Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Policy change through the lens of private forest owners’ business cooperation: A case study of Slovenia and Slovakia Cover

Policy change through the lens of private forest owners’ business cooperation: A case study of Slovenia and Slovakia

Open Access
|Nov 2025

References

  1. Albulescu, A.-C., Manton, M., Larion, D., Angelstam, P., 2022: The Winding Road towards Sustainable Forest Management in Romania, 1989–2022: A Case Study of Post-Communist Social-Ecological Transition. Land, 11:1198.
  2. Arts, B., 2012: Forests policy analysis and theory use: Overview and trends. Forest Policy and Economics, 16:7–13.
  3. Aurenhammer, P. K., Ščap, Š., Triplat, M., Krajnc, N., Breznikar, A., 2018: Actors’ Potential for Change in Slovenian Forest Owner Associations. Small-scale Forestry, 17:165–189.
  4. Avdibegović, M., Nonić, D., Posavec, S., Petrović, N., Marić, B., Milijić, V. et al., 2010: Policy Options for Private Forest Owners in Western Balkans: A Qualitative Study. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 38:257–261.
  5. Bouriaud, L., Schmithüsen, F., 2005: Allocation of Property Rights on Forests through Ownership Reform and Forest Policies in Central and Eastern European Countries. Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Forstwesen, 156:297–305.
  6. Černač, G., Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2020: Analiza uspešnosti prodaje gozdnih lesnih sortimentov v gozdarski zadrugi lastnikov gozdov Pohorje – Kozjak. In: Acta Silvae et Ligni. Presented at the Acta Silvae et Ligni, 122:1–17. (In Slovenian).
  7. Diaci, J., 2006: Nature based silviculture in Slovenia: origins, development and future trends. In: Diaci, J. (ed.): Nature-Based Forestry in Central Europe, Alternatives to Industrial Forestry and Strict Preservation, Studia Forestalia Slovenica, 126:129–131.
  8. Dobšinská, Z., Živojinović, I., Nedeljković, J., Petrović, N., Jarský, V., Oliva, J. et al., 2020: Actor power in the restitution processes of forests in three European countries in transition. Forest Policy and Economics, 113:102090.
  9. Dobšinská, Z., Báliková, K., Jarský, V., Hríb, M., Štifil, R., Šálka, J., 2024: Evaluation analysis of the compensation payments schemes for ecosystem services: The case of Czech and Slovak Republic. Forest Policy and Economics, 163:103202.
  10. Dolenšek, M., 2021: Machinery rings. Ljubljana, ZSK Slovenia, p. 3.
  11. Ferlin, F., 2013: Development of Slovenian forestry sector after 1993 and proposals towards its institutional reform. In: IUFRO division 9: Forest Policy and Economics Research Group 9.06.00, Proceedings of 15th IUFRO Symposium Albania. Zvolen, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Economics and Management, Technical University of Zvolen 2014, p. 54–71.
  12. Glück, P., Avdibegović, M., Čabaravdić, A., Nonić, D., Petrović, N., Posavec, S. et al., 2010: The preconditions for the formation of private forest owners’ interest associations in the Western Balkan Region. Forest Policy and Economics, 12:250–263.
  13. Haeler, E., Bolte, A., Buchacher, R., Hänninen, H., Jandl, R, Juutinen, A. et al., 2023: Forest subsidy distribution in five European countries. Forest Policy and Economics, 146:102882.
  14. Halušková, L., 2022. The Slovak Forest policy arrangement: Post-1989 residues and changes. Journal of Forest Science, 68:395–412.
  15. Hartvigsen, M., 2014: Land reform and land fragmentation in Central and Eastern Europe. Land Use Policy, 36:330–341.
  16. Hrib, M., Slezová, H., Jarkovská, M., 2018: To Join Small-Scale Forest Owners’ Associations or Not? Motivations and Opinions of Small-Scale Forest Owners in Three Selected Regions of the Czech Republic. Small-scale Forestry, 17:147–164.
  17. Hrib, M., Hruška, L., Jarkovská, M., 2024: The potential of small-scale owners’ associations for sustainable forest management: the case of the Czech Republic. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research, 39:328–343.
  18. Hysing, E., Olsson, J., 2008: Contextualising the Advocacy Coalition Framework: theorising change in Swedish forest policy. Environmental Politics, 17:730–748.
  19. Iveta, N., Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2021: Activating private forest management through business cooperation between private forest owners and forest service providers: a case study of the Vodice forest district. Acta Silvae et Ligni, 125:39–52.
  20. Jarský, V., 2015: Analysis of the sectoral innovation system for forestry of the Czech Republic. Does it even exist? Forest Policy and Economics, 59:56–65.
  21. Jarský, V., Dobšinská, Z., Hrib, M., Oliva, J., Sarvašová, Z., Šálka, J., 2018: Restitution of forest property in the Czech Republic and Slovakia – common beginnings with different outcomes? Central European Forestry Journal, 64:195–206.
  22. Jenkins-Smith, H. J., Nohrstedt, D., Weible, C. M., Ingold, K., 2017: The Advocacy Coalition Framework: An overview of the Research Program. In: Weible, C. M., Sabatier, P. A. (eds.): Theories of the Policy Process, 4th Edition. Denver, University of Colorado, 402 p.
  23. Jeromel, J., Winkler, I., 2005: Zadružništvo in druge oblike povezovanja lastnikov gozdov. In: Winkler, I. (ed.). Prihodnost gospodarjenja z zasebnimi gozdovi v Sloveniji. Ljubljana, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za gozdarstvo in obnovljive gozdne vire, p. 223–234. (In Slovenian).
  24. Kovalčík, M., 2019: Sustainable Management of Slovak Forests with Emphasis on Economic, Environmental, and Social Aspect. Zprávy Lesnického Výzkumu, 64:1–9. (In Slovak).
  25. Leban, V., 2014: Efficiency analysis of forest owners associations in Slovenia and Germany. MSc. thesis, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Ljubljana, 165 p.
  26. Milijic, V., Rankovic, N., Nonic, D., Nedeljkovic, J., 2010: Organization of private forest sector in Timok forest area. Annals of Forest Research, 53:59–69.
  27. Moravčík, M., Kovalčík, M., Barka, I., 2024: Status and development of selected indicators of forestry in the Slovak Republic in 2023. In: Current issues of forest economics and forest policy of the Slovak Republic. Conference Proceedings. Zvolen, National Forest Centre.
  28. Mori, J., Kotnik, I., Lesnik, T., 2006: Možnosti sodelovanja Zavoda za gozdove Slovenije, Kmetijsko gozdarske zbornice Slovenije in Zveze lastnikov gozdov Slovenije za razvoj povezovanja lastnikov gozdov. Gozdarski vestnik, 64:476–502. (In Slovenian).
  29. Nichiforel, L., Keary, K., Deuffic, P., Weiss, G., Thorsen, J., Winkel, G. et al., 2018: How private are Europe’s private forests? A comparative property rights analysis. Land Use Policy, 76:535–552.
  30. Nichiforel, L., Deuffic, P., Thorsen. J., Weiss, G., Hujala, T., Keary, K. et al., 2020: Two decades of forest-related legislation changes in European countries analysed from a property rights perspective. Forest Policy and Economics, 115:102146.
  31. Niedziałkowski, K., Paavola, J., Jedrzejewska, B., 2012: Governance of biodiversity in Poland before and after the accession to the EU: the tale of two roads. Environmental Consetvation, 40:108–118.
  32. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2010: Influence of institutions and forms of cooperation of private forest owners on private forest management. Doctoral dissertation. Ljubljana, 240 p. (In Slovenian).
  33. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Zadnik Stirn, L., Krč, J., 2010: Influence of Ownership and Property Structure on Willingness of Private Forest Owners to Cooperate. Šumarski list, 134:139–149.
  34. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Hodges, D., Marić, B., Avdibegovic, M., 2011: Private forest owner expectations of interest associations: Comparative analysis between Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Šumarski list, 135:557–566.
  35. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Kumer, P., Glavonjić, P., Nonić, D., Nedeljković, J., Kisin, B. et al., 2017: Different organizational models of private forest owners as a possibility to increase wood mobilization in Slovenia and Serbia. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering, 38:127–140.
  36. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Laktić, T., 2017: Forest owners’ business integration as in the case of Pohorje-Kozjak forest owners society. Acta Silvae et Ligni, 113:1–13.
  37. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Avdibegović, M., 2021: Comparative analysis of regulatory framework related to private forest management in Slovenia and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Central European Forestry Journal, 67:197–211.
  38. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Krajnc, N., Triplat, M., 2022: Factors Influencing Private Forest Owners’ Readiness to Perform Forest Management Services Within a Machinery Ring. Small-scale Forestry, 21:661–679.
  39. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Uhan, Z., Krč, J., Krajnc, N., 2023a: Handbook for strengthening the private forest owner’s business cooperation, 1st ed. Ljubljana, University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources.
  40. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Uhan, Z., Triplat, M., Ščap, Š., Stare, D., Krajnc, N., 2023b: Willingness of private forest owners for business cooperation: current state and way forward. In: Deal for Green? Conference: IUFRO 4.05.00 & 9.05.03 International Conference, p. 155–161.
  41. Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., Avdibegović, M., Morelli, S., Paletto, A., 2024: Evolution of Private Forest Owner’s Cooperation: A Bibliometric Network Analysis. Small-scale Forestry, 23:393–421.
  42. Pivoriūnas, A., Girdžiusas, S., 2019: Changes in decision making and cooperation among forest owners: the Lithuanian case. Journal of Forest Science, 65:450–459.
  43. Plevnik, K., Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2021: Analiza delovalevnik, K., Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2021: Analiza delovanja zveze lastnikov gozdov Slovenije s ciljem njenega izboljšanja – ali obstajajo možnosti za vzpostavitev novih poslovnih modelov sodelovanja s člani? Acta Silvae et Ligni, 124:13–28. (In Slovenian).
  44. Põllumäe, P., Korjus, H., Kaimre, P., Vahter, T., 2014: Motives and Incentives for Joining Forest Owner Associations in Estonia. Small-scale Forestry, 13:19–33.
  45. Sabatier, P. A., 1988: An Advocacy Coalition Framework of Policy Change and the Role of Policy-Oriented Learning Therein. Policy Sciences, 21:129–168.
  46. Sabatier, P., Jenkins-Smith, H., 1999: The Advocacy Coalition Framework: an assessment. In: Sabatier, P. (ed.): Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, Westview Press, p. 117–166.
  47. Sabatier, P. A., Weible, C., 2007: The Advocacy Coalition Framework: innovations and clarifications. In: Sabatier, P. A. (ed.): Theories of the Policy Process. Boulder, Westview Press, p. 189–220.
  48. Šálka, J., Dobšinská, Z., Hricová, Z., 2016: Factors of political power – The example of forest owners’ associations in Slovakia. Forest Policy and Economics, 68:88–98.
  49. Sarvašová, Z., Šálka, J., Dobšinská, Z., 2013: Mechanism of cross-sectoral coordination between nature protection and forestry in the Natura 2000 formulation process in Slovakia. Journal of environmental management, 127:S65–S72.
  50. Sarvašová, Z., Dobšinská, Z., Šálka, J., 2014: Public participation in sustainable forestry: the case of forest planning in Slovakia. iForest, 7:414–422.
  51. Sarvašová, Z., Zivojinovic, I., Weiss, G., Dobšinská, Z., Drăgoi, M., Gál, J. et al., 2015: Forest Owners Associations in the Central and Eastern European Region. Small-scale Forestry, 14:217–232.
  52. Sarvašová, Z., Dobšinská, Z., 2023: Management in non-state forests in Slovakia – the role and importance of organized forms of management. Zorganizowane formy gospodarowania w lasach niepaństwowych Sękocin Stary (IBL), 13.11.2023. Available at https://www.ibles.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/II_1_Dobsinska.pdf.
  53. Ščap, Š., Stare, D. Krajnc, N., Triplat, M., 2021: Značilnosti opravljanja sečnje in spravila v zasebnih gozdovih v Sloveniji. Acta Silvae et Ligni, 125:25–38. (In Slovenian).
  54. Sonnhoff, M., Selter, A., Kleinschmit, D., Schraml, U., 2021: Forest management cooperatives and their development under uncertain conditions: a comprehensive analysis using an actor-centered institutionalism approach. Small-scale Forestry, 20:305–323.
  55. Sotirov, M., Memmler, M., 2012: The Advocacy Coalition Framework in natural resource policy studies – Recent experiences and further prospects. Forest Policy and Economics, 16:51–64.
  56. Sotirov, M., Winkel, G., 2016: Toward a cognitive theory of shifting coalitions and policy change: Linking the advocacy coalition framework and cultural theory. Policy Sciences, 49:25–154.
  57. Sotirov, M., Winkel, G., Eckerberg, K., 2021: The coalitional politics of the European Union’s environmental forest policy: Biodiversity conservation, timber legality, and climate protection. Ambio, 50:2153–2167.
  58. Stare, D., Ščap, Š., Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2025: Factors Influencing Private Forest Owners Decision-Making Rationalities to Implement Salvage Logging after Large-Scale Natural Disturbances in Slovenia. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering: Journal for Theory and Application of Forestry Engineering, 46:165–177.
  59. Štěrbová, M., Kovalčík, M., Šálka, J., 2018: Innovations in the forestry business sector in SR. Transfer inovácií, 37:52–55. (In Slovak).
  60. Stojanovski, V., 2022: Policy Processes in the Institution-alisation of Private Forestry in the Republic of North Macedonia. Sustainability, 14:4018.
  61. Šulek, R.,2006: Common-pool resources in Central Europe: Case study of forestry in the Slovak Republic. IASCP Europe Regional Meeting. Building the European Commons: from Open Fields to Open Source. Brescia, Italy, p. 23–25.
  62. Šulek, R., 2010: Principles of new forest legislation in the Slovak Republic. In: Šulek, R., Herbst, P., Schmithüsen, F. (eds.): Legal Aspects of European Forest Sustainable Development, Proceedings of the 11th International Symposium, Zvolen, Slovakia, p. 106–111.
  63. Uhan Z., 2022: Possibilities for the development of long-term business cooperation of private forest owners with stakeholders of the forest-wood chain in private forest owners’ associations in Slovenia. Thesis. Ljubljana, Univerza v Ljubljani, Biotehniška fakulteta, 89 p. (In Slovenian).
  64. Uhan, Z., Krajnc, N., Pezdevšek Malovrh, Š., 2023: Future possibilities for long-term business cooperation between private forest owners and forest service providers in Slovenia. Forestry Studies, 79:120–134.
  65. Vlahek, A., Damjan, M., 2024: The Denationalisation of Agricultural Land and Forests in Slovenia: Unfolding a Decades Long Journey. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Law, 19:347–382.
  66. Weible, C. M., Sabatier, P. A., McQueen, K., 2009: Themes and variations: Taking stock of the Advocacy Coalition Framework. Policy Studies Journal, 37:121–140.
  67. Weiland, S., 2010: Sustainability transitions in transition countries: forest policy reforms in South-eastern Europe. Environmental Policy and Governance, 20:397–407.
  68. Weiss, G., Gudurić, I., Wolfslehner, B., 2012a: Review of forest owners’ organizations in selected Eastern European countries. Rome, Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, 57 p.
  69. Weiss, G., Dragoi, M., Jarský, V., Mizaraite, D., Sarvašová, Z., Schiberna, E. et al., 2012b: Success Cases and Good Practices In Forest Owners’ Organizations In Eastern European Countries. Rome, Food And Agriculture Organization Of The United Nations, 38 p.
  70. Weiss, G., Lawrence, A., Hujala, T., Lidestav, G., Nichiforel, L., Nybakk, E. et al., 2019: Forest ownership changes in Europe: State of knowledge and conceptual foundations. Forest Policy and Economics, 99:9–20.
  71. Winkel, G., Sotirov, M., 2011: Policy changes and learning in the context of forest governance: The case of the European Union. Forest Policy and Economics, 13:241–249.
  72. Živojinović, I., Weiss, G., Lidestav, G., Feliciano, D., Hujala, T., Dobšinská, Z. et al., 2015: Forest Land Ownership Change in Europe. COST Action FP1201 FACESMAP, Vienna, Austria, 721 p.
  73. Act on denationalization of Republic of Slovenia, 1991: Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia. 27/91, 56/92, 13/93, 31/93, 24/95, 20/97, 23/97, 65/98, 76/98, 66/00, 11/01, 54/04, 18/05, 18/23 and 77/23.
  74. Act on the Regulation of Ownership Relations to Land and Other Agricultural Property of Federal Assembly of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, 1991: 42/1992 Zb., 93/1992 Zb., 186/1993 Z.z., 205/1996 Z. z., 64/1997 Z. z., 80/1998 Z. z., 72/1999 Z. z., 175/1999 Z. z., 456/2002 Z. z., 17/2003 Z. z., 504/2003 Z. z., 12/2004 Z. z., 549/2004 Z. z., 595/2004 Z. z., 595/2006 Z. z., 523/2007 Z. z., 571/2007 Z. z., 285/2008 Z. z., 396/2009 Z. z., 139/2010 Z. z., 559/2010 Z. z., 145/2013 Z. z., 180/2013 Z. z., 140/2014 Z. z.. 122/2015 Z. z., 125/2016 Z. z., 158/2019 Z. z., 158/2019 Z. z., 6/2022 Z. z., 257/2022 Z. z., 106/2023 Z. z., 205/2023 Z. z. and 26/2025 Z. z.
  75. Action Plan of the National Forestry Programme 2009–2013, 2009: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, 47 p.
  76. CAP of the Republic of Slovenia for the period 2023–2027, 2022: Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1496 p.
  77. CAP of the Slovak Republic for the period 2023–2027, 2023: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, 1111 p.
  78. Forest Act, 2005: 326/2005 Z. z.
  79. Forest Act, 2007: Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia. 110/07.
  80. Forest Development Programme, 1996: Official Gazette of Republic of Slovenia. 14/96.
  81. Forest Europe, 2020: State of Europe’s Forests, Bratis-lava, 394 p.
  82. Forest Owners Association of Slovenia, 2024: Informational Portal For Forest Owners in Slovenia. Available at https://www.slovenski-gozdovi.org/
  83. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023: Report on the forest sector of the Slovak Republic. Green report, 66 p.
  84. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024: Report on the State of the Slovak Forestry Sector in 2023. Green report, 78 p.
  85. National Forestry Programme of the Slovak Republik, 2007: Ministry of Agriculture of Slovak Republic, National Forest Centre – Forest Research Institute Zvolen, Slovakia, 63 p.
  86. National Forest Programme of the Slovak Republic for the period 2025–2030, 2025: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, 95 p.
  87. Operational Programme for the Implementation of the National Forest Programme 2022–2026, 2022: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Slovenia, 61 p.
  88. Pecurul-Botines, M., Secco, L., Bouriaud, L., Giurca, A., Brockhaus, M. et al., 2023: Meeting the European Union’s Forest Strategy goals: A comparative European assessment. From Science to Policy 15. European Forest Institute, 52 p.
  89. RDP of the Republic of Slovenia for the period 2007–2013, 2006: Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 355 p.
  90. RDP of the Republic of Slovenia for the period 2014–2022, 2013: Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ljubljana, Slovenia, 1102 p.
  91. RDP of the Slovak Republic for the period 2004–2006, 2004: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, 216 p.
  92. RDP of the Slovak Republic for the period 2007–2013, 2007: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, 251 p.
  93. RDP of the Slovak Republic for the period 2014–2022, 2014: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia, 691 p.
  94. Slovenia Forest Service, 2024: Report of Slovenian Forest Service about forests for 2023. Zavod za gozdove Slovenije, Ljubljana, 122 p.
  95. SURS, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2025: Available at https://pxweb.stat.si/SiStat/en (22.1.2025).
  96. UNECE/FAO, 2020: Who Owns our Forests? Forest Ownership in the ECE Region. UN, 197 p.
  97. VERBI Software, 2021: MAXQDA 2022 [computer software]. Berlin, Germany: VERBI Software.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/forj-2025-0009 | Journal eISSN: 2454-0358 | Journal ISSN: 2454-034X
Language: English
Page range: 307 - 322
Published on: Nov 6, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year

© 2025 Zala Uhan, Zuzana Dobšinská, Klára Báliková, Špela Pezdevšek Malovrh, published by National Forest Centre and Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.