Naslov
Characteristics and drivers of forest cover change in the post-socialist era in Croatia: evidence from a mixed-methods approach

Autori
Cvitanović, Marin ; Blackburn, George Alan ; Rudbeck Jepsen, Martin

Izvornik
Regional environmental change (1436-3798) 16 (2016), 6; 1751-1763

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
postsocialism; Eastern Europe; forest management; deforestation; private forests; mixed-method research

Sažetak
Extensive forests in Croatia represent an important biological and economic resource in Europe. They are characterized by heterogeneity in forest management practices dating back to the socialist planned economy of the pre-1991 era. In this study we investigated the difference in rates of deforestation and reforestation in private and state owned forests during the post-socialist period, and the causal drivers of change. The selected region of Northern Croatia is characterised by a high percentage of privately owned forests with minimal national monitoring and control. We used a mixed-methods approach which combines remote sensing, statistical modelling and a household-based questionnaire survey to assess the rates of forest cover change and factors influencing those changes. The results show that predominantly privately owned forests in Northern Croatia have recorded a net forest loss of 1.8% during the 1991-2011 period, while Croatia overall is characterised by a 10% forest cover increase in predominantly state- owned forests. Main factors influencing forest cover changes in private forests are slope, altitude, education structure, population age and population density. The results also show that the deforestation in private forests is weakening overall, mostly due to the continuation of the de-agrarization and de- ruralisation processes which began during socialism.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Geografija

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