Our forests today, for a better and healthier society tomorrow

Zagreb, April 8, 2024 – This week, all roads lead to the Split-Dalmatia County, where the 6th International Rural Tourism Congress will be held from April 10 to 13, 2024. The Congress will host more than 300 participants from about 20 European countries. The fact that every detail works perfectly in the Le Meridien Lav hotel is due to the Organisers, Patrons and Partners, among whom is the golden sponsor of the upcoming Congress, Hrvatske šume d.o.o.

Population and general public of Hrvatske šume d.o.o. see as the main partner in the preservation and protection of our forests and the development of the rural community. The rural areas of Croatia have always been the link of the local population with the forest, either economically or related to the benefits that the forest provides them in their daily life. Given that the slogan of the upcoming Congress is "Sustainable, digital, inclusive", the scope of work of Hrvatske šuma d.o.o. is an ideal example. "Planned management of forests and forest land owned by the Republic of Croatia, which is based on more than 250 years of tradition, is the core activity of Hrvatske šuma d.o.o. As the public's awareness of forests as an important ally in the fight against climate change, but also as an unavoidable factor in preserving one's own health through the generally beneficial functions of forests, is growing in the public, we are also opening up to the public as a company that invests in other segments such as tourism, horticulture, nurseries, growing olives and figs, catering facilities, educational and recreational forest trails, forestry museums showing forestry throughout history and more. The forest itself is a tourist attraction. In a time when we live a busy lifestyle, creating innovative tourist experiences that highlight the beauty and diversity of Croatian forests is our goal. The benefits of forests in the field of tourism are considered to be the promotion of sustainable tourism, the preservation of natural resources, the creation of jobs in rural areas and the stimulation of economic activity through the various tourist offers, mentioned above", said Nediljko Dujić, President of the Management Board of Hrvatske šume d.o.o.

Few other professions from these areas can boast of a tradition longer than 250 years of continuous activity based on postulates that were valid at the beginning, and are still valid today. What is very important to note is that the foresters throughout that time maintained the forest - both qualitatively and quantitatively - not only as a source of raw materials, but also as a natural ecosystem in which all its general useful functions function properly. "Hrvatske šume d.o.o. in cooperation with other forestry institutions, they carry out activities that include monitoring the condition of forest ecosystems to ensure that they remain healthy and vital for future generations. All these measures are aimed at the idea that forests are not only resources for current generations, but that they are just borrowed from our ancestors, and our responsibility is to preserve them and hand them over to healthy generations to come," Dujić points out.

In addition to the many facilities they offer, when asked which are the most popular parts of the tourist infrastructure, the President of the Management Board of Hrvatske šume d.o.o. answers: "The most popular parts of the tourist infrastructure of Hrvatske šume d.o.o. include a variety of contents that attract visitors of all age groups. The offer includes catering establishments with the possibility of overnight stays and a variety of gastronomic offers with an emphasis on hunting specialties or those made from forest fruits, surrounded by the exceptional natural beauty of forests, streams and lakes. Hrvatske šume d.o.o. independently or in cooperation with partners, they created about 40 forest-educational trails that enable active exploration of the forest, including children's wooden playgrounds that provide family fun. Hunting lodges that support hunting tourism are certainly part of the offer. We also have two forestry museums in our tourist offer - in Bošnjaci and in Krasno. Both museums attract a large number of visitors, and the exhibition spaces are enriched with historical and traditional objects, photographs and records related to forestry then and now, with constant improvement of the offer in line with technical innovations. No less interesting are our nurseries with a large selection of horticultural trees, shrubs and flowers, suitable for arranging gardens and gardens, as well as hotel and apartment complexes, as well as our olive groves, the "Frančeskija" olive grove in Istria and the "Vlaka" olive grove above Skradin. in which premium extra virgin olive oil, already recognized on the market, is produced. All these elements contribute to the attractiveness of forests as a tourist destination and encourage rural tourism development", explains Nediljko Dujić.

In addition to all of the above, the mosaic of the work of Hrvatske šume d.o.o. it also includes numerous educations and educational campaigns and programs, partnerships with local communities, civil society organizations, and tourist operators in order to jointly develop offers and promote responsible visits to forests. And finally, the president of the Management Board, Nediljko Dujić, concluded: "Our primary task is the permanent management of our most valuable natural resource - our forests, because this is the only way we can achieve all the goals listed above." Our forests today, for a better and healthier society tomorrow!"