand structure, Holm oak, Aleppo pine

Sustainable management of commercial forests can be achieved within the limits provided by an optimal, well-designed haul network with low-cost roads and skidding. In this study, a weighted-graph algorithm consisting of nodes (candidate log depots) and links (candidate forest roads) was used to optimize the haul network. The value of each link and node was calculated for thirty six candidate road in harvesting units of an Iranian forestry plan. The analysis of the nodes revealed different skidding costs because of different skidding and winching distances as well as number of logs. Total skidding cost for each node allowed identifying the least-cost depots and designing the links as a support to decisions on road network location. Road cost depends on the length and longitudinal gradient of links, side slope of terrain and unit cost of link construction. In general, the construction cost of each link increased by increasing the link length, side slope gradient and longitudinal gradient. According to our findings, the nodes and links constructed on low slope terrain are the least-costly. The information provided in this paper contributes to the development of knowledge about the usefulness of GIS-based weighted-graph algorithm in determining optimal road network in a forest. Total skidding cost is less for a log depot if there are more marked trees in the related cell. So, if the number of marked trees in the vicinity of the depot is higher and the distance to the depot is lower, the total skidding cost of the depot becomes lower.
Keywords: Weighted-graph, forest road, log depot, least-cost, optimization, GIS

Innovation is the cornerstone of today’s business practice and a driving force of modern economy. At the level of European policy, innovation (integral element of the »Europe 2020 Strategy«) is considered to be crucial for the creation of economic growth and employment, and for the strengthening of rural area development. For many thriving companies, inovations are the key factor of their growth and development. The importance and role of innovations have also been recognized in forestry, and in many developed countries, different projects and actions are being implemented with the aim of strengthening the innovative forestry activities. This paper presents two programs aimed at awarding forestry innovations, which play an important role in promoting and encouraging innovation in forestry. One of these programs is the »Schweighofer Prize«, which represents Innovation Award for the European Forest-Based Sector. The other program is the »KWF Innovation Medal« awarded for the most innovative forestry developments/products at one of the most important forest technology events in Central Europe and one of the largest forest technology trade fairs KWF-Tagung (KWF Days) by Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik (KWF). The overview of selected programs includes innovation categories and prizes, nomination and evaluation procedure, and particularly awarded innovations, i.e. recent winners. In forestry, innovations are regarded as an instrument to improve competitiveness of forest products and services, strengthen the development of forestry and wood processing industry, and provide successful answers to the challenges ahead. By presenting two prominent initiatives for evaluation and awarding innovations in forestry, the paper aims at raising the awareness of the importance and role of innovation in forestry, and ultimately at encouraging innovation activities and development of innovation culture in forestry.
Keywords: innovation in forestry, innovation awards, promotion of inovation

In Croatia there are 1,305 registered Christmas tree growers and 358 ha of farms. In 2016, 2,574,212 Christmas trees (>20 cm in height) were produced. Our growers do not usually use tested genetically improved reproductive material that would provide stability of desirable phenotypic traits, which (among other things) results in large variations in the quality of their final product. However, for the production of ornamentally highly valuable Christmas trees, it is necessary to grow high quality genotypes in optimal environmental conditions. Only equal care for both components (genotype and environment) can assure effective production of high quality trees. That is why we decided to initiate a Christmas tree breeding process with the aim of creating and producing domestic genetically improved reproductive material.
This paper describes the phases and dynamics of the breeding process for our two indigenous species, Norway spruce and silver fir. Crown density, tree form, and needle layout pattern were selected as the target phenotypic traits. The criteria for assessing the target phenotypic traits, i.e. the criteria for the plus trees selection in the available base populations, have also been described. Candidate individual trees were selected as the plus trees if their total weighted phenotypic quality score was at least one standard deviation higher than the arithmetic mean of the associated base populations. The theoretical range of weighted scores ranged from 2.0 (2.6) to 5.0, where a higher score meant higher phenotype quality.
A total of 65 Norway spruce candidate trees were scored. The selection criterion was met by 6 candidates with scores ranging from 4.0 to 4.5. A total of 90 silver fir candidate trees were scored. The selection criterion was met by 15 candidates with scores ranging from 4.1 to 4.8. Selected plus trees represent the initiation of a core plant collection that will be used for further breeding efforts.
Keywords: Picea abies (L.) Karst., Abies alba Mill., reproductive material, phenotypic selection, plus trees

I ove godine u organizaciji Društva za športsku rekreaciju Salinovec te pod ponovnim pokroviteljstvom Grada Ivanca i Šumarskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu 17. i 18. lipnja u parku stare škole Salinovec održan je 3. hrvatski festival kiparenja motornom pilom. Festival su ove godine podržali Unikomerc-uvoz d.o.o., Hrvatsko šumarsko društvo, ali i Hrvatska komora inženjera šumarstva i drvne tehnologije. Zbog svoje atraktivnosti i izuzetne posjećenosti prethodnih godina festival je postao jedna od manifestacija kojom se obilježavaju Dani grada Ivanca u lipnju. Otvorio ga je gradonačelnik grada Ivanca Milorad Batinić, dipl. ing. šum., uz njega je govor na otvaranju održao i dekan Šumarskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu prof. dr. sc. Vladimir Jambreković, koji je istaknuo veliko zadovoljstvo što Šumarski fakultet od samoga početka podržava tu manifestaciju i pomaže u njezinu razvijanju te što se iz godine u godinu festival odvija sve uspješnije.
Svoje umijeće kiparenja motornom pilom pokazalo je pet natjecatelja iz Hrvatske, četiri iz Slovenije te dvojica natjecatelja iz Slovačke…

Od 13. do 15. rujna 2017. godine u Makedoniji u Nacionalnom parku Mavrovo održano je 4. međunarodno savjetovanje »Šumsko inženjerstvo jugoistočne Europe – stanje i izazovi« u organizaciji Šumarskoga fakulteta Sveučilišta »SS Cyril and Methodius« u Skoplju, Republika Makedonija. Prethodna takva savjetovanja održana su 2014. godine u Hrvatskoj u Zalesini, 2015. godine u Srbiji na Goču i 2016. godine u Sloveniji na Planici.
Nacionalni park Mavrovo osnovan je 1948. godine te je najveći od triju nacionalnih parkova u Republici Makedoniji. Prostire se na 72 204 hektara oko istoimenoga jezera u Makedoniji na sjeverozapadu države. Obuhvaća planine Korab, Dešat, jugozapadne ogranke Šar-planine, velike dijelove planine Bistre te sjeverne dijelove Krčine. Središnji dio parka zauzima dolina i slijev rijeke Radike. Mavrovo ima prekrasne bukove šume u kojima živi 60 endemskih vrsta biljaka, 140 vrsta ptica i tridesetak vrsta sisavaca.
Savjetovanje je održano u hotelu »Alpina« u Mavrovu. Sudjelovalo je više od 34 sudionika sa šumarskih fakulteta iz Skoplja, Sarajeva, Banje Luke, Zagreba, Ljubljane i Beograda…

Pojam šumarska mehanizacija, osim dvaju značenja: ‘prožimanje tehnike i tehnologije’ (mehanizirana sredstva za radove u šumarstvu) i ‘postupak mehaniziranja šumskih radova’, u posljednje vrijeme proširuje značenje i na značajke šumarskoga inženjerstva.
Godine 2017. pada vrlo važna obljetnica – pedeset godina od početka održavanja sastanaka na međunarodnoj razini znanstvenika i stručnjaka koji se bave šumarskom mehanizacijom. Prvi je takav skup održan 1966. godine u Zvolenu (bivša Čehoslovačka) pod imenom »Forest Machanization« radi okupljanja vodećih ljudi iz područja šumarske tehnike (strojevi) i tehnologije. Izvorna je ideja organizatora bila pružiti stručnjacima priliku da raspravljaju o šumarskom inženjerstvu ponajprije u vezi s tehničkim sredstvima i strojevima za obavljanje radova u šumskoj proizvodnji te produbljivati znanja i spoznaje pri izučavanju ove problematike, razmjenjivati ideje i popunjavati praznine zbog različitih razvojnih razina tehnologije pojedinih zemalja. U počecima su znanstveni skupovi obuhvaćali u prvom redu stručnjake zemalja istočne i srednje Europe, a posljednjih se desetljeća skupu pridružuju i znanstvenici i stručnjaci iz sjeverne i zapadne Europe te gotovo cijeloga svijeta i sa svih pet kontinenata…