Key economic aspects of forestry development in the area of the Kolubara district

The Kolubara district covers the north western part of Serbia. A total of 62,330 ha or 25.3% of the Kolubara district is forest covered. Out of the total forest area, app. 18.7% are state owned, and 81.3% are private forests. The average annual volume of wood that is exported from the forests of the Kolubara district is 60,000 m³ of hardwood and 670 m³ of softwood. In the total volume of harvested timber, beech as a species participates on average with 60%. The aim of the research is to determine the amount of the purchase, marketing/ placement and price of wood and non-wood forest products (NWFPs) in the municipalities of Valjevo, Ub and Lajkovac. The purpose of this research is to investigate and determine the possibilities for the development of forestry, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises, which are directed towards the use of wood and NWFPs in the are of Kolubara. The subjects of research are: companies that do business in this area, the quantities that are purchased and marketed, the prices at which the products are implemented, as well as strategic documents of local self-government, which are important for economic analysis. The research was conducted in the territory of the Kolubara District, and covers 6 companies. Decreasing trends in the placement of technical wood with an average growth rate of -20% and stacked wood with an average growth rate of -12% of private forests as well as the declining trend in placements of beech logs for cutting first class with an average growth rate of -10% indicate that the wood stocks in forests is each year less and that they must be taken appropriate steps to correct the situation. The inadequate utilization of roe deer, as a resource, point percentages of realized shooting plans and projected revenues. However, it is present growth trends of shooting, with an average growth rate of 8% and placement of roe deer meat, with an average growth rate of 9.9%.