OPEN ACCESS
NFM, Volume 39: 83–89.
Professional paper
Business Environment for development of non wood forest products in the Republic of Croatia
Stjepan Posavec, Martina Ravnjak, Špela Pezdevšek Malovrh
Abstract
The use of non-wood forest products could support development of rural areas and encourage organised picking, processing and development of new business activities, especially by small and medium entrepreneurs. Within the aim of business environment research for the development of non-wood forest products in Croatia, information about the business environment has been collected. Primary research about the processing of non-wood forest products has been conducted with the aim of determining the effect of business environment on entrepreneurship development. A questionnaire was used to collect data. A representative sample was made of business entities in the field of processing of non-wood forest products in Croatia. The response rate was 34.9 % (n = 22). Results show that the main processing products are mushrooms, medicinal, aromatic or spice herbs and other natural forest products.
According to the PEST(LE) analysis of (political, economical, sociological, technological, legal and ecological) business environment, respondents highlighted 4 factors of general business environment, which are relevant for the development of non-wood forest products. The most important factors are the economic environment (4.56), and political environment (3.94).
Keywords: non-wood forest products, business environment, PEST(LE) analysis