Forest significance in environmental protection | Značaj šuma za zaštitu životne sredine

Forests have a significant influence on human development and civilization and they are significant factors of man's survival and progress. Forests have an ecological, economic and social significance. The area of forests in Serbia amounts to 2,252,000 ha. State owned forests cover 1,194,000 ha or 53.0%, and private forests occupy 1,058,400 ha or 47,0%. Serbia is considered as a country with medium percent forest cover. Of the total land area 29.1% (in Vojvodina 7.1%, and in the central part of Serbia 37.6%) is under forest cover (according to the National Forest Inventory of the Republic of Serbia, 2009). The percent forest cover, compared to the global aspect, is close to the world total, which accounts for 30%, and it is considerably lower than the European percentage, which attains 46% (2000). The increase in percent forest cover, compared to the reference year 1979, accounts for 5.2%, which has had a positive effect on the state and quality of the environment in general. State Enterprise for Forest Management 'Srbija šume' Belgrade manages the state forests and woodlands on the area of 854,541.12 ha and performs the professional operations in private forests on the area of 1,029,022.00 ha. Over the past three centuries, forests have been managed by the principle of sustainable management (maintenance of balance between forest yield and forest increment). The principle of sustainability is the primary defined attitude on the use of natural resources in general, and it is the first significant contribution to the environmental protection and development. The modern principle of sustainable development has been derived from the principle of sustainable yield. The main goal of forest management in the Republic of Serbia forest regions is the long-term sustainable forest management. The long-term sustainability in forest management requires: long-term planning, rational utilization, continuous works on tending, protection and regeneration of the existing forests, together with the establishment of new forests, etc. The process of long-standing sustainable forest management involves: highly professional work, conservation of biodiversity, maintenance of forest soil fertility, increase in productivity and preservation of forest vitality, nature-friendly management, socially responsible activities and meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, as well as the bringing of positive political decisions. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF FORESTS. In the conservation of the environment, forest as the most complex ecosystem on the Planet, have an especially important role. In recent years, the trends show a significant awareness raising on the need to protect and conserve the forests, as the critical factor of the environment.