The Head of the Forestry Directorate Sasa Stamatovic said that changing the forest situation is a long process and best reflects the general state of a country. He presented the state-of-play of the forests in the country and pinpointed the most critical problems - old-growth, low level of increment usage of only 51% which is a sign of a low intensity of management. Stamatovic said that one of the basic problems is low forest openness i.e. scarcity of roads which limits movement and with it forest farming and fire protection.

Stamatovic said another problem is drafting planning documentation faster than cutting plans i.e. the inability of public enterprises to realize the planned cutting due to insufficient workforce. He announced a project in cooperation with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce to provide interested parties with free training or requalification for forest workers, adding that mechanization also needs to be improved.

The Committee Chairman expressed dissatisfaction with the current forest situation in Serbia, especially the low level of increment usage.

Committee members Dr Ljubinko Rakonjac, Mladen Lukic and Nada Lazic took part in the ensuing debate.

Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic proposed that the relevant authorities should undertake necessary measures to improve the forest situation. The Committee unanimously accepted the proposed conclusion.

The sitting was chaired by Committee Chairman Marijan Risticevic and attended by the following Committee members and deputy members: Dr Ljubinko Rakonjac, Mladen Lukic, Dalibor Radicevic, Aleksandra Jevtic, Zarko Bogatinovic, Nada Lazic, Arpad Fremond, Radovan Jancic and Jasmina Obradovic.