Imantas Lazdinis

Cooperation in private forestry of post-soviet system: Forest owners’ cooperatives in Lithuania

The current state of cooperation in private forestry in Lithuania is examined, with a focus on the analysis of objectives, organisational structure and the ways forest owners’ cooperatives operate. A postal survey has been used as a main research instrument, the questionnaire consisting of a series of multiplechoice close-ended questions. This paper provides insights into the state forest enterprises and other private companies operating in the private forestry sector, and places forest owners’ cooperatives in a broader context of the private forestry sector. A typical forest owner’s cooperative in Lithuania has up to 10 members and about 20 clients to whom services are provided. The leaders of cooperatives indicate that the optimal number of clients using their services should not exceed 40. The main stated objectives of cooperatives are the provision of services to their members under the most attractive conditions, uniting members, and earning a profit for the members. These activities of cooperatives revolve around timber harvesting and trade. It is concluded that the process of cooperation of private forest owners in Lithuania is rather slow, although positive development can be observed.

Forest sector concerns in the Baltic States

European Union enlargement will create a significant impact on the forest sectors of both old and new member states. In recognition of the importance of integrating national forest policies with relevant EU strategies, this study examines the forest policy networks in countries with economies in transition, and more specifically, identifies issues of concern in the forest sectors of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (the Baltic States). Results from an openended survey show that the three countries share similar forest sector concerns. Though the relative magnitudes of the concerns are similar, country-specific situations are emerging. A list of 22 individual highest-ranking issues of concern in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania was compiled. Main areas of concern are (in rank of importance): (1) forest legislation; (2) top level forest administration; (3) private forestry; (4) aspects of economics; (5) environmental considerations; (6) human resources, research, and education; (7) timber processing and trade; (8) public participation.