engleski

110 Years of University Forestry Education in the Republic of Croatia

1. International Scientific Conference » Challenges in Forestry and Wood Technology in the 21st century« On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of university forestry education in the Republic of Croatia, the International Scientific Conference » Challenges in Forestry and Wood Technology in the 21st Century« was held at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb, on October 17 2008. After the opening ceremony and introductory paper by the Faculty Dean, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Andrija Bogner, entitled » 110 Years of University Forestry Education in the Republic of Croatia« , the activities were performed in two sections – Forestry Section andWood Technology Section. 22 call for papers were presented by forestry and wood technology specialists, professors at the Faculties of Forestry from Croatia, several European countries and United States of America. 1.1 Forestry Section In the Forestry Section 10 papers were presented divided into four groups. Moderators of the first group of papers were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Igor Ani};, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Sc. Janez Kr~, and the following papers were presented: Þ Or{;ani};, M., Pentek. T.: The Past, Present and Future of University Forestry Education in the Republic of Croatia Þ Mati};, S.: Treatments in the Forest Environment and Climate Change as Significant Factors Contributing to Forest Dieback and Degradation Þ Stampfer, K., Kanzian, C., Por{;insky, T., Horvat, D.: Forest Biomass Utilization in Austria – State of the Art and Perspectives The second group of papers was modeled by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Karl Stampfer and Assist. Prof. Dr. Sc. Ivica Tikvi};, and the following papers were presented: Þ Diaci, J.: Close-to-Nature Silviculture as a Solution for Increased Societal Demands on Forests within a Changing Environment Þ Klimo, E.: The Effects of Norway Spruce Monocultures on Soil Properties and their Conversion to Mixed Forests Þ Kr~, J., Ko{;ir, B., Poto~nik, I., Pentek, T., [u{;njar, M.: Forestry Engineering in Central Europe – Present Status and Future Development Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Renata Pernar and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Davorin Kajba managed the third group of papers and namely: Þ Heinze, B.: Conservation of Genetic Resources and Breeding for an Uncertain Future: Support Offered by Molecular Biology Þ Dakskobler, I.: Phytocoenological Research in Forest Ecosystems at the Beginning of the 21st Century Þ Bon~ina, A., ^avlovi};, J.: Perspectives of Forest Management Planning Moderators of the last paper as well as of the discussion on all papers presented at the Conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Josip Margaleti}; and Assist. Prof. Dr. Sc. Tomislav Por{;insky. The last paper was: Þ U{;~upli};, M., Dautba{;i};, M., Tre{;ti};, T., Mujezinovi};, O.: Current Health Status of Bosnia and Herzegovina Forests at the Beginning of the 21st Century The discussion was held by: Academician Slavko Mati};, Prof. Dr. Sc. Emil Klimo from Mendel University in Brno, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Karl Stampfer from BOKU in Vienna, Assist. Prof. Dr. Sc. Janez Kr~ from Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Sc. Faruk Meki}; and Academician Midhat U{;~upli}; from Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo. 1.2 Wood Technology Section In Wood Technology Section twelve papers were presented: Þ Ljuljka, B., Despot, R.: Foundation and Development of Wood Science and Technology Department at the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb Þ ^underlik, I.: Experience with the Bologna Process at the Faculty of Wood Sciences and Technology at the Technical University in Zvolen Þ Molnar, S.: Development Directions of Wood Sciences and Technology Þ Guzenda, R.: Current Problems of the Polish Woodworking Industry – Perspectives and Threats Þ Vlosky, R. P.: An Integrated Market-Based Methodology for Forest Products Sector Development Þ Petri~, M.: Implementation Process of the EU VOC Directive into the Slovenian Furniture Industry Croat. j. for. eng. 29(2008)2 109 Editorial Þ Trposki, Z.: Improvement of Output Parameters through a Decrease of Costs of the Bandsaw Þ Babiak, M.: Trends inWood Properties Research Þ Horman, I.: Numerical Analysis of a Phenomenon inWood Caused by Heat, Moisture or External Load Þ Rapp, O. A.: Quality Control of Thermally Modified Timber – a New Method for Testing TMT Þ Smardzewski, J.: Anthropotechnical Aspects of Furniture Design Þ Welzbacher, R. C., Brischke, C., Rapp, O. A.: Performance of Thermally Modified Timber (TMT) in Outdoor Applications – Durability, Abrasion and Optical Appearance As the Conference was held on the occasion of a very significant anniversary of the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb, the celebration of its 110th birthday, it is the right time to recall its famous past, to consider its present and to try to predict future events so as to get the Faculty ready for them. 2. Past, present and future of university forestry education in Croatia 2.1 Historical review of forestry education in Croatia Croatia makes part of the ancient Mediterranean civilization that has been developed in these regions for more than a thousand years. This is why the effects of reduced forest cover have been first observed in the Mediterranean parts of Croatia. This encouraged the residents of coastal regions to protect forests by the first terms of their town statutes, starting with the 12th century (Nin – 1103, Kor~ula – 1214, Split – 1240, Dubrovnik – 1272, Trogir – 1322, Krk – 1388, etc.). At that time, knowledge was transferred verbally, and also in writing. The beginning of forestry education in our country was first recorded with respect to forestry school of 1646 in Blato on the Island of Kor~ula (this is the time when the terms of the Venetian Senate applied for Istria, Kvarner and Dalmatia). The first forestry schools in Europe were established at the beginning of the 14th century and namely: 1807 in Würtenberg (Germany), 1813 in Mariabrunn (Austria), 1816 in Tharandt (Germany), 1824 in Nancy (France), 1828 in Stockholm (Sweden), 1846 in Bánska [tiavnica (Check), 1872 in Florence (Italy) and in Vienna (Austria), 1885 in Zurich (Switzerland), etc. The first forestry experts fromCroatia were educated in Marianbrunn, Tharandt and Bánska [tiavnica. There were few of them in these schools, and yet they had a considerable intellectual, professional and patriotic role in the life of Croatia of that time. They greatly affected many events related to forestry profession and public life in Croatia, e.g. foundation of the Croatian-Slavonian Economy Society 1841 and within it the Forestry Department, which gained independence in 1846 under the name Croatian-Slavonian Forestry Society. It has been active ever since and today it is known as the Croatian Forestry Society. 2.1.1 Forestry education at the School of Agriculture and Forestry in Kri`evci (1860 – 1898) As a result of comprehensive activities of the members of the Croatian-Slavonian Forestry Society, and especially of Franjo [porer, Dragutin Kos and Ante Tomi};, the School of Agriculture and Forestry was established in Kri`evci in 1860. Three development phases can be observed in the school activities: Þ Phase 1 of Kri`evci School (1860– 1877) – the aim was to provide scientific education and practical training for young people who were to work as foresters with land owners or municipals or to get a state job. Þ Phase 2 of Kri`evci School (1877– 1894) – in 1877 the School of Agriculture and Forestry in Kri`evci was restructured for the first time, and in accordance with the new law it was named Royal School of Agriculture and Forestry in Kri`evci. Þ Phase 3 of Kri`evci School (1894– 1898) – with the development of forestry science and the ever increasing need of forestry profession for properly qualified experts that would be acknowledged worldwide, education of forestry experts became an interesting topic of discussion. Forestry Department of School of Agriculture and Forestry was globally considered as secondary school level, and hence forestry experts decided that it was the right time to found a Academy of Forestry at the University of Zagreb. The Forest Act of 1894 played a significant role for the termination of activities of the Forestry Department of the Royal School of Agriculture and Forestry in Kri`evci and for opening the Academy of Forestry at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Zagreb To be specific, according to paragraph 6 of this act on organization of the forest and technical department, all jobs above the 10th class of civil servants required academic education or university degree. All further activities were, therefore, focused on the foundation of a high-level forestry school – Academy of Forestry which was established in October 1898. 2.1.2 University-level forestry education at the Academy of Forestry within the Faculty of Philosophy in Zagreb (1898 – 1919) The Academy of Forestry was established on October 20 1898 (this date is still celebrated as the Day of the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb). With this Academy, forestry education in Croatia gained university status and it was the fourth high school of the University of Zagreb. 110 Croat. j. for. eng. 29(2008)2 T. PENTEK and T. POR[INSKY 110 Years of University Forestry Education in the Republic of Croatia (109– 112) Several significant events for the University of Zagreb and forestry profession occurred that same day: opening ceremony of the newly built Forestry Center and Forestry Museum, regular 23rd General Meeting of the Croatian-Slavonian Forestry Society, and installation ceremony of the new rector of the University of Zagreb for the academic year 1898/99. At the beginning of the Academy of Forestry, when it was a three-year study and when the Academy was strictly connected with its parent body, Faculty of Philosophy, the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy was at the same time the dean of the Academy of Forestry. When the study became a four-year study and when a two-year Geodetic Course was established in 1908, the Academy became independent and started to choose its chairmen (who acted as deans) among teachers from the Academy of Forestry. AfterWorldWar 1, in 1918 Croatian forestry was in a really difficult position. Political dependence on Austria and Hungary was terminated. To that time, forest administration was in the hands of foreigners, and in Croatia there was a serious lack of professional staff. There were even rumors among foresters that it was impossible to move on without foreign experts and that foreign forester who used to manage the state forests should be kept. At that time, Dr. Andrija Petra~i}; and Dr. \uro Nenadi};, who taught at the Academy of Forestry, considered decisively that it was high time to gain independence and educate forestry experts with the highest qualification at a Croatian faculty. They immediately took measures to restructure the Academy of Forestry into an independent Department of the Faculty of Philosophy. 2.1.3 University-level forestry education at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Zagreb (1919 – 1960) On August 31 1919 the Decree was issued on establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry of the University of Zagreb, which started its activities in the academic year 1919/20. The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry consisted of two departments: Agriculture and Forestry, and the seat of the Forestry Department was in the building of the Forestry Society. On January 27 1920 Dr. Andrija Petra~i}; and Dr. \uro Nenadi}; were the first two regular professors appointed for the Forestry Department, and on March 18 and 19 the first two full professors were appointed for the Agriculture Department. On April 10 1920 the teaching council appointed Prof. Dr. Sc. Andrija Petra~i}; the first dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The first teaching curriculum was approved on July 7 1921, and the subjects were divided as follows: mandatory subjects with obligatory graduation (state) exams, mandatory subjects with obligatory individual exams, mandatory subjects with obligatory lectures and/or practical training and optional subjects that were only recommended to students. The first scientific basis was changed in the years to come, and however until 1947 the changes were only minor. More serious changes were introduced in the exam procedure so that all exams were taken individually. The development of the Faculty was neither harmonic nor without problems. The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry had modest financial resources, and as early as 1926 there were signs in daily newspapers that the authorities planned to close the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in Zagreb. Such misgivings were confirmed by the fact that in 1926 and 1927 the competent Ministry of Education in Belgrade provided no funds for the Faculty and hence the number of assistants was reduced as part of economy measures. Pretty significant changes in the teaching curriculum occurred in 1947 and 1951/52. On March 11 1947 the teaching program was divided into two sections or groups at the Forestry Department (this was the beginning of the Wood-Technology Department): Forest Management (Biology Section – B) and Forest Industry (Technical Section– T). Biology Section was aimed at educating specialists for forest silviculture and management, and Technical Section at educating specialists for different technical operations in forestry as well as wood industry experts. The said teaching curriculum was developed at the request of the operating stuff who were the first to make complaints on this curriculum. Therefore numerous meetings were held within the Faculty, and then with the representatives of the operating stuff. In September 1951 an inter-faculty conference was held in Sarajevo between forestry faculties i.e. forestry departments on the territory of the former state. It was concluded that a forestry engineer had to acquire wide and comprehensive education in three groups of teaching subjects, and namely biological, technical and economic- organizational subjects, and at one or two faculties a special section was to be introduced for educating wood-industry experts. The slogan of the representatives of the forest operating stuff was » up to and from the axle of public traffic« . The Forestry Department of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry in Zagreb was divided into two sections: Forest Management Section and Wood Industry Section. 2.1.4 University-level forestry education at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb (1960– 2006) Due to ever increasing development of all sectors of economy since 1945, and especially agriculture and forestry, an ever increasing need arose for separating agriculture and forestry into two independent faculties. Consequently, as of January 1 1960 both Departments of the then Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry became independent faculties pursuant to the Act announced in the Official Gazette » NN« of December 8 1959. The Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb consisted of two departments: Forest Management De- Croat. j. for. eng. 29(2008)2 111 110 Years of University Forestry Education in the Republic of Croatia (109– 112) T. PENTEK and T. POR[INSKY partment and Wood Industry Department. During the years, teaching curricula were changed (some subjects disappeared, some were divided into two new subjects, schedules of lectures, practical trainings and field trainings changed, etc.), as well as the way and conditions of taking exams, organizational structure within the Faculty (institutes, department chairs, seats) and names of departments, etc. 2.2 University forestry education at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Zagreb in accordance with the Bologna Declaration (from academic year 2005/2006) In the academic year 2006/07 a new way of studying started at the Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb, and the new teaching plans and programs were created in accordance with the Bologna Declaration and the then efforts to restructure the university education in Croatia within a pretty strict framework that had to be observed. The Faculty of Forestry of the University of Zagreb consists today of the Forestry Department and Wood Technology Department. The Forestry Department is located in the new building of the Faculty of Forestry that has been almost completely finished after twelve years (the cornerstone of the new building of the Forestry Department was laid in 1996 on the Day of the Faculty of Forestry). Thus preconditions were created for further development of the Forestry Department of the Faculty of Forestry. With the aim of organizing and upgrading the teaching and scientific and research activities at the Forestry Department, the following institutes and pertaining laboratories have been established: Þ Institute of Ecology and Silviculture (Ecology and Pedology Laboratory and Laboratory for Forest Seeding and Nursery) Þ Institute of Forest Management and Remote Sensing (Laboratory for Measuring Forest Resources and Laboratory for Remote Sensing and GIS) Þ Institute of Forestry Genetics, Dendrology and Botanic (Laboratory for Molecular Biology and Physiology of Plants) Þ Institute of Forest Engineering (Laboratory for Technical and Technology Measurements in Forestry and Laboratory for Forest Biomass) Þ Institute of Forest Protection and Wildlife Management (Laboratory for Tree Pathology and Laboratory for Forestry Zoology) Þ Institute of Training and Research Forest Centers (Research Forest Facility Lipovljani, Research Forest Facility Velika, Research Forest Facility Zalesina, Research Forest Facility Rab, Research Forest Facility Zagreb, State Hunting Ground Opeke II/39 and State Hunting Ground Kalifront VIII/6). 2.3 Future of university forestry education in Croatia In order to provide in future the place that the university forestry education in the Republic of Croatia obviously deserves and this has always been a leadership position in the region and one of the leading positions among the university-level institutions in Europe, the following steps should be taken: Þ make a detailed analysis – objectively, critically and promptly, of the current system of university forestry education in the Republic of Croatia and determine problems and deficiencies ; Þ define different possibilities for solving the determined problems, deficiencies, omissions and imperfections taking into consideration the European and global directives for university-level education and forestry, on one hand, and on the other trying to preserve a century-long tradition, with all the features specific for the Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb and the Croatian forestry profession ; Þ select the most acceptable and the best solution, from all standpoints, of individually determined problems ; Þ appoint responsible persons for obligations, activities and tasks, and set deadlines for their implementation ; Þ establish and provide continuous monitoring of implementation of individual activities and define models and criteria for assessing their success. 4. Instead of conclusion 110 years of organized high-level forestry education at the University of Zagreb is a very significant accomplishment of which only few forestry faculties in Europe can boast of. University education and forestry profession in Croatia have been multiply, powerfully and permanently interconnected for more than a century. This is one of the key reasons of the actual beauty, naturality and quality of our Croatian low-lying, hilly, mountainous, Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean forests. We must, we want and we wish to leave immeasurable natural resources that we inherited from our grand-grand-fathers, grand fathers and fathers to our children, grand children and grand-grand-children in a better state than they were when we took them over, because this is our moral and professional obligation. In doing so, we shall rely on the help of awe-inspiring forestry tradition, forestry tradition enriched with modern knowledge of forestry science and applied in forestry operations by forestry engineers and highly qualified forestry specialists and experts, who graduated and acquired their post-graduate diplomas from our Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb. Tibor Pentek and Tomislav Por{;insky

editorial

nije evidentirano