The Agriculture, Forestry and Food Ministry presented to coalition parties on Tuesday a proposal to establish a company that would manage state-owned forests. The idea dates back a year, to the aftermath of what was the worst ice storm in Slovenia on record, which destroyed much of the country's forests.
Agriculture Minister Dejan Židan wanted to set up the forest management company to better regulate the wood market after the devastating storm. The original proposal was however not enacted due to a change in government.
Židan, who remained agriculture minister, hopes that the company will be established by the end of the year.
The basic task of the company, as envisaged by the bill acquired by the STA, will be to manage state-owned forests, outsource logging services, sell wood and buy forests.
The company is to pay a part of its profits into the state budget, with the revenue going into the acquisition of forests, denationalisation costs and to support environmental projects.
The bill is expected to be sent into public discussion in late March, adopted by the government in early May and passed in parliament by mid-July.
Source: SloveniaTimes
Photo sources: Otroski-rtv, Dnevnik.si
