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The Mediterranean forest region has been exposed to anthropogenic impacts for centuries, and the constant biotic and abiotic factors, together with increasing climate change, have hindered the proper management of forest ecosystems. This study presents the results of multiyear, systematic, specific and practical monitoring of the conversion of holm oak coppices using the principles of the shelterwood system. It also presents the growth and development dynamics of the stand on a permanent experimental plot from 1997 to 2017. The research was performed in the Eumediterranean vegetation zone of coniferous forest (Forest Management, Buzet branch, Pula Forestry Office, Magran Cuf management unit, compartment 83a). The plot has all the properties of a holm oak and manna ash forests (Orno-Quercetum ilicis H-ić/1956/1958). The basic elements of stand structure were monitored: diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, horizontal crown projection, crown ground shading (light) and the appearance and abundance of all woody vegetation, with special emphasis on the growth and development of young generations of holm oak from seed. The paper also describes the threats limiting growth, development and survival of holm oak from seed (strong shooting tendencies of coppiced holm oak and bay laurel trees, excessive presence of shrubs). Forest management requires effective, timely and repeated tending to thin stands (already under the canopy), while also protecting young trees from wild game. The statistical method of interpolation determined the trends of stand development; trend equation with coefficient of determination (R2) is very high. This indicates the growth and development of the stand in the direction of renewal of holm oak stands. Shelterwood cutting, with regular and timely tending of young generations of trees through a seven-year regeneration period, resulted in a high quality young high forest of holm oak, the first of its kind in the broader Mediterranean area. The indigenous stands of holm oak, as the fundamental climatogenic coniferous species of the Mediterranean species, have multiple roles such as protection from erosion, resilience to biotic and abiotic factors and forest fires, tourism and landscape functions, and other general forest functions, and therefore deserve intensive and ongoing research. Holm oak stands also play a part in conserving genetic and biological diversity, the potential and persistence of forest ecosystems, improving stand structure, stability and resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change, and in the long-term increase the commercial value of forest stands in the Croatian Mediterranean.

The aim of this research is to compare the results of measuring the annual ring width of Douglas fir wood by the visual (non-destructive) method and using the Resi 500 resistograph, ie the destructive method. Two visual methods were used in this research, the first of which is based on measuring the annual ring width with a magnifying glass magnification 10 times, and the second method is based on image processing in the CDendro program. After a detailed statistical analysis of the obtained measurement results of the annual ring width, the differences in the measurement results were tested for the purpose of comparing the destructive and non-destructive methods.

The article seeks to determine the features of traditional architecture in Croatia as a continuation of the last year's research of the same title in the Posavina region (Lozančić et al., 2020). This research is focused on the Zagorje region and defines the aesthetic characteristics of traditionally built houses. An analysis of building features of traditional structures in the Kumrovec area was carried out with the help of various literature and collected photographs. The data and answers of several interviewed experts in the field of traditional heritage, construction, and interior design were obtained. The presented data will serve as the main and continuous inspiration for the design of a small and movable contemporary public facility (stand) based on stylistic, aesthetic, and structural wooden components of Croatian traditional buildings.

Istraživane su terenske i sastojinske prilike gospodarskih državnih i privatnih šuma iz dostupnih prostornih podataka koje će potom omogućiti stvaranje osnovice za razredbu terena za potrebe pridobivanja drva i otvaranja šuma. S gledišta pridobivanja drva te kao gospodarski najznačajnije šume izdvojena su i prikazana četiri bioklimata: 1) bioklimat jelovih, bukovo-jelovih i smrekovih šuma, 2) bioklimat brdskih bukovih šuma, 3) bioklimat bežuljkastih šuma hrasta kitnjaka te 4) bioklimat nizinskih šuma hrasta lužnjaka i poplavnih šuma. Na tim su područjima određene ove terenske i sastojinske značajke: 1) nagib terena i stjenovitost tla (pokrivenost površine), 2) način vlaženja tla i rizik od erozije tla vodom, 3) drvna zaliha, 4) stupanj razvedenosti šumskih cesta i 5) srednja udaljenost privlačenja drva kao pokazatelj otvorenosti šuma. Provedene analize mreže šumskih cesta pokazale su da postoji statistički značajna razlika između cesta bioklimata nizinskih šuma hrasta lužnjaka i poplavnih šuma te bioklimata brežuljkastih šuma hrasta kitnjaka u odnosu na ostale bioklimate. Analize šumskih cesta po pojedinom bioklimatu treba promatrati u sklopu ostalih terenskih čimbenika, kao što su stjenovitost terena te stvarnoga rizika od erozije tla vodom, koji će svoj utjecaj, uz nagib terena, iskazati pri planiranju budućih trasa šumskih cesta. Povezivanjem značajki terena započeto je stvaranje primjenjive razredbe terena za uvjete hrvatskoga šumarstva kao važnoga logičkoga alatu pri gospodarenju šumama i planiranju radova u šumarstvu, osobito u pridobivanju drva i otvaranju šuma.

Croatia joined the Bologna process in 2001 and has been an active participant ever since. All study programmes have been aligned with the Bologna structure in 2005, and all students graduating in Croatia from these programmes receive ECTS credits and are entitled to diploma supplements. This article presents an analysis of the number of enrolled students of various study programmes at the Faculty of Forestry in Zagreb since academic year 2005/06. The base for these analysis are data of the number of students gathered from Information System of Higher Education Institutions (ISVU) for students of various undergraduate study programmes and specially for two wood technology graduate programmes. Correspondence analysis was performed for students enrolled in undergraduate programmes. Time series data analysis was performed for three wood technology study programmes.

The European field elm (Ulmus minor Mill. sensu latissimo) is an important forest tree species, distributed mainly across southern Europe, where it grows as a common member of lowland pedunculate oak forests. Supplementary to the fact that it has been highly valued for its durable and resistant wood, use of its leaves and fruits as a cattle fodder and even for human nutrition has also been documented. Recently, U. minor s.l. populations were severely affected by numerous negative impacts that resulted in reduction of species adaptation potential. Flooding mitigation activities, disturbance of moisture regimes and modification of soil properties had profoundly adverse effects on ecological stability of floodplain forest sites. Moreover, devastating consequences of Dutch elm disease pandemics are evident through strikingly small number of the adult trees remaining in the field. Acknowledging that U. minor s.l. is generally sexual species with significant vegetative reproduction potential, decrease in the number of fructificating trees enabled change in reproduction system prioritizing from generative to vegetative way of spread. Prevalence of asexual way of reproduction is higher in populations hardly hit by DED phytopathogen, which are, due to higher incidence of disease vectors - elm bark beetles, mostly found in continental rather than in Mediterranean stands. The aim of this study was to reveal fruit outline shape variability in natural populations of U. minor s.l. from continental part of Croatia using elliptic Fourier descriptors. Solely simmetrycal shape variability elements of total 1000 fruit outlines were subjected to consecutive shape analyses. Matrix of Fourier coefficients was generated upon 20 harmonics and each outline was defined by 77 elliptic Forier coefficients. We found geometric morphometrics to be exceptionally applicable tool in expressing trends of morphological variation of elm fruit shapes. By applying Principal Component Analysis, three shape variables were obtained from the variance- covariance matrix. Proportional explained variance for the first, the second and the third principal component was 75, 3% ; 13, 1% and 4, 6% respectively. Analysis of variance, performed on PC scores, showed that all trees within populations differed significantly for every principal component inspected. Separation between four populations on the basis of the first principal component was corroborated. Likewise, significant deviation between three population pairs for the second principal component was also established. Nothwithstanding the fact capacity for sexual reproduction in elms due to DED is constantly decreasing, in this research we report high variability of fruit shapes in U. minor s.l. natural populations.

Nizinski brijest (Ulmus minor s.l.), plemenita listača nizinskih šuma Europe, odlikuje se sposobnošću generativnog i vegetativnog načina razmnožavanja. Iako je u prošlosti smatran primarno seksualnom vrstom, U. minor s.l. trenutno preferira vegetativni način razmnožavanja, te se u nekoj mjeri može smatrati i klonalnom vrstom. Razlozi za promjenu načina razmnožavanja mogu se pronaći u masivnom odumiranju adultnih stabala na terenu uslijed pojave holandske bolesti brijesta, kao i uništavanju staništa uslijed hidroregulacijskih zahvata. Nizak urod sjemena, visok udio šturih plodova, sterilnost ženskih cvjetnih dijelova i partenokarpija česte su pojave u populacijama nizinskog brijesta. U malim i fragmentiranim populacijama dominira aseksualni način širenja putem tjeranja iz žilja. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi varijabilnost kontura oblika plodova u prirodnim populacijama U. minor s.l. na području hrvatskog Sredozemlja putem eliptičkih Fourierovih deskriptora. Istraživanjem su obuhvaćeni isključivo simetrični elementi varijabilnosti, utvrđeni na 750 kontura plodova. Matrica Fourierovih koeficijenata uspostavljena je temeljem 20 harmonika, dok je svaka kontura bila opisana preko 77 eliptičkih Fourierovih koeficijenata. Eliptički Fourierovi deskriptori mogu poslužiti kao vrlo praktični alat velike osjetljivosti pri opisivanju morfološkog obrasca varijabilnosti oblika plodova brijesta. Korištenjem analize glavnih komponenti, a na temelju varijanca-kovarijanca matrice, generirane su četiri oblične varijable. Udio objašnjene varijance za prvu glavnu komponentu iznosio je 65, 2% , odnosno 14, 6% za drugu glavnu komponentu. Kumulativni doprinos svih četiriju glavnih komponenti u ukupnoj varijanci iznosio je više od 93, 3%. Prema rezultatima analize varijance, provedene na skorovima glavnih komponenti, sva stabla unutar populacija su se međusobno značajno razlikovala, i to za sve promatrane glavne komponente. Utvrđena je i signifikantna razlika u drugoj glavnoj komponenti između jednog para populacija.

Someone would agree that good financial reporting would have played a vital role in preventing the collapse of any business entity. Financial analysis of every business entity refers to an assessment of stability and profitability of business and it is performed by report documents in which information taken from financials systems and other company’s reports are used. Knowledge of the selected financial indicators is very important especially in business to business operations and at searching for fresh capital on the market, as this greatly reduces business risk. Financial indicators must enable to assess past business performance to business partners and owners in order to create expectations about the future performance of the company. The aim of this paper is to analyse financial aspects of the Croatian furniture manufacturing industry for the 6-year period (from 2008 to 2014).

This paper discuss a possibility to predict trends in production of industrial round wood in SEE* region (Croatia and surrounding countries) on the basis of established values of IRW production in period 1993-2013.

On the basis of established values for period 1993-2013, in this paper we discuss a possibility to predict trends in production of industrial round wood in Croatia and surrounding countries. The data of production values of industrial round wood through analyzed period are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and FAO base. In order to predict a future trends of industrial round wood production for Croatia and surrounding countries, dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed. Prediction is limited to year 2020, because of turbulences in this market and the length of analyzed time series.

On the basis of established values for period 1993-2013, in this paper we discuss a possibility to forecast trends in production of industrial round wood in the part of South-East Europe. The data of production values of industrial round wood through analyzed period are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Statistics Division (FAO base). In order to predict the future trends of industrial round wood production for some countries from SEE region, dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed. Because of turbulences in this region of South-East Europe and the length of analyzed time series, prediction is limited to year 2020.

Intensive competition, as a result of a globalization leads us to the necessity of looking at the current market situation, in order to predict the situation in the future. In this dynamic conditions it is necessary to use the economic theory for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of markets by interpreting the economic data and forecasting the future economic values. It is known that a major part of forest product entering an international markets are in the form of raw material and /or semifinal products. Further more, it is significant that the ratio of wood raw material exports to production is generally higher among the secondary/final wood products. Tradition in wood processing based on increased domestic wood material production, the quality of raw material and a rising trend in the use of wood as an ecological and renewable material which leads to increasement of production and total income are common elements in all Southeastern European countries when talking about wood industry. The aim of this paper was to determine wood raw material consumption trends based on so-called apparent consumption and to present a future scenarios of wodd raw material consumption in Southeastern European countries from 1990-ties up to present moment.

On the basis of established values for period 1993-2013, in this paper we discuss a possibility to predict trends in production of industrial round wood in Croatia and surrounding countries. The data of production values of industrial round wood through analyzed period are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and FAO base. In order to predict the future trends of industrial round wood production for Croatia and surrounding countries, dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed. Prediction is limited to year 2020, because of turbulences in this market and the length of analyzed time series.

Energy from renewable sources globally presents very important issue. In order to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions countries promote legislations for renewable energy sources consumption incensement. Croatia has by signing the Kyoto Protocol committed itself to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by five percent by 2020 and promotion of wooden biomass usage, especially wood pellet, presents one of activities to fulfil these obligations. On the other hand, regarding wooden biomass usage Croatia is still at the beginning, and most of this important energy source is exported. Wood pellet is an environmentally acceptable product and its production significantly contributes to rural development and sustainable approach to the management of timber resources, but at the same time this important energy source is neglected in strategic planning and energy policies. Croatian wood pellets producers with a potential production of 260, 000 tonnes so far have been forced to export. In 2014, 92% of total Croatian wood pellet production was export to foreign markets. The main reason for this market situation is that Croatian market (public institutions and private persons) is not yet enough informed about scope of wood pellet usage and it advances in the contacts of ecology and green economy. The aim of this paper was to explore how much Croatian households in generally know about wood pellets and what the possibilities of its future consumption incensement are.

Wood processing is one of the most significant segments in Croatian wood industry. On the basis of established values for period 1993-2013, in this paper we discuss a possibility to predict trends in production of coniferous and non- coniferous sawnwood in Croatia. The data of production values of coniferous and non-coniferous sawnwood through analyzed period are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and FAO base. In order to predict the future trends of coniferous and non-coniferous sawnwood production for Craotia, dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed. Prediction is limited to year 2023, because of turbulences in this market and the length of analyzed time series.

Sitni glodavci iz podporodica Murinae (pravi miševi) i Arvicolinae (voluharice) nezaobilazna su biotska komponenta zoocenoze lužnjakovih šuma. Unatoč brojnim pozitivnim utjecajima, glodavci mogu u godinama masovne pojave otežati prirodnu obnovu hrastovih šuma uzrokujući štete na sjemenu te stabljici i korijenu mladih biljaka. Na području srednje Posavine (šumarija Lipovljani) u razdoblju od 2011.g. do 2013.g., utvrđen je obujam šteta od sitnih glodavaca u vidu analize oštećenja na stabljici i korijenu hrastova pomlatka starosti do pet godina. Grizotinama na stabljikama oštećenih biljaka (33 komada) izmjerene su dimenzije (dužina x širina), dok je morfološka analiza korijena oštećenih biljaka (115 komada) provedena skeniranjem korijena korištenjem uređaja Epson Expression 10000 XL i programskog paketa WinRhizo, čime su izmjereni duljina i volumen korijena te broj korijenovih vrhova. U cilju usporedbe oštećenog i neoštećenoga korijena, prikupljeno je i na jednak način analizirano 33 komada biljaka neoštećenoga korijena. Razlike u prosječnim vrijednostima analiziranih parametara neoštećenog i oštećenog korijenja testirane su Studentovim t-testom, odnosno u slučaju da uvjet homogenosti varijanci nije bio zadovoljen, neparametrijskim Mann-Whintey U- testom. Na kori stabljika analiziranih biljaka prosječna površina grizotine iznosila je 182, 5 mm2 (16, 5 mm2 - 766, 5 mm2) i to prosječno na 1, 6, a najviše na pet mjesta na stabljici. Hranjenje glodavaca korijenjem lužnjakovog pomlatka značilo je gubitak do 77% volumena korijena, 96% korijenovih vrhova te smanjenje duljine korijena i do 97%. Usporedbom prosječnih vrijednosti volumena, duljine i broja vrhova korijena oštećenih i neoštećenih biljaka, ustanovljeno je da su razlike među njima statistički značajne kod gotovo svih visinskih kategorija biljaka i debljinskih kategorija korijena za koje je provedena usporedba. Ovim je istraživanjem dobiven kvalitativni nalaz šteta od glodavaca na stabljici i korijenu hrastova pomlatka.

This paper focuses on an analysis of labour resources in the Croatian wood industry and forestry. On the basis of established values in the period 1996 - 2012, the paper discuss a possibility to predict employment trends in the sector. The data of the number of employees in Wood processing and Furniture manufacturing are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Finance and Financial Agency. The dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed, and two types of time series models were built: models based on average rates of change (models A) and linear trend models (models B). Prediction is limited to year 2020, because of turbulences in this market and the length of analyzed time series.

Sitni glodavci iz podporodica Murinae (pravi miševi) i Arvicolinae (voluharice) u šumama hrasta lužnjaka (Quercus robur L.) tijekom godina masovne pojave otežavaju prirodnu obnovu šuma uzrokujući štete na sjemenu, stabljici i korijenu mladih hrastovih biljaka. U okviru istraživanja provedenih od 2011.g. do 2013.g. na području šumarije Lipovljani, utvrđena je relativna brojnost glodavaca zajedno sa udjelom dominantnih podporodica u populaciji te njihovim prostornim rasporedom. Analizirane su također štete od glodavaca na stabljici i korijenu lužnjakovog pomlatka, u okviru čega je provedena morfološka obrada oštećenoga i neoštećenoga korijenja te njihova usporedba. Utvrđeno je da pri relativno niskoj brojnosti glodavaca (0-16%) više od petine hrastova pomlatka (22%) može biti uništeno zbog posljedica grizenja korijena, osobito ako u strukturi populacije glodavaca dominiraju voluharice. Nadalje, pokazalo se da hranjenje glodavaca korijenjem hrasta starosti do pet godina posljedično znači gubitak do 77% volumena korijena, 96% korijenovih vrhova te smanjenje duljine korijena i do 97%, čime je potvrđeno da je preživljavanje oštećenih biljaka posve onemogućeno. Hranjenje glodavaca korom stabljike za posljedicu je imalo stvaranje grizotina površine od 16, 5 mm2 do 766, 5 mm2 i to prosječno na 1, 6, a najviše na pet mjesta na stabljici. Utvrđeno je da su štete na korijenu i stabljici rasle sa starošću biljaka. Usporedbom prosječnih vrijednosti volumena, duljine i broja vrhova korijena oštećenih i neoštećenih biljaka, ustanovljeno je da su razlike među njima statistički značajne kod gotovo svih visinskih kategorija biljaka i debljinskih kategorija korijena za koje je provedena usporedba. Ovim je istraživanjem dobiven kvalitativni nalaz šteta od glodavaca na korijenu hrastova pomlatka te je potvrđeno da je sustavno praćenje dinamike, ali i udjela podporodica u strukturi populacija sitnih glodavaca, zajedno sa evidentiranjem stanišnih prilika i prouzročenih šteta, preduvjet ekološki i ekonomski odgovornoj zaštiti šuma.

Furniture Manufacturing as a significant segment of Croatian wood industry is characterized by numerous changes which carries the modern business world. Intense competition, which comes as a result of globalization and the recently entry into the full membership of the European Union, leads us to the necessity of looking at the current market state of labour resources, in order to predict the situation in the future. This paper focuses on an analysis of labour resources in the Croatian Furniture Manufacturing. On the basis of established values in the period 1996 - 2012, we discuss a possibility to predict employment trends in the sector. The data of the number of employees in the sector of Furniture manufacturing are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Finance and Financial Agency. The dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed. Prediction is limited to year 2020, because of turbulences in this market and the length of analyzed time series.

To be successful, a paramount task of a firm is to determine the perceptions, needs and wants of the market in order to create products with superior value. Firms should constantly scan the horizon for new opportunities to satisfy their customers, and be capable of innovating to provide solutions to changing market needs. In many business sectors today, innovation has become very important tool for firm competitiveness and long-term firm success will depend on firms’ abilities to be innovative. Nowadays, when globalization occur new possibilities of technological and business development, Croatian wood industry indicates the needs for changes in the form of application new technologies, new products and new business activities. The aim of this paper is to define profiles of Croatian furniture industry companies regarding innovations.

In the recent years market of wood and wood-based products on the global and European level, and also in Croatia has going through turbulent times. With regard to the economic problems, a decline in consumption of wood product was expected. In days of crisis, when purchasing power of the population decrease, products such as wood based products are not on demand priority list. The goal of this work is to determine the consumption of selected wood products – round wood and sawn wood, in some international markets and in the Republic of Croatia by applying the third method of calculating apparent consumption. Croatia is still lagging behind in regard to the European average consumption and the average consumption of EU-27 countries, especially if we take into consideration countries like Finland and Austria. Although it is an undisputed fact that the consumption of wood products should increase in Croatia, with respect to the global consumption and consumption of surrounding countries Croatia uses wood as material in higher volumes.

Wood processing is one of the most significant segments in Croatian wood industry. On the basis of established values for period 2000-2011, in this paper we discuss a possibility to predict trends in foreign trade of primary and secondary wood products. The data of import and export values through analyzed period are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and include the main countries for foreign trade activity with Croatia. The main import-export markets are Italy, Slovenia, Austria and Germany in which it were achieved almost 65% of total value of import and export of a primary and secondary wood products for period 2000-2011. Nearly 40% of total value of export of Croatian wood processing is realized in the Italian market. Over 50% of total import value makes wood products imported from Slovenia, Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In order to predict a future trends in foreign trade, dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed.

This paper discuss a possibility to predict future export and import values of primary and secondary wood products on the basis of established values in period 2000-2011.

Processing of wood and manufacture of wood and cork products, excluding furniture, manufacture of straw and plaiting goods (C16) and manufacture of furniture (C31) were the most competitive activities of the Republic of Croatia in the European market in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. Those activities began losing their market share at the end of 1994, and no significant positive change in market competitiveness has been recorded since then. The question is how to achieve and maintain competitiveness, which is the condition of survival in an increasingly demanding environment. Preliminary and previous research on investment points to the assumption that the problem of competitiveness in the observed economic branch essentially boils down to a problem in the quality and efficiency of the investments of associated business entities. This paper tries to give answers to the following questions: What is the investment policy, is there an internal factor of lagging behind in competitiveness, what the other reasons are and how competitiveness can be achieved. By analysing investment in key factors of competitiveness in the period from 2007 to 2010, consistently established by this paper, the existing data on investment of wood processing and furniture manufacturing entities will be identified, and an AHP investment model will be proposed that takes into account the simultaneous influence of all of the key factors of competitiveness and is the best indicator of which direction to be taken, with the final aim of achieving competitiveness.

Vremenski niz je skup kronološki uređenih vrijednosti varijable koja predočava neku pojavu ili proces u vremenu. U svrhu donošenja zaključaka o fizičkom stanju i kretanju varijabli u određenom razdoblju, analiza stvarnih podataka iz različitih područja između ostaloga podrazumijeva i proučavanje vremenskih nizova, tj. serija podataka. Uočavanje osnovnih tendencija i obilježja razvoja odabranih varijabli omogućuje već i grafička metoda. Za analitičke svrhe nužno je utvrditi i vrijednosti brojčanih pokazatelja, relativne pokazatelje dinamike vremenskih serija, prosječne stope promjene i trend, čime se postiže potpuniji uvid u kretanje odabranih varijabli u vremenu. Konačni je cilj analize vremenskih serija pronalaženje modela kojim će se opisati zakonitosti u ponašanju pojedine varijable u određenom razdoblju, te predviđanje budućeg stanja na temelju poznatih stanja u prošlosti i sadašnjosti. U radu je prikazan model linearnog trenda koji je identičan modelu jednostruke linearne regresije u kojemu je vrijeme nezavisna varijabla. Pojedine korake u analizi vremenskih nizova učenici bi mogli i trebali savladati tijekom osnovnog i srednjeg školovanja.

Furniture manufacturing, as a significant segment of Croatian wood industry, is characterized by numerous changes which carries a modern business world. Knowledge of the market situation directly affects on all companies in the sector, their development, growth and business success in the future. The main import-export markets are Italy, Slovenia and Germany in which it were achieved over 50% of total value of import and export of furniture for period 2000-2011. Nearly one third of total value of export of Croatian furniture is realized in the German market, and nearly a third of total import makes furniture imported from the Italian market. Intense competition, which comes as a result of globalization and the imminent entry into the full membership of the European Union, leads us to a necessity of looking at a current market situation, identification of existing trends of import and export of furniture, in order to predict a situation in the future.

On the basis of established values in the period 2000.-2010., the paper discuss a possibility to predict future values of imports of furniture to Croatia, and the values of exports of Croatian furniture. The data of import and export values are gathered from Croatian Bureau of Statistics and include the main countries for the foreign trade activity with Croatia. The dynamic economic analysis of time series data was performed and two types of time series models were built: models based on average rates of change and linear trend models. Prediction is limited to year 2015. because of turbulences in this market and the length of analyzed time series.

Today we are faced with time when it’s no more enough to have a quality product that is priced better than the competition’s one. At the same time this product has to find as much shorter and as much better ‘way’ to the customer. Advertising is a combination of different activities which denote an important segment in company business. It is important to note that all forms of advertising are not aimed to all customers, so it is very important to choose the most effective tool of advertising, i.e. the promotional massages has to be able to find the way to easily reach the target group of customers. Although the wood processing and furniture manufacturing industry is the major part of the Croatian wood industry presents the major part of Croatian industry, its share in total industry of Croatia, nor its consumption is not satisfactory. Since the printed media is still often used as promotional tool in promoting wood products, the aim of this paper was to present a stage of promotional activities of wood industry companies through printed media and television.

Companies that cannot predict business forecasts for their sales always find themselves in ambiguity. In this research we analyzed two quantitative methods that gave the best results for forecasting the sales: Holt-Winters method of exponent smoothing of higher orders and linear regression of the 1st order. The data for the implementation of these two methods were obtained in a wood company that deals with parquet sales. The data were gathered for parquet sales by month in the years 2000 to 2009. The calculations of sale forecasts enabled to compare both methods. On the basis of smaller deviations from data obtained, we determined the most appropriate method. We received the best result with the use of Holt-Winters multiplicative model of exponent smoothing of higher orders. Thus, according to this research, this method should be used for further forecasting of parquet sales in the analyzed wood company.

One of the important indicators of business entities is their size, which is expressed in total revenue and number of employees. For every business entity it is important to gain understanding of the general economic condition as well as conditions in the sector that can or will affect its business success. The objective of this paper was to define trends in total revenue and number of employees in the field of wood processing and furniture manufacturing. However, considering the quality of the raw material potential, wood processing tradition and strong growing trend of using wood as ecological and renewable material, it is realistic to expect further increase of production and total income and numbers of employees of the Croatian wood industry even last two years have been very hard for the sector.

The early entry into the European Union imposes the necessity of increasing the competitiveness of Croatian furniture industry and wood processing. Development of a competitive economy is of great importance of investments in education, science and technology. The aim of this study is to examine and analyze the investments of Croatian Wood Industry Companies for period 2005.- 2009. in the training of personnel, technology of wood processing and furniture manufacturing, technology of environmental protection and energy efficiency, investments in increasing capacity and investments in product innovation, service and manufacturing processes.

The goal of this research was to determine the lumber yield of European walnut (Juglans regia L.) and European wild cherry (Prunus avium L.) logs in Croatia. This research was conducted on 1st and 2nd grade European walnut and wild cherry logs according to Croatian norm regulation HRN D.B4.028, which is typically used in Croatian sawmills. Live sawing was the primary technique used and it was carried out on a band saw. All sawn boards were processed into dimension stock and flooring components using the rip-first sawing technique. Results of the log volume yield analysis in the form of dimension stock and flooring components indicate that the best yield was achieved with 1st grade European wild cherry logs, followed by 2nd grade European wild cherry logs, and then by 1st and 2nd grade European walnut. The results of the dimension stock and flooring components value yield differ somewhat from the volume yield, here 1st and 2nd grade European walnut logs dominate. In total, the results indicate that 1st grade European walnut logs currently are financially more suitable for sawmill production. This is followed by 1st grade European wild cherry logs and then by 2nd grade European walnut and European wild cherry logs.

U šumama Gorskoga kotara najbrojnija vrsta puha je sivi puh (Glis glis L.) koji u godinama povećane brojnosti često uzrokuje oštećenja u šumi izgrizajući koru stabala. Najčešće oštećuje kulture obične smreke (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). U radu su analizirani morfološki parametri ove vrste (duljina tijela s repom i masa tijela) na uzorku od 248 jedinki (119 mužjaka i 129 ženki) ulovljenih u šumama kojima gospodari poduzeće Hrvatske šume d.o.o. Zagreb, Uprava šuma Podružnica Delnice, šumarije Delnice i Mrkopalj. Izlov životinja je obavljen 2001., 2007. i 2009. godine na području šumarije Delnice u kulturi obične smreke te na području šumarije Mrkopalj u kulturi obične smreke i prirodnoj šumi obične bukve (Fagus sylvatica L.). Sumarno je tijekom 2001. godine na sva tri lokaliteta ulovljeno 127 životinja, 2007. godine 53, a 2009. godine 68 jedinki. Godine 2001. zabilježena je najveća brojnost puhova u promatranom razdoblju na svim trima lokalitetima da bi u naredne dvije godine praćenja varirala ovisno o lokalitetu. Godine u kojima su evidentirane najveće prosječne vrijednosti analiziranih parametara poklapaju se s godinama najmanje utvrđenih brojnosti. Omjer ulovljenih jedinki po spolu na svim je lokalitetima iznosio približno 1:1. Maksimalne i minimalne vrijednosti analiziranih parametara utvrđene su u kulturama smreke, dok su najveće prosječne vrijednosti utvrđene u prirodnim bukovim šumama. Potvrđeno je postojanje statistički značajnih razlika između analiziranih varijabli po godinama unutar i između lokaliteta. Razlike u vrijednostima prosječnih duljina i masa tijela utvrđenih između lokaliteta upućuju na ovisnost ovih morfoloških parametara o habitatu, tj. moguće postojanje više lokalnih rasa sivog puha. Definiranje temeljnih uzročnika tih razlika navodimo kao potencijalnu svrhu budućih istraživanja.

The results of the reviewed and analysed questionnaires completed by wood processing and furniture manufacturing companies outline the current state and point to the future needs for knowledge with respect to the types, trends and amount of investments. Priority measures to increase competitiveness include the following: raising the general education level, in particular education of employees for specific business and production needs, systematic implementation of activities aimed at improvement of necessary knowledge and skills, creating a stimulating environment for the development and implementation of innovations, as well as establishing stronger and more stable relationships with scientific institutions.

Drvna industrija i šumarstvo imaju veliko značenje u gospodarstvu Republike Hrvatske. Sirovinsku bazu drvne industrije čine šume i šumska zemljišta, koja u našoj zemlji pokrivaju 48% kopnene površine. Čak je 78% šuma u državnom vlasništvu. Naša ekonomska i politička povijest ucrtana je u izgledu i stanju naših šuma i šumskih površina. Koliko je šuma čuvala našu nacionalnu supstancu, svjedoče duga stoljeća sve do naših dana. Prema dosadašnjem iskustvu, porast potrošnje drva i drvnih proizvoda brži je od porasta proizvodnje drvne materije, te bi se šumarska i drvno-industrijska politika morale podudarati u svojim osnovnim postavkama u odnosu na racionalno iskorištenje drva kao sirovine i u odnosu na proizvodni potencijal šumskog fonda. Tržište namještaja i ostalih drvnih proizvoda, kao značajan segment drvne industrije u Republici Hrvatskoj, karakterizirano je brojnim promjenama koje nosi suvremeni poslovni svijet. Poznavanje stanja na tržištu izravno utječe na sva poduzeća u sektoru, na njihov razvoj, rast i uspješnost poslovanja u budućem razdoblju. Snažna konkurencija koja dolazi kao posljedica globalizacije, te skori ulazak u punopravno članstvo Europske Unije, potiče nas na nužnost sagledavanja postojećeg stanja na tržištu, a u svrhu predviđanja stanja u budućem razdoblju. Analiza tržišta namještaja i ostalih drvnih proizvoda prati vremenski tijek četiri ključne makroekonomske varijable: uvoz i izvoz u razdoblju od 1994. do 2010. godine, te proizvodnju i zaposlenost u razdoblju od 1996. do 2009. godine. Preko polaznih varijabli izražene su nove četiri varijable: potrošnja, pokrivenost uvoza izvozom, prodaja proizvoda hrvatskih proizvođača na domaćem tržištu i prihod po zaposlenom, a u svrhu kvantificiranja i analize međuovisnosti polaznih varijabli, te detaljnije analize tržišta namještaja, tržišta ostalih drvnih proizvoda i cjelokupnog tržišta drvnim proizvodima. Za potrebe predviđanja budućih kretanja pokazatelja tržišnog stanja (polaznih i izvedenih varijabli), dinamičkom ekonomskom analizom vremenskih serija, izgrađene su dvije vrste modela vremenskih serija: modeli na temelju prosječne stope promjene za promatrano razdoblje i linearni trend modeli. Zbog turbulentnosti ovoga tržišta i zbog duljine analiziranih vremenskih serija, predviđanje je ograničeno na razdoblje do 2020. godine. Modelima višestruke linearne regresije procijenjeno je koji od analiziranih makroekonomskih pokazatelja tržišnog stanja utječu na vrijednosti proizvodnje na tržištima drvnim proizvodima. Prema rezultatima regresijske analize, na vrijednosti proizvodnje, uz vrijeme, značajno utječe i broj zaposlenih na promatranim tržištima.

Ministry of Regional Developement, Forestry and Water Management, Department of Wood Industry, announced a tender for assignation irrecoverable dedicated funds for stimulation and sustainability development of wood processing and furniture production in Republic of Croatia for the year 2010. Companies from industrial wood processing proposed a projects for financing and for this purpose they had to fill-in the several forms. We recognized that as a problem of multicriterial decision making for funds distribution and for this purpose a model for Optimal Selection of Croatian Wood Industry Companies was developed. The model is based on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. The paper shows that the DEA may be useful tool at a strategic and operational level of decision making in wood industry.

U razvijenim zemljama, industrija današnjice je obilježena istraživanjem, primjenom znanosti i suradnjom, a proizvodnja utemeljena na tomu predstavlja jednu od glavnih poluga ekonomskog rasta i održivog razvoja. Izravna povezanost znanosti i realnog sektora kao i suradnja s ostalim stručnim razinama na području specifičnih znanja, rezultira stvaranjem novih modela poslovanja i proizvodnje. Važnost suradnje gospodarstva s inovacijskim i znanstvenim institucijama karakteristika je inovativnih proizvođača koji svoju tehnologiju, proizvode i usluge žele učiniti konkurentnijima i bližima potrebama tržišta. Odnosno, ulaganje u suradnju je nužnost jer stvara nove i primjenjive inovacije koje, opet stvaraju dodanu vrijednost kroz nove proizvode i usluge. Drvna industrija, kao jedna od najstarijih u Republici Hrvatskoj, je strateška industrija nacionalnog gospodarstva i održivi razvoj iste utemeljen na znanju posljedično, pozitivno, utječe na cjelokupnu gospodarsku sliku zemlje. Cilj predmetnog rada je istražiti postojeću razinu suradnje gospodarskih subjekata sa sveučilišnim, znanstveno - istraživačkim institucijama i ostalim interesnim stranama na području prerade drva i proizvodnje namještaja.

Promatramo li statističko obilježje X koje može poprimati vrijednosti iz nekog intervala skupa R realnih brojeva, onda govorimo o kontinuiranom statističkom obilježju X. Ako raspolažemo s vrlo velikim brojem podataka, pri čemu se pojavljuje i velika raznolikost u rezultatima (na primjer, broj bodova na ispitu znanja, od 0 do 100 bodova), potrebno je izvršiti grupiranje podataka da bi se dobila pregledna tablica frekvencija s razredima. Ovisno o promatranom statističkom obilježju, tablica može imati razrede jednakih, ali i različitih širina. U radu je pokazano kako iz takvih tablica izračunavamo mjere centralne tendencije (aritmetičku sredinu, geometrijsku sredinu, harmonijsku sredinu, medijan, mod) i mjere varijabilnosti (varijancu, standardnu devijaciju, koeficijent varijacije) te razne mogućnosti grafičkog prikazivanja podataka. Cilj rada je potaknuti raspravu o dijelu matematičkog kurikuluma koji se odnosi na statističke sadržaje, a koje bi učenici mogli i trebali savladati tijekom osnovnog i srednjeg školovanja.

Prerada drva i proizvodnja namještaja Republike Hrvatske razvila se na visokovrijednoj šumskoj sirovini, a svoj rad temelji na njezinu iskorištavanju, dugogodišnjoj tradiciji prerade drva te na kvalitetnim ljudskim resursima. Stoga je ta djelatnost važan segment gospodarstva Republike Hrvatske. Međutim, kako zbog globalnih gospodarskih kretanja, tako i zbog nedovoljno obnovljene i niskoproduktivne proizvodnje, nepopunjenosti kapaciteta te nerazvijene proizvodnje viših faza prerade, ukupni je prihod industrijske prerade drva u odnosu prema potencijalu sirovine relativno nizak, pa je potrebno što prije steći uvid u stanje sektora, u čemu važnu ulogu ima istraživanje tržišta. Stoga je provedena analiza i usporedba pojedinih tržišnih pokazatelja poput proizvodnje, izvoza, uvoza, potrošnje, prodaje i udjela prodaje hrvatskih proizvođača na domaćem tržištu proizvoda područja prerade drva (DD 20) i namještaja (DN 36). Proizvodnja ostalih drvnih proizvoda, kao i proizvodnja namještaja u promatranom su se povećavale iz godine u godinu razdoblju i to u korist proizvodnje ostalih drvnih proizvoda. Vrijednosti izvoza ostalih drvnih proizvoda u odnosu prema vrijednosti izvoza namještaja u razdoblju od 2000. do kraja 2008. godine bile su veće, dok je na području uvoza utvrđen obrnut odnos. S obzirom na 2000. godinu svake sljedeće godine do kraja 2008. potrošnja proizvoda primarne prerade (DD 20), kao i potrošnja namještaja (DN 36) se povećavala. Prodaja proizvoda hrvatskih proizvođača područja DD 20 i područja DN 36 na domaćem je tržištu u promatranom razdoblju bila promjenjiva.

U četiri tvrtke koje se bave preradom drva analizirane su postojeće police osiguranja. Istraživanjem je utvrđeno da promatrane tvrtke ne uviđaju potrebu za kvalitetnim osiguranjem. Analizom polica osiguranja u razdoblju od 2002. do 2006. godine uočen je trend kretanja prema širem i obuhvatnijem osiguranju imovine i imovinskih interesa, ali je taj trend prespor. Istodobno je opasnost od velikoga štetnog događaja koji nije osbuhvaćen policama osiguranja znatna. Stabilnost tvrtki temelji se na sigurnosti u radu, a s kvalitetnim osiguranjem imovine i imovinskih interesa tvrtke bi sigurnije poslovale. Osiguranje imovine specifičan je problem i zahtijeva širu obradu kako bi potreba za osiguranjem bila kvalitetno prezentirana. Ovaj rad naglašava potrebu osiguranja imovine, a posebno će u vremenu koje dolazi osiguranje imovine i imovinskih interesa biti sve potrebnije i sve važnije za stabilno poslovanje tvrtki.