Suchergebnisse

Ambrosia bark beetles belong to a group of xylomycetophagous insects from the order Coleoptera, family Curculionidae and are characterized as important pests of oak timber. Galleries they form during their life cycle and infect with »ambrosia fungi« significantly decrease the economic value of oak roundwood. A state owned Croatian company »Hrvatske šume« Ltd. manages FSC certificated forests, where pedunculate and sessile oaks account for 22.6% in the annual allowable cut. Methods of oak roundwood protection, that used to be implemented in the past, are now banned in accordance with EU legislation as well as FSC criteria of forest protection. In these forest management conditions, it becomes necessary to introduce new biotechnical methods for oak roundwood protection. Available commercial products, flight barrier traps and synthetic semiochemicals, as well as pretreated insecticide treated polymer nets, were tested as means of integrated oak roundwood protection. Implementation of these products was tested in field conditions. Good knowledge of phenology of ambrosia bark beetles, thorough understanding of timber harvesting operations and field conditions that dominate in even aged oak forests, is crucial if applied methods are to be effective and taken on time. Field experiments conducted in this research showed that early seasonal deployment of semiochemically baited flight barrier traps can reduce the number of bark beetles that infest oak timber. It was also concluded that without additional protection with polymer nets, it is not possible to protect oak timber in compliance with strict FprEN 1316-1: 2012 E standards for oak roundwood classes, which do not allow any timber infestation in the highest quality grades (A and B quality class). Semiochemicals used as repellents during the research were ineffective. In the early months of spring, oak roundwood is at high risk of infestation at the roadside landings, where it is waiting to be transported.

This paper discusses the key issues of forestry workers training in Croatia, especially dealing with the providers of vocational training, their profile, training procedures and measures necessary for training improvement. A combined approach of literature review, internet search and questionnaire of training providers was applied in order to collect data on training programs conducted in Croatia. The research was conducted during 2016, and it included 94 legal entities authorized for occupational safety training in the Republic of Croatia, with respect to safe working practice training and vocational training for operating machinery (chainsaw and/or skidder). The analysis used basic descriptive statistics. Research results showed that 30.85% of the analyzed legal entities provide only training for safe working practice, 15.96% provide both trainings – safe work practice and vocational training for operating machinery, 5.32% of the analyzed entities provide only vocational training for operating machinery, 31.91% do not carry out any form of training in forestry, while 15.96% refused to answer questions. On the other hand, 15.56% of the legal entities, which do not carry out any training or did not answer these questions, have on their official website services posted for vocational training in operating machinery (chainsaw and/or skidder). The key findings of the conducted research have pointed out the great heterogeneity amongst providers of forestry workers training, and certain reductions or limitations in the current training programs, both from the aspect of duration of the theoretical and practical training, and the use of non-transparent criteria and standards in the assessment of training. As an example of successful solution in forestry workers training, European Chainsaw Standard model (ECS) is shortly presented in the paper. Discussion and conclusion sections provide an overview of legislative and organizational requirements for the application of previously developed European model (ECS) in developing the certification system for training of forestry workers in Croatia.