World Forests Day actively celebrated at Krka National Park

Of all the terrestrial ecosystems, forests are the greatest reservoir of biological diversity: a forest workshop was held for the pupils of the Tin Ujević Primary School from Šibenik in the centuries old forests of Oriental hornbeam and pubescent oak at Stinice.

Forests are the world’s most complex ecosystems. It is assessed that about 31% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface is forested, and that these forests contain more than 80% of the planet’s biodiversity. The theme of this year’s World Forests Day, celebrated on 21 March, is Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption. According to the principles of forest education, second grade pupils of the Tin Ujević Primary School in Šibenik learned basic forest etiquette, using natural materials, and became acquainted with the forest at a higher level through the senses of smell and hearing. Through play and talk, the educators of the Public Institute of Krka National Park stimulated the pupils to do some critical thinking, to contribute to better understanding the issues of forest sustainability, production and consumption.

“The educational forest workshop is a step forward in learning and interpreting nature and forests. The aim of this workshop is to offer children a true ‘first-hand’ experience of nature and forests, in an authentic locality with old growth pubescent oaks. One of the interesting tasks of the forest workshop is to learn about the bark of different trees, to get to know the micro-world of insects under tree bark, to view nature through the eyes of insects, to count the sounds and recognise the smells of nature, and to do fun puzzles and worksheets on the topic of life in the forest,” stated Nella Slavica, director of the Public Institute of Krka National Park.

Forests enjoy special protection under the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia. The overall surface of the forest and forest lands in Croatia is 48.7% of the terrestrial land area. The main characteristics of Croatian forests is that they are 95% natural, with exceptionally high biodiversity and 94 different species of trees.

Forests in Croatia play three important roles: environmental, commercial and social. Croatia has more than 250 years of experience in forest management, and this experience can serve as a model for other countries. The forests in Croatia bind 640 million tonnes of CO₂, regulate the local, regional and global climate conditions, purify the air and produce oxygen, prevent erosion and landslides, protect settlements from noise, regulate the water regime, and their tourism and recreational roles are also important.

In addition to being a valuable national resource, the forests in Croatia also have a commercial, ecological and social function. They influence the beauty of the landscape, and the development of rural areas. The way that forests are managed significantly effects the quality of the environment, and with that the health and welfare of humans. The understanding of the importance of forests and their value is constantly increasing, due to their role in the global carbon cycle and also their function in mitigating climate change and adaptations to these changes.