Review of Local Residents and UsersAttitudes Towards Nonwood Forest Products and Services with Remarks on Obstacles and Possibilities for Improvement

Ovaj rad objedinjuje i stavlja u međusobni odnos rezultate ispitivanja stavova dvije različite grupe ispitanika prema nedrvnim šumskim uslugama i proizvodima, služeći se metodom triangulacije (Denzin 1978, Denzin i Lincoln 1998, 2003 i 2005). Podaci su prikupljeni pomoću dva dijelom ista upitnika, s time da se s lokalnim stanovništvom razgovaralo licem-u-lice, dok su stanovnici Karlovca svoj upitnik dobili poštom. Uz to je ocijenjena povoljnost šuma područja Petrove gore za pružanje rekreacijskih i krajobraznih usluga. Rezultati ukazuju na visok stupanj slaganja stavova ispitanika ove dvije grupe te prepoznavanje važnosti ekološke i rekreacijske usluge šuma. Također je zanimljivo da obje grupe ispitanika vrlo rado i često odlaze u šumu, najčešće radi odmora i rekreacije, kao i zdravlja, a prilikom boravka u šumi gotovo redovno sakupljaju razne plodove i proizvode. Uglavnom su zadovoljni stanjem šuma, no to zadovoljstvo opada povećanjem stupnja obrazovanja, ali nisu zadovoljni stanjem i održavanjem postojećih sadržaja u šumi. Također im nedostaju sadržaji prilagođeni osobama s posebnim potrebama. Izuzetno dobru povoljnost cijeloga područja Petrove gore za pružanjem rekreacijskih i krajobraznih usluga može se bolje koristiti u promidžbene svrhe samog rekreacijskog centra, ali i kao dobru podlogu za privatno poduzetništvo. Obje grupe su prepoznale važnost šumskih plodova i iskazale interes za njihovim sakupljanjem te korištenjem, ponajprije za osobne svrhe. Za dobivanje potpunije slike, potrebno je provesti dodatna istraživanja s posebnom pozornošću usmjerenom na posjetitelje šume.This paper presents results of research project “Defining of values and possibilities of use for non-wood forests’ products and services financed by Croatian forests ltd. and executed by Croatian Forest Research Institute in cooperation with Forest District Karlovac (2005–2010). Non-wood forests´ products were defined as group of forest fruits and mushrooms, and services as group of social forests’ services (recreation and landscape). Method chosen for analysis and interpretation of results from two different investigations was triangulation (Denzin and Lincoln 1998 i 2003). First investigation was done with population of Peters´ mountain (2007–2008) using face-to-face interviews (table 4), and second using questionnaire send by mail to citizens of Karlovac (table 5) as users of forest services (2009–2010).This method allowed us to put results from different investigations into relation with aim to get better picture and understanding of investigated phenomenon. In addition the data on forest suitability for providing forest services were collected too. Those data were used for defining forest suitability for providing recreational and landscape services to users. Results show high level of correlation between attitudes of two different groups of respondents, and significant recognition of importance of ecological, recreational and landscape forests´ services (figure 1). Another finding is that both groups of respondents very often and gladly visits forest, mostly for purpose of rest and recreation, but also for health reasons (table 7 and 9) (Vuletić et al 2009). During their visits to forest they often almost regularly collect forest fruits, and they recognized this activity as very important for them (table 8). They are also equally satisfied with state of forests. However, the level of respondents’ satisfaction decreased with increased level of education. Contrary level of satisfaction is low when it is about state and maintenance of recreational infrastructure in forests. Especially they missed adopted infrastructure for disabled people. The forests´ suitability for providing recreational and landscape services is for almost whole area of Peters´ mountain excellent and very good (table 6) and we see this as a clear sign of huge potential for developing recreational activities and for use in marketing of whole recreational area. Also this could be used to facilitate private entrepreneurship development based on use of forests’ non-wood products for which the both groups of respondents recognized the potential. The local population expresses also interest to start private entrepreneurship where those which owned they forests were more interested in it. Peters´ mountain with the recreational center “Muljava” with numerous of visitors (table 1) presents huge potential for developing recreational activities based on collection of non-wood forests´ products which will motivate their visitors to prolong their stay in forests. The existing common interest for non-wood forest products and fruits should be used and connected through possibility to sell collected fruits to some of local collectors, which could boost the private entrepreneurship in these poorly developed areas with almost non additional investments. Although, for getting the whole picture of investigated phenomenon additional research should be planned and executed giving the special attention to concrete visitors of forests and this recreational area and in second hand to private entrepreneurs to find out what are the critical factors which can initiate or foster those activities