The total production of forest assortments in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 4th quarter of 2019 increased for 1,32% compared to the same period in 2018. Production of coniferous (softwood) assortments is for 0,36% lower while the production of broadleaf (hardwood) assortments increases for 2,83%.
Production of coniferous logs is 3,82% higher while production of broadleaf logs records increasing by 9,00%. Increase in production compared to 4th quarter of 2018 has been recorded in production of following forest assortments: in production of broadleaf other long wood by 49,01% and in production of broadleaf cordwood by 179,07%.
The fall in production has been recorded in production of coniferous mining wood by 1,08%, coniferous other long wood by 20,93%, coniferous cordwood by 8,31% and in production of broadleaf fuelwood by 4,43%. Other roughly worked wood and coniferous fuelwood are produced in small quantities and changes in produced quantities do not affect variations in total production of forest assortments.
Total production of forest assortments in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 3rd quarter of 2019. decreased for 1,14%, compared to the same period in 2018.
Production of coniferous (softwood) assortments is, for 8,20% lower while the production of broadleaf (hardwood) assortments increases for 5,73%.
Production of coniferous logs is 5,37% lower while production of broadleaf logs increases for 11,33%. An increase in production of 17,95%, compared to 3rd quarter of 2018., is recorded in production of broadleaf cordwood and 7,33% in production of broadleaf other long wood. The increased production has also been recorded in broadleaf fuelwood at the level of 3,19%, according to BiH’s Agency for Statistics.
The production decrease is recorded in the production of coniferous mining wood of 11,48%, in production of coniferous other long wood of 21,93% and 13,97% in the production of coniferous cordwood.
Other roughly worked wood, coniferous fuelwood and broadleaf mining wood are produced in small quantities and changes in produced quantities do not affect variations in total production of forest assortments.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, like other countries in the former Yugoslavia, is covered with the greatest natural resources, forests.
However, according to Bosnian experts, illegal logging is one of the main problems facing our country, and the consequences are felt now that we are suffocating in smog and polluted air.
Misconduct
Misconduct towards forests not only causes material damage, but also environmental, safety and health hazards. No one has accurate data on how many forests are “stolen” in Bosnia annually, but it is not difficult to assume that these are thousands of cubic meters.
The dean of the Faculty of Forestry in Sarajevo, Mirza Dautbasic, points out to Avaz news portal that the main problem is that no forest law has been adopted in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, which would solve the problem in a short time.
“It’s a political problem. Illegal logging only shows how irresponsible the state, as the owner of the forest, is to its most important natural resource. Illegal logging can be prevented within three days. It is known where, who and how they intersect. It is easy to solve everything,” said Dautbasic. Eco-activists also lack precise data on the extent of damage caused by forest theft, but they have no dilemma that it is mismanaged in Bosnia.
Anes Podic from the Eco-Action Citizens Association explains that more than two-thirds of the BiH population is supplied with firewood.
“This year, the price of firewood increased, and there was a shortage somewhere. We have data that about two million cubic meters a year is stolen,” Podic said.
Experts explain that the Balkan forests are still large and rich, but that they are threatened with extinction. Therefore, floods are predicted to occur more frequently, landslides are triggered, and oxygen is less and less produced.
It takes years to work out who will manage the forest resources and who and how much revenue is collected.
During this time, the state is losing millions, stealing on its own, organized, planned and mostly unplanned.
While some get rich in forest theft because there is virtually no law, others, such as former veteran Fikret Dedic, end up in prison for stealing three meters of wood.
