Greece

OFFICIAL NAME: Hellenic Republic

AREA: 131,957 km²

POPULATION: 10,768,477

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Greek

CAPITAL: Athens

POPULATION OF THE CAPITAL: 3,154,000

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, historically also known as Hellas, is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas with an area of 131,957 square kilometers. Its population is approximately 10.7 million. Athens, the nation’s capital, is its largest city with approximately 3.15 million inhabitants.

Situated on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula, Greece is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranen Sea to the south.

Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13,676 km (8,498 mi) in length, featuring many islands, of which 227 are inhabited.

Eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2,918 meters (9,573 ft.).

CONTACT

Ms Rebecca Batmanoglou

Head of the Directorate of Planning and Forest Policy
Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy

E: r.batmanoglou@prv.ypeka.gr

Ms Konstantinia Tsagari

Director of the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems
Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER

E: director@fria.gr

Greece is a country in the eastern Mediterranean, on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula with an area of about 132.000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 11 million of inhabitants. Greece shares borders with Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. Athens is the capital of Greece (with approximately 3.2 million inhabitants). In Greece there are about 6.000 islands and islets, of which only 117 are inhabited, and only 53 have a population of over 1.000 inhabitants. The coastline of Greece is more than 15,000 kilometers.
Greece is a unitary state with a decentralized system of forest governance. Territorial reform in 2011 resulted in seven Decentralized Administrations.
The key forest-related function of the central government, the General Directorate for the Forests and the Forest Environment, is concentrated in the Ministry of Environment and Energy (ΜοΕΕ).
Nearly a 60% of country’s area is covered by forests and forest land.
The 40% of Greek forests and wooded areas are in Natura 2000 sites. All Greek forests and forested areas are primarily protected by the Greek Constitution. Provisions for sustainable forest management are included in the national legislation, which stresses the principles of sustainability, conservation of biodiversity and multiple uses of forest lands.
Forest ownership in Greece is mostly public, though there is a small portion of forests owned by Monasteries, municipalities or private citizens.
Forests and forested areas, are sustainably managed by Forest Services, through the application of Forest Management Plans (FMP). Provisions for sustainable forest management are included in National legislation, which stresses the principles of sustainability, conservation of biodiversity and multiple uses of forest lands. Special measures have to be taken for the protection of the landscape and conservation of biodiversity during the management planning and utilization of forest ecosystems.
The basic “instrument” for the management of forests and forest lands are the Forest Management Plans. The technical specifications of FMP put emphasis on the multifunctional role of forests as ecosystems and on the sustainability as a key factor for forest management. Towards the direction of the sustainability, ecosystem services and specific protective measures for the conservation of biodiversity during harvesting operations are taken into consideration.
For the period 2009- 2018, a proportion of about 40% of forests and forested areas are sustainably managed through the application of Forest Management Plans.
Issues concerning timber are governed by EU Regulation, (2173/2005 and 1024/2008), the FLEGT Regulation and its implementation, which establishes a voluntary licensing scheme for forest law enforcement, governance and trade in the European Community. Greece additionally, as an EU member state, is implementing the EU Timber Regulation (995/2010 ) on illegal logging.
A National System for the Certification of the Sustainable management of the forests and their wood products (in cooperation with the Greek Institute of Mediterranean and Forest Ecosystems) is currently being developed.
With regard to the management of forest fires, there are specific Technical Requirements for the Development of Plans for the Fire Protection of Forests and Forest Ecosystems. In addition, an Action Plan for the prevention of forest fires adopted in 2019.
The National Forest Strategy, adopted in 2018, defines the principles and guidelines of forest policy for the period 2018-2038, identifies specific objectives of this policy as well as the necessary resources and the means of its implementation. It also endorses the “Mediterranean forestry model” for the management of Greek forest ecosystems. The Mediterranean forestry model is a model adapted to the biotic and abiotic conditions of Greece, implemented at national and regional level, with clear technical and financial planning and increased flexibility, which will strengthen the multifunctional role of forest ecosystems.

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SLOVENIAN FORESTRY AND FORESTS

Slovenian forest in figures for the year 2016

Forest area:	1.193.284 ha
Forestation:	58.9%
Growing stock:	350.085.089 m³ (296.13 m³/ha)
Annual increment:	8.659.485 m³ (7.33m³/ha)
Possible cut:	6.444.924 m³
Total annual cut:	6.102.630m³
Coniferous trees:	4.013.145 m³
Deciduous trees:	2.089.485 m³
Realized cut represents	94,7% of possible cut.
Length of forest roads	12,085 km
Length of forest borders	cca 115,000 km

Forests cover around 60% of the territory of the country; Slovenia is the 3rd most forested country in Europe, after Finland and Sweden.

Approximately 11.5% of the Slovenian countryside is legally protected. Slovenia has 44 protected areas for parks, including 1 national park, 3 regional parks, and 40 landscape parks. 35% of the country is protected as part of the Natura 2000 network (sites reserved for bird conservation and the conservation of habitat types and species) and 50% of forests are situated in the EU Natura ecological network. Slovenia boasts 7,000 registered Karst caves, 15,000 animal species and 3,200 plant species, some of them are endemic.

Table 1: Forest area until 2014

Indicator	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Forest area (ha)	1,183,252	1,185,145	1,186,104	1,185,169	1,184,369	1,184,526	1,186,043	1,181,943

Forest Management

Slovenia has an established tradition of planned forest management. Modern principles of forest management in Slovenia are sustainability, imitating the natural cycle in forests (co-natural management) and the multi-purpose nature of the forests (the forests not only produce material assets, but also have environmental and social functions). Forest management is the right and duty of forest owners, while guidelines for forest management are within the competences of the Slovenia Forest Service, which in cooperation with forest owners also performs tree selection for felling on the basis of the National Forest Programme, Forest Law, and forest management and silvicultural plans. Report on the implementation of the National Forest Program 2007 – 2014 was made.

The main issues concerning forest management are:

• Unfavorable ownership structure hinders intensification of forest management in a way that some owners are not interested in income from forests because of small properties, which results in low cutting rates mentioned beforehand. Additional drawback is that the level of technology applied in harvesting is relatively low and that marketing of timber of small quantities is not optimal. Due to low intensity of management, possibilities to improve quality of forest stands are limited.

• There is increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters, causing windbreaks at a larger scale. In the context of climate change droughts are more frequent, following by bark beetle attacks and forest fires.

• Another issue in Slovenia are constrains due to Nature Conservation, having in mind that 50% of forests are situated inside EU Natura 2000 ecological network.

Forest Ownership

74% of forests in Slovenia are private property, 26% of forests are public (owned by the state or communes). Larger and undivided forest estates of state-owned forests enable good professional management. Private forest estates are small, with an average area of only 3 ha. According to the latest data there are already 314,000 (with co-owners even 489,000) forest owners in Slovenia. The large fragmentation of forest property and the number of forest owners and co-owners, present a serious obstacle to carrying out professional work in private forests, optimal timber production and utilisation of forest potential.

Forest owners unfortunately do not involve actively in the forest management planning processes. The scope and content of professional, systematic and more active motivation of forest owners for management and business co-operation have not achieved the desired results as such co-operation practically does not exist. Progress could be made by supporting producer organizations in the forestry sector arising from funds of the Rural Development Plan 2014-2020.

Growing Stock, Increment and Logging

According to the data of forest management plans by the Slovenia Forest Service, the growing stock of Slovenian forests amounts to 327,458,525 cubic metres or 276.08 cubic metres per hectare. The share of growing stock of coniferous trees is 46.50% and 53.50% of deciduous trees. There is an annual increment of 7,985,256 cubic metres of wood or 6.74 cubic metres per hectare in Slovenian forests.

In recent years, the felling in Slovenian forests has totalled to around 4 million m3 of trees annually, 60% of which have been conifers and 40% deciduous trees. According to forest management plans, the felling could be higher. Currently, it amounts to 70% of its potentials and 40% of the current increment.

Table 2: Growing stock until 2014

Indicator	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Growing stock (m³ per ha)	268.84	271.86	276.08	279.27	282.10	285.19	289.31	292.80

Source: SFS

Table 3: Relationship between coniferous and deciduous trees, calculated on the basis of the growing stock of species, taking into account forest management plans of forest management units of 2013 and comparison with previous years (as a percentage of timber stock) Source: SFS

Year	Coniferous	Deciduous
2007	46.7	53.3
2008	46.6	53.4
2009	46.5	53.5
2010	46.4	53.6
2011	46.2	53.8
2012	46.0	54.0
2013	45.8	54.2
2014	45.6	54.4

Disruptions endangering Slovenian forests

In addition to damage caused by weather (wind, sleet, snow), Slovenian forests have lately been endangered mostly by insects (mainly by bark beetles) that are the most common reason for sanitary cut (37% of sanitary cut). On average sanitary cut amounts to a third of the entire cut and in different years it ranges between 19% and 45% of the total cut. Such a situation reduces the share of necessary tending cut, thus making planned forest management difficult and at the same time it weakens the bioecological stability of forests

Carbon stock

By increasing the growing stock increases also the capacity of the forest to sequester CO2. From the forest policy perspective it is desirable to increase sinks of CO2 to a level that all other functions of forests are provided and the sustainability of forest management is ensured.

Table 4: Balance of carbon in 2014

Indicator	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Annual carbon sink in forests (million tons)	1.51	1.51	1.51	1.51	1.51	1.51	1.51	1.51
Storage of carbon in forests (including soils) (tons/ha)	219.7	221.24	222.77	224.31	225.85	227.4	228.94	230.48
Annual change of carbon in wood products	84.78	62.31	49.78	35.17	20.33	17.46	6.92	30.60

Source: SFI

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF FORESTS

The number of employees in forestry

The total number of workers employed in forestry, woodworking and pulp and paper industry has in the period 2003 to 2012 fallen by 5,800 to 24,000 in 2012. The most significant number of employees decreased in wood processing industry from 13,000 (in 2003) to around 9,200 (in 2012). Forestry has increased its share by 11 percent to 6,000 employees in the structure of employees in the whole forest and wood sector in this period

Contribution to the GDP

The gross added value of forestry in gross domestic product (GDP) in the period until 2014 was less than 1 percent. In 2007 it amounted to 0.5 percent and aftet that there has been a trend of a slight increase. In the period until 2014 has increased also the GDP per employee: from € 29 thousand per AWU in 2007 to about € 43 thousand per AWU in 2012 and 2013. Last year, the GDP per AWU decreased to € 39 thousand.

Table 5: Gross added value of forestry, Slovenian GDP, the share of forestry in GDP and GDP per person employed in forestry until 2014

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Gross added value of forestry (current prices) € million	173.1	180.9	164.9	181.5	207	230.4	250.2	235.2
Gross domestic product of Slovenia (current prices) € million	35,152.6	37,951.2	36,166.2	36,252.4	36,896.3	35,988.3	35,907.5	37,303.2
Share of forestry in GDP (in %)¹	0.49	0.48	0.46	0.50	0.56	0.64	0.70	0.63
GDP – € per employee (AWU)	28,673	29,050	27,252	33,900	38,348	43,106	43,004	39,318

¹ calculated from forestry GDP (current prices) and Slovenia’s GDP (current prices) – Original and derived data from the SI-STAT database (SORS).
Source: SORS

The value of forestry services has been growing. An exceptionally high value was achieved in 2014 due to restoration of the forest damaged by ice-break.

Table 6: Value of forestry services until 2014

	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Value of forestry services in € million	14.5	16.4	21.4	21.8	25.2	25.0	26.2	38.2

Source: SORS (EAF)

The importance of the forest-wood chain in GDP

In recent years the share of activities that are directly related to the extraction and processing of wood in GDP strengthened, except for activity C31 – Manufacture of furniture. Since 2010 has the total proportion of these activities in the national GDP increased (in 2010 the share was below two per cent, in 2014 it rose to 2.16 percent).

Table 7: GDP and main aggregates of national accounts (based on the ESA 2010) until 2014

Value added (current prices in € million)	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
A02 Forestry	179.2	177.6	162.5	168,7	198.5	199.3	208.1	234.1
C16 processing, wood processing, wood products …	273.0	243.5	202.4	202.8	220.1	220.8	219.0	246.6
C17 Manufacture of paper and paper products	180.1	157.6	192.0	147.9	154.0	156.0	165.5	186.7
C31 Manufacture of furniture	229.9	239.6	186.2	173.4	155.2	140.8	133.8	139.2
Gross domestic product	35,153	37,951	36,166	36,252	36,896	35,988	35,907	37,303

Source: GDP and main aggregates of national accounts (based on the ESA 2010)

Table 8: Shares of forestry and wood industries in GDP until 2014

Shares in the national GDP (%)	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
A02 Forestry	0.51	0.47	0.45	0.47	0.54	0.55	0.58	0.63
C16 Processing, wood processing, wood products …	0.78	0.64	0.56	0.56	0.60	0.61	0.61	0.66
C17 Production of paper and paper products	0.51	0.42	0.53	0.41	0.42	0.43	0.46	0.50
C31 Manufacture of furniture	0.65	0.63	0.51	0.48	0.42	0.39	0.37	0.37
Total C16, C17 and C31	1.94	1.69	1.61	1.45	1.43	1.44	1.44	1.53
Total forestry (A02) and C16, C17 and C31	2.45	2.16	2.05	1.91	1.97	1.99	2.02	2.16
Gross domestic product	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00

Source: GDP and main aggregates of national accounts (based on the ESA 2010), conversion of GIS

Felling increases

Since 2007, when it stood at 3.24 million m3, the felling increased to 3.92 million m3 by 2013. A record level of 6.35 million m3, which for the first time exceeded the allowable cut, was achieved in 2014 due to restoration of damage caused to forests by ice-break. The amount of felling in all other years of the reporting period has otherwise lagged behind the allowable cut determined in the forest management plans reaching only 65 percent of its value. The allowable cut in 2014 amounted to 87.3 percent of the annual growth assessed for the whole country.

Export of timber

The export of roundwood increases as a consequence of growing gap between the increased harvest and limited domestic capacity for wood processing. In 2013 the exports more than doubled in comparison to 2007. In 2014 exports reached record amounts due to increased offer of wood on the market related to the restoration of forests damaged by ice break. There is a steady increase in export of industrial roundwood (logs, pulpwood and other industrial roundwood), which represents three-quarters of it. Coniferous logs have the largest share reaching 40 percent of the export in recent years.

The increase in energy production from biomass

In the last four years the consumption of electricity produced from wood and wood residues fluctuated between 21,686 TJ and 24,423 TJ which is less as envisaged in the Action Plan ‘Wood is beautiful’, according to which the primary energy production from biomass should increase by 30 percent by 2020. In Slovenia, there is no regular monitoring that would clarify to what extent inefficient wood-burning stoves have been replaced with efficient ones. Based on the data of the Eco Fund grants to households for the substitution of inefficient heating devices with modern wood stoves, it can be concluded that energy efficiency has increased considerably offering at the same time business opportunities in the forest sector and beyond.

Importance of state-owned forests for forest-wood chain

Management of the state-owned forests has a significant impact on the establishment and development of the forest-wood chain not only because of their relatively big share, but more importantly because of security of provision of forest wood assortments to the Slovenian market. An important objective of transforming the system of management of forest owned by state is to achieve greater cooperation between stakeholders along the forest-wood chain and, consequently, greater use of wood in Slovenia. Uniform and transparent offer of all wood harvested in the state-owned forests, and the option of entering into multi-year contracts with the timber industry creates a new business environment that could significantly contribute to further development of Slovenian wood-processing industry. Therefore the Action Plan to increase the competitiveness of the forest-wood chain in 2020 in Slovenia named ‘Wood is beautiful’ (2012) envisages in its objectives and guidelines establishment of a state-owned company for management of state-owned forests instead of concession system that will be valid until mid-2016.

Untapped potential of wood and non-wood forest products and services

The forest provides numerous opportunities in other areas, such as hunting, tourism and recreation as well as crafts based on a variety of forest products. The economic role of forests can significantly gain in importance if the increased realization of allowable cut and more precise evaluation of non-wood forest products and services are taken into account.

FORESTS SERVICES

Forest services are gaining in importance and play a significant role in creating proper public attitudes to the forest, forestry and the environment. Public forestry service is performed in all forests, regardless of ownership, by the Slovenian Forest Service, while certain tasks of the public forestry service are also performed by the Slovenian Forestry Institute. Management of private forests is often ineffective because forest holdings are fragmented. Associations of owners, for which timber removal and other works in larger complexes are organised, can significantly contribute to better efficiency of management of private forests. The Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry should also be involved in the training of forest owners for reaching commercial efficiency for forest management. Large area covered by forests and the necessity of comprehensive direction of their development require highly competent and well organised public forestry service.

Slovenian Institutions associated with forestry

Governmental organizations

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food
Dunajska 22, 1000 Ljubljana

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food is the main political and administrative body responsible for forestry. Forestry matters are dealt within the Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries Directorate.

Responsibilities of the directorate are especially:

•   Monitoring and preparation of systematic legal solutions in the field of forestry;
•   Monitoring the economic impacts and costs of forestry activities;
•   Preparation of economic instruments for financing or co-financing measures in the forests;
•   Supervision of implementation of the Forest Act and National Forest Programme.

Forestry Inspection Service
Dunajska 58, 1000 Ljubljana

As a part of the Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Agriculture; Forestry, Hunting and Fisheries performing supervision of the implementation of laws, other regulations and acts in the area of forestry.

Slovenia Forest Service
Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana

The Slovenian Forest Service is central professional forestry institution and was established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia (Act on Forests) in 1993. It is financed from the budget of the Republic of Slovenia.

Main tasks of the service are:

•   Forest management planning, which are being elaborated and maintained for all forests regardless of ownership;
•   Silviculture and forest protection, where the main activities are elaboration of silvicultural plans, marking trees for felling and various forest protection activities including bark beetle control);
•   Forestry technique with main tasks of directing and supervising construction of forest roads and providing extension to forest owners for safe work in forests;
•   Wildlife management and hunting, including elaboration of hunting management plans.

Slovenian Forestry Institute
Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana

The Slovenian Forestry Institute is the central forestry research organization

Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Science and Arts, Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology
Novi trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana

With a 60 year history, the Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology ZRC SAZU is one of the leading biological research groups in Slovenia. Its researchers perform basic and applied studies of plants and animals at the regional and global scales. Within the institute are three topical units, focusing on basic botany, basic zoology, and applied biology, respectively. The researchers are connected internationally and conduct biodiversity studies on all continents, or provide, through regional applied studies, important guidelines for landscape planning for various clients. The researchers also help teach courses and mentor students at universities in Europe, USA and China.

Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewal of Forest Resources
Večna pot 83, 1000 Ljubljana,

The Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources is the only institution in Slovenia that offers undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (MSc and PhD) studies in forestry. The teaching process is organized by chairs, which also represent research groups. Work with foreign students is based on mentoring and individual consultancy and is tailored to the individual’s level of knowledge.

SIDG – Slovenia State Forests PLC

Rožna ulica 39, 1330 Kočevje

A new Slovenian state-owned company, Slovenski državni gozdovi d.o.o. (SiDG), has been established by a state forest management law approved by the government on 14 October 2015 and subsequently adopted by the Slovenian Parliament on 2 February 2016. Shortly afterwards the new company was registered (17 March). State forests were earlier managed by the Fund for Agricultural Land and Forests of the Republic of Slovenia

Non-governmental organizations

Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry of Slovenia
Celovška 135, 1000 Ljubljana

The Chamber officially represents forest owners and provides extension service. Membership in this organization is mandatory for land owners over certain size of property.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
Dimičeva 13, 1504 Ljubljana

Branch associations:
•   Furniture and Wood Processing Association
•   Forestry Association,
•   Metal processing association,

Federation of Forest Associations of Slovenia
Večna pot 2, 1000 Ljubljana

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Greece

CONTACT

SLOVENIAN FORESTRY AND FORESTS

Slovenian forest in figures for the year 2016

Forest Management

Forest Ownership

Growing Stock, Increment and Logging

Disruptions endangering Slovenian forests

Carbon stock

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF FORESTS

The number of employees in forestry

Contribution to the GDP

The importance of the forest-wood chain in GDP

Felling increases

Export of timber

The increase in energy production from biomass

Importance of state-owned forests for forest-wood chain

Untapped potential of wood and non-wood forest products and services

FORESTS SERVICES

Slovenian Institutions associated with forestry

Governmental organizations

Non-governmental organizations

Stay informed

About China and CEEC FORESTRY

Contact

Greece

GENERAL INFORMATION

CONTACT

SLOVENIAN FORESTRY AND FORESTS

Slovenian forest in figures for the year 2016

Forest Management

Forest Ownership

Growing Stock, Increment and Logging

Disruptions endangering Slovenian forests

Carbon stock

ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF FORESTS

The number of employees in forestry

Contribution to the GDP

The importance of the forest-wood chain in GDP

Felling increases

Export of timber

The increase in energy production from biomass

Importance of state-owned forests for forest-wood chain

Untapped potential of wood and non-wood forest products and services

FORESTS SERVICES

Slovenian Institutions associated with forestry

Governmental organizations

Non-governmental organizations

Stay informed

​​​​​​​About China and CEEC FORESTRY

Contact

About China and CEEC FORESTRY