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In this chapter, we explain how scientific information can effectively be used in the daily work of practitioners. We lead through the process of tailoring research results and scientific information to support an integrated and ecosystem-based natural hazard risk management in the form of a Road Map. This Road Map is based on the RIU (Research Integration Utilization) model for knowledge transfer and backed-up with our long-standing research experience. To illustrate the Road Map, which can be applied to any case of transferring scientific knowledge into practice, we summarize the main results of the GreenRisk4ALPs research project, and propose three steps for integrating them into applied projects or other activities: (1) “Diagnosis” - estimating the relevance of scientific information for applied risk or forest management, (2) “Consultation” - estimating the soundness of the scientific information through consultations with researchers, and (3) “Implementation” – checking the legal framework and the economic resources for the preferred solution. Furthermore, we provide a checklist for stakeholders for tailoring science-based solutions to their practical use, which contributes to facilitating the implementation of research results and can guide policy and practice. Finally, the theoretical and methodological background of the Road Map are presented and discussed.

Empirijsko analitički pristup znanosti šumarske politike primijenjen je na primjeru specijalnog rezervata prirode „Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit“ (Srbija) s ciljem sveobuhvatne analize korisnika, njihovih interesa i potencijalnih sukoba interesa. Istraživanje je provedeno od kolovoza 2017. do kolovoza 2018. godine. Procjena intenziteta interesa identificiranih korisnika temelji se na kvalitativnoj analizi sadržaja i kritičkoj analizi te kombinaciji tehnika triangulacije, logičkog zaključivanja, indukcije i dedukcije. Unosom procijenjenog intenziteta interesa korisnika (vlasnici šuma – država i privatni šumovlasnici; zaposleni u šumarstvu; poduzeća/institucije – drvna industrija, pokrajinski sekretarijat, itd.; građani) u analitičku shemu jasno se mogla izdvojiti zona sukoba između korisnika s vrlo jakim interesom za korištenje drvne mase (Vojvodinašume, crkva, prerada drva) i korisnika koji pripadaju interesnom polju očuvanja/zaštite prirode (institucije zaštite prirode, građani). Uz navedeno, država tj. Vojvodinašume su u unutarnjem sukobu, jer (također) imaju vrlo snažan interes za proizvodnju drva s jedne strane i za zaštitu prirode s druge strane. Kako bi uravnotežila interese, država/pokrajina je u prednosti jer rješenje može potražiti interno, ali analitička shema pokazuje i da će rezultat neizbježno dovesti do sukoba s drugim korisnicima (drvnom industrijom ako se poveća opseg zaštite ili zaštitom prirode ako se pojača sječa drva). Koncept zaštitnih zona pokazuje trenutni kompromisni paket između zainteresiranih strana (stroga zaštita 6%, aktivna zaštita 29% i korištenje drva 65%), koji će opstati dok ga država bude mogla podržati političkim mjerama. Empirijsko analitički pristup omogućio je sveobuhvatni uvid u korisnike i interese vezane za Rit, a metodološka postavka je uz zaključake relevantne za daljnja znanstvena istraživanja stvorila osnovu za aktivniju komunikaciju rezultata s praksom., This study, based on modified Schusser´s sequential method, was conducted from August 2017 to August 2018 with the aim of using accessible and familiar case example from Serbia to verify the claim of forest policy science - that users, their interests and potential conflicts of interest can be comprehensively identified and analysed while applying empirically analytical approach. On the example of special nature reserve Koviljsko-Petrovaradinski Rit the intensity of user´s interest is assessed based on qualitative content analysis and critical reasoning in combination with the techniques of triangulation, induction and deduction. By entering the estimated intensity of user interests into the analytical sheme (users categorized as forest owners- state/province and private, forestry employees, enterprises/institutions and citizens), the first conflicting zone was identified between the very strong interests in forest utilization (priority of profitable timber harvesting) and the interest field comprising the very strong and strong user interests for nature conservation. In addition, the state/province (public enterprise Vojvodinašume) is in an internal conflict, having (also) a very strong interest in wood production (creating revenues) on the one hand and in nature conservation on another. In order to balance them (towards the general social interest), the state/province has an advantage of being in the position to look internally for a solution, but the analytical scheme also shows how potential changes could trigger conflicts with other users (wood industry if protection is increased or nature protection actors if logging intensifies). The current solution of protection zones, divided into strict protection 6%, active protection 29% and profitable use of wood 65%, reflects the actual compromise package between the state/province andinterests of remaining users, which will last as long as the state/province is in the position to support it with available political means.Whereas individual discourses take into account only partial aspects, the current approach has provided a comprehensive insight into Rit´s actors and interests. Methodological set-up of existing theoretically-based analytical categories has offered conclusions relevant for further research, forming at the same time a strong basis for more active communication of results with practice: users can more clearly perceive each other’s positions and evaluate own abilities to act, while searching for the implementation concepts that work in practice.

The Horizon 2020 project, ALTERFOR, generated knowledge about forest management alternatives. Researchers modelled a future, sustainable provision of ecosystem services, where a salient question was one of how to facilitate the application of these innovative scientific results in praxis. Our qualitative study uses a method mix and the analytical Research-Integration-Utilisation (RIU) Model to provide in-depth explanation of the knowledge transfer going on between the ALTERFOR research project and the forestry praxis. The leading assumption related to this communication process is that selected pieces of information are de-embedded from their scientific context of the research project and re-embedded into the existing knowledge of specific forestry actors, who utilise them to implement science-based management solutions in their forest. This assumption is empirically corroborated by using ALTERFOR's German case. For the approximately 100, 000 ha of Augsburg Western Woods (south-western Bavaria) the researchers simulated five scenarios, showing which ecosystem services would be provided by different forest management models over the next 100 years. The integration of scenario results into the praxis comprised three integration forums. Within the first forum (pre-study) the alternatives focusing on “recreation” and “hunting” were dropped due to a lack of supportive powerful allies from praxis. Within the second forum (bilateral meeting) the three other scenarios - “timber production”, “multifunctional” and “set aside” scenarios, all remained in the discourse of praxis. Yet, the third forum (multilateral meeting - workshop) triggered the toughest selection. Most project results were either ignored or declined strongly, so that only a few pieces of scientific information found acceptance by particular actors, who utilised them either through support or resistance: (i) the State Forest used the information about the “multifunctional” scenario to legitimise the solution which was already in use (multifunctional management), whereas the Private Forest used the information for the possibility to increase timber harvests in a sustainable way, in order to push for (an otherwise contested) strategy of maximized timber harvesting; (ii) the State Forest resisted the possibility of increasing sustainable timber harvesting, whereas the Private Forest rejected the implementation of set asides. Both actors had sufficient power capabilities to realise their interests, even against the interests of other landowners or political groups. These results show that it is not complex scientific knowledge that makes it through the selection process, but rather, pieces of scientific information, de-embedded from their theory-based context of the research project, are re-embedded into the context of powerful actors in praxis, who then utilise these to either support or resist their own science-based solutions. Based on this, we suggest that the ambitious Horizon 2020 goal of facilitating knowledge transfer is attained more effectively when the project opens up multiple options for dialogue between researchers and different groups from praxis (multi-actor approach), abandoning the idea of one, best solution and offering different alternatives instead.

The study provides insight into the future of the forest-based bioeconomy sector in selected Southeast European (SEE) countries. It elicits experts’ understanding of forest-based bioeconomy, their opinion and level of agreement on future implementation of the bioeconomy concept by 2030/2050, through two-round Delphi. The study also provides the state-of-the-art of the bioeconomy related policies in selected countries for the readers’ better understanding of the context among other. Results showed that (i) instead of explicit national and regional bioeconomy strategies, Serbia, Croatia and North Macedonia have bundle of bioeconomy related documents, across diverse forest-related sectors, which directly or indirectly address bioeconomy concept; (ii) the forest-based bioeconomy concept is seen as observable; there are expected future changes in the forest sector by expansion of the current forest-based sector to added-value products/applications; (iii) forest ownership isn’t expected to change from small-scale to large scale ownership, followed by crucial role of policy changes, for further fostering a forest-based bioeconomy concept, and for raising awareness among forestry professionals; (iv) by 2030 the need for cross-sectoral cooperation will increase, which will initiate approach change in forestry professionals, and increase demand for woody biomass; (v) by 2050 forest-based value chains and business models will become more diverse. Bigger changes are expected by 2050. Study contributes to better understanding of SEE and national contexts for implementation of the forest-based bioeconomy. Further priorities setting through regional and/or national forest-based bioeconomy strategic documents could support its implementation.

SUMMARY State forest institutions in Poland, where 80% of the forest is state-owned, bear high responsibility for the sustainable development of this natural resource and strive to fulfil economic, ecological and social goals. To examine how far these goals are met and which strategic option(s) can be identified for the future the 3L Model was applied and comprehensive performance of the State Forests National Forest Holding (State Forests) and the Ministry of Environment evaluated. The field study relied on a mix of techniques and the data, collected 2014 and 2015, showed the achievements of both institutions clearly: (i) the requirements of sustaining forest stands are met in practice; (ii) the State Forests makes profits and has enough resources for the active management of forests and goal achievement, thereby establishing some independence from the public budgets; (iii) the improved cost efficiency could vastly contribute to the stability of the State Forests, which is true for its marketing and the ...

Survey-based research is the most widely applied and simultaneously most criticized approach. Whereas many disciplines failed to adhere to its fundamental principles, e.g. due to low response rates, often inadequate sampling procedures, or an over-reliance on the cross-sectional approaches, in forest science no systematic evidence can be found, even though this kind of inquiry has been used for almost six decades now. We therefore examine how much research in forest science is survey-based and how its amount has developed over time? Has survey-based research in forest science matured? Has this research applied sound methodology and what are the main avenues for improvement? To find answers, we analyzed survey-based articles published in 20 forest science journals from 2005 to 2014 and found that an average of 3.2% of research was survey-based. We could identify a significant increase in the percentage of survey-based articles among the total articles published throughout the same time period. By further analyzing the relative contribution of exploratory, descriptive and explanatory types of survey-based articles, among the total amount of articles we found that the increase in the percentage was mostly concentrated on the group of explanatory articles. According to the research maturity cycle, this indicates that survey-based research in forest science is maturing. By additionally applying a framework of 16 assessment items to our data, we evidenced that for half of these items methodology could have been more carefully applied. Respective improvement avenues were detected by using the Survey Assessment Matrix (SAM).

More than half of Brazilian territory (54%), or approx. 463 million ha, is covered by forests. Public forest ownership dominates with up to 80%, private forests cover cca. 20% and cca. 8% is unclaimed. In public forests the practice of concessions is growing, with the expectation of reducing the problem of Amazonian illegal loggings. Private forests are mainly under plantation management, which generates 5.5% of the country’s industrial gross domestic product. Relevance of both is accordingly high, although not dominant in forest share. A key question for forest policy is how successfully the state regulates both issues in practice. Our paper accordingly focuses on the Brazilian Forest Service and the Ministry of Agriculture, which are state forest institutions in charge of forest concessions and planted forests. We look at their performance against legally based forestry goals and rely on primary (participatory observation, semi-structured personal interviews and questionnaire) and secondary sources (documents) for empirical evidence. The 3 L Model serves as a theoretical basis. It was selected while applying criteria and indicators for evaluation of public institutions´ comprehensive performance with respect to sustainable forest management. The results show that Brazilian forest policy strives toward sustainable forest management, as an overall goal. In more particular, the performance of both examined state forest institutions is more market (than public demand) oriented and moves towards strengthening market competences. At the same time, there are constrains in sustaining forest stands. Due to permanent and strong conflicts related to land use changes in Brazil, the relevance of a mediator, aiming to harmonize all different interests related to forest protection and use, is high, but this role is still not taken, at least not by the evaluated state forest institutions. This represents new task for the forestry practice, while facilitating diverse interests in Brazilian forests could not only be a contribution toward conflict management between environmental, forestry and agribusiness actors but could also grant stronger political role to respective state forest institution(s). For attending this role, the performance evaluation of the whole and rather complex forest-related institutional setting in Brazil could provide relevant science-based policy arguments. This paper shows that the 3 L Model could be applied for such evaluation, as it was possible to adapt it to a non-European country and get a comprehensive overview of Brazilian plantation and concession forestry in practice.

Public forest administrations in the Western Balkans were challenged when facing novel forest policies following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. To answer (i) what (formal) goals lead public forest administrations nowadays and (ii) how do public forest administrations fulfil these goals, we evaluated the implementation of forest policy goals in Serbia, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, and Republika Srpska by using existing criteria and indicators and the 3L model as a theoretical basis. Survey and document analyses focused on the effects observable in state and private forests. In state forests, all public or state forest enterprises were able to reach goals of multifunctionality and profitablity by prioritizing marketable goods. Sustaining forest stands is important, but it is met differently in practice. Performance in private forests is much weaker and the influence of ministry departments or sectors is weak. In conclusion, the potential for a new, stronger role of public forest administration exists: (i) the supply of marketable and nonmarketable goods could be increased, whereas securing sustained forest stands remains a permanent challenge; (ii) efficiency and profits could be improved if internal and external pressures grow; and (iii) joining forces of forestry actors could strengthen the currently weak political role and enable a strong forestry representative to emerge in the future.

Producing energy wood from private forests in Croatia and Serbia is a challenging issue considering the present poor state of private forests in these countries. Private forests in these countries are highly fragmented in small plots with low productivity and owned by a large number of small-scale private forest owners (PFOs) who show lack of interests in managing their forests. The study conducted surveys among 232 PFOs in these two countries to find out their perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production. The other objective of the study was to provide policy recommendations to the public authorities and professionals in these countries for improving the pre-conditions for energy wood mobilization from private forests. The study found that the PFOs perceived the issues such as underdeveloped market and low price for energy wood, absence of energy wood related policies, fragmented private forest areas, older PFOs’ lack of interests in energy wood production, and difficulties in getting bank loan for energy wood related business activities as barriers against energy wood production from private forests in a commercial way. However, the PFOs were quite positive in their atttiudes towards producing energy wood from their forests and they considered the possibilities of creating new jobs and commercial opportunities as strengths of energy wood production. The dimensions of the PFOs’ perceptions and attitudes related to energy wood production showed two key dimensions – institutionalists and enthusiasts. The variables to explain the PFOs’ attitudes to energy wood production were different between the two countries and they indicated the differences in the country level circumstances for energy wood production. The results appeared to be relevant for understanding the key issues that the PFOs perceived as barriers against developing a functioning energy wood market in their countries. When private forestry related institutions in these countries are emerging, the existing public forestry institutions need to play an important role for improving the preconditions for mobilizing energy wood from private forests.

Nowadays, great emphasis is placed on the relationship between forest and water because forests are considered as substantial sources of many water ecosystem services. The aim of this paper is to analyze the stakeholder opinions towards the relationship between forests and water and the potential development of water-related payments for ecosystem services (PES) schemes. The study is developed in the context of COST Action CA15206&ndash, PESFOR-W (Forests for Water) aimed at synthesizing current knowledge about the PES schemes across Europe. The stakeholder opinions were mapped out using a structured questionnaire consisting of 20 questions divided into four thematic sections. The data were collected through an online survey. The results showed opinions of 142 stakeholders from 23 countries, mainly from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. In order to analyze the collected data, the stakeholders were grouped in buyers, sellers, intermediaries, and knowledge providers. The survey results indicated that the most important category of water ecosystem services according to our sample of stakeholders is regulating services followed by provisioning services. Further findings pointed out the highest importance that shared values and direct changes in land management can have when designing water-related PES schemes. The role of public authorities and collective collaboration of different stakeholders, with emphasis on local and expert knowledge, are also identified as of crucial importance. The results show that stakeholder opinions can serve as a starting point when designing PES schemes.

This paper is a review presenting research results on the forest ecosystems of Serbia that are carried out at the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (University of Novi Sad, Serbia) in the context of climate change and globalisation. The review displays results of the long-term monitoring of the forest ecosystems, where the data were obtained at the permanent experimental trials of IPC-Forests (level 2) and the iLTER's network. All findings are systematically divided according to the research disciplines and the most important tree species (poplar, willow, oak, wild cherry and European beech). Also the aspects of social sciences are included (meaning evaluating forest institutions in the first place). This review is meant to contribute inputs to the ongoing discussion about the achievement of the Millenium Goals of Sustainable Development in the context of Serbian forestry. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 43002: Biosenzing tehnologije i globalni system za kontinuirano istraživanje i integrisano upravljanje ekosistemimai br. III 43007: Istraživanje klimatskih promena i njihovog uticaja na životnu sredinu - pracenje uticaja, adaptacija i ublažavanje -Unapređenje gajenja nizijskih suma i FP7 - STREPOW; FP7 - RoK-FoR; FP7 - EXPEER i IPA - OXIT]

SUMMARY To measure the success of state forest institutions the full range of their goals should be considered. As partial evaluations are still dominant a task of a comprehensive performance measuring represents a theoretical and an empirical challenge. In solving this challenge the goals from policy programmes are taken and anchored in the scientific theories. The key question of this paper is the operationalisation of such criteria. For that, the indicators are utilised, which are selected according to the pre-defined quality requirements. By combining these indicators, an ordinal scale ranging from zero (0) to three (3) is designed for each criterion and it is compared how economic, ecological and political goals are met. The applicability of this method is tested on the five state forest institutions in Serbia and Croatia. The main results show that (i) comprehensive evaluation of state forest institutions is empirically feasible, (ii) state forest institutions that manage state-owned forests in Serb...

In this paper the results of the first comprehensive study on perception of and satisfaction with urban forests and green space in seven Southeast European cities are presented. The aims of the paper are to analyse 1) citizen perceptions of the current state of urban forests and green space in their cities, 2) to what extent current urban forests and green space meet their needs and how this can be improved. A cross-sectional study was conducted by using a common face-to-face survey questionnaire. Respondents were selected based on census data though a stratified sampling procedure by taking into account age, gender and city district (n = 384 in each city). The results showed that citizens genuinely care for urban forests and green space in their cities, but are not satisfied with their current state. The respondents found issues related to misbehaviour of other users, the presence and quality of facilities, as well as the presence and quality of management or maintenance the most pressing. There were more statistically significant differences than similarities between cities. Socioeconomic variables explained perceptions only to some extent. Citizens were very supportive of educational campaigns about the importance of urban forests and green space as well as of better enforcement of the existing regulations though having more community wardens that were expected to tackle current unsatisfactory situations. Urban planning and urban forest and green space management in these cities are facing many problems characteristic for post-socialist countries. Study findings are expected to contribute to decision making in urban planning and natural resource management.

In recent years, new policies have emerged in Europe related to both bioenergy and bioeconomy. The study investigated perceptions of the Croatian and Serbian non-industrial private forest owners (NIPFs) concerning energy wood mobilization from forests owned by them. A total of 232 NIPFs from the two countries participated in the study. The NIPFs perceived that they did not have adequate knowledge of selling energy wood, its price, and energy wood entrepreneurship. According to the NIPFs, the most significant obstacle to mobilizing energy wood from private forests was the lack of proper forest roads in their countries. Among the economic instruments, the NIPFs favored subsidies and guaranteed market over tax reduction for mobilizing energy wood and establishing energy wood entrepreneurship. Their main motivation for energy wood production appeared to be expected income from such an activity. It also appeared that the NIPFs would prefer supplying energy biomass from new plantations and harvesting residues instead of using their existing forests. The study provided a number of recommendations for the policy makers in Croatia and Serbia on improving the preconditions for energy wood mobilization from private forests and linking it with the bioeconomy by addressing the issues related to policy, infrastructure, and market development.

The study used data from questionnaire-based surveys that were conducted among NIPFs in Finland, Croatia, and Serbia. The surveys were conducted as part of two large European projects related to sustainable forest management and bioenergy production in a number of EU and non-EU countries. The Finnish data was obtained from 79 NIPFs residing in the Finnish Karelia (North and South) through a mail survey in 2010. The survey questionnaire consisted of close-ended items in three categories: (1) a socio-demographic profile of the Finnish NIPFs (2) background information about their forest estates, utilization and selling of energy wood, and (3) their attitudes to energy wood supply

Policy-makers articulate a growing need for science-based policy advice that supports their decisions, especially in fields that are dependent on scientific knowledge like natural resources or forestry. Publicly funded organizations, such as departmental research institutes, have been established in many countries to provide science-based policy advice. To assess the activities of two public research institutes, namely, Serbia's Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) and the Croatian Forest Research Institute (CFI), we use the new theory-based analytical model of departmental research developed by Bocher and Krott (2010). This model describes scientific policy advice as the connection between Research (R), Integration (I), and Utilization (U) — the RIU-model. Primary and secondary evidence refer to 148 ILFE and CFI projects conducted from 2005 to 2010. Our critical analysis of empirical data, which were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and project documentation, shows the following: (i) it is possible to analyze all activities of the two research institutes with the RIU-model of departmental research and present the results using “production lines”; (ii) activities of ILFE and CFI can be presented by the same types of production lines revealing their similar profile; (iii) all three spheres of the RIU-model can be found in the successful ILFE and CFI projects, only the Integration sphere is found in all projects; and (iv) the RIU-model is able to describe comprehensive activities of both research institutes, which opens the possibility to improve current evaluation procedures by taking into account both practical and scientific activities and outputs.

Urbane šume vrijedni su prirodni resursi koji modernom društvu pružaju višestruke koristi, pri čemu proizvodnja drva nije prioritet (Konijnendijk 2000). Stoga koristi od urbanih šuma vrlo često imaju obilježja netržišnih dobara i usluga. Prilikom donošenja odluka vezanih za urbane šume javlja se potreba za konkretnim informacijama, u idealnom slučaju rezultatima analize troškova i koristi, gdje su koristi od urbanih šuma važan ulazni podatak. Rezultati dobiveni znanstvenim metodama vrednovanja urbanih šuma mogu poslužiti za savjetovanje sudionika u procesu odlučivanja i donošenja politika u skladu s konceptom uporabljive znanosti (engl. usable science) (Stevanov i dr. 2011). Cilj je ovog rada kvalitativno analizirati literaturu koja se odnosi na vrednovanje koristi od urbanih šuma metodama vrednovanja netržišnih dobara i usluga. Na osnovi pretrage baze Science Direct izdvojeno ukupno 38 članaka koji su obuhvatili razdoblje od 1997. do 2012. godine. Analiza pokazuje da se najčešće primjenjuju metoda hedonističkih cijena (HPM) i metoda vrednovanja kontingenta (CVM), dok su metaanalize za sada rijetke. Odabrane studije obuhvaćaju različite tipove urbanih šuma (drveće, parkove, šume, rekreacijska područja) ili se odnose općenito na koncept otvorenog prostora (engl. open space) unutar kojih se nalaze i urbane šume. Većinu studija objavili su autori iz SAD-a (13) i Kine (8), a gledano po kontinentima najviše ih se odnosi na Europu (14), Sj. Ameriku (13) i Aziju (9). Istraživanja koja primjenjuju HPM pokazuju da blizina urbanih šuma (do 500 m) znatno utječe na porast vrijednosti nekretnine, a osim blizine, ključne varijable su tip i veličina urbane šume, slobodan pristup (ne naplaćuju se ulaznice) te razina kriminala. Najčešće vrednovana korist je mogućnost rekreacije. Rezultate vrednovanja različitim metodama treba tumačiti s oprezom, jer svaka pojedina metoda ima svojih prednosti i nedostataka. Analiza literature otkriva manjak ovakvih istraživanja u Hrvatskoj i upućuje na potrebu za jačom zastupljenosti ovakvih tema u budućnosti. Svrha je članka dati pregled studija vrednovanja koristi od urbanih šuma, pokazati koje varijable utječu na rezultat vrednovanja te općenito upozoriti na potrebu provođenja ovakvih studija. Prikazana analiza literature može poslužiti istraživačima, urbanistima, krajobraznim arhitektima te uživateljima koristi od urbanih šuma., Urban forests provide multiple benefits whereas wood production is less important in comparison to benefits such as mitigating air pollution and heath island effect, providing fresh water or recreational opportunities to growing urban population (Konijnendijk 2000). However these benefits are usually non-marketable. There are several typologies of forest benefits (services), while Tyrväinen et al. (2005) brings typology of benefits and uses of urban forests and trees (Table 1). Putting value on urban forest benefits helps decision makers to make informed decisions about urban forests, ideally based on cost- benefit analysis. This is in line with concept of usable science, whereas scientific results can serve as valuable information to political actors in the process of deliberation (Stevanov et al. 2011). The purpose of this paper was to give a literature analysis related to valuation of non-marketable urban forest benefits. Search engine Science Direct gave 38 results covering the period 1997-2012, with 24 papers published in the last five years (Table 2). Qualitative analysis showed that the most common valuation methods were hedonic pricing method (HPC) and contingent valuation method (CVM), while meta-analysis, as one of benefit transfer methods, was rare (Table 2). These methods use urban residents’ stated or revealed wiliness to pay (WTP) for urban forest benefits. Selected papers addressed different types of urban forests (street trees, trees in the park, forests or recreation areas) or trees as element of open spaces. Majority of studies are published by authors from USA (13) and China (8). Urban forest located within range of up to 500 m significantly affected valuation, as well as type, size, free access or level of crime in the neighbourhood. Recreational benefits were most commonly valuated. Results of valuation studies have to be interpreted in context of limitations of each method applied. Valuation studies of urban forest benefits in Croatia are still rare. Growing urban population and other pressures negatively influence urban forests. Putting monetary values on them could help in their conservation. This paper may be helpful to researchers, urban planners, landscape architects, and other consumers of urban forest benefits. There is almost no such research in Croatia, which indicates need to put more emphasis on this type of research in future.

U posljednje vrijeme sve su izraženiji zahtjevi za “uporabljivom” znanosti s izravno primjenjivim rezultatima u praksi. Mnoge europske zemlje, tako i Srbija i Hrvatska, postavljaju slične zahtjeve. Postojeće strategije i zakoni koji se odnose na znanstvenoistraživačku djelatnost javnih instituta (Vlada RS 2010, Vlada RH 2006, Hrvatski sabor 2003, MZOS 2006, 2007, 2010) navode da se znanstvenoistraživačka djelatnost obavlja radi ostvarivanja državnih interesa, uskom suradnjom s praksom i aktivnim prijenosom znanstveno utemeljenih i pravodobnih informacija donositeljima odluka i ostalim zainteresiranim stranama. Na primjeru Instituta za nizinsko šumarstvo i okoliš iz Srbije, pokazat ćemo da li, kako i u kojoj mjeri javni znanstveni instituti u području šumarstva i okoliša “osluškuju” potrebe sudionika u političkim procesima, odnosno koliko je znanstvenoistraživačka djelatnost Instituta u skladu sa zahtjevom “uporabljive znanosti”. Pri tome ćemo se poslužiti modelom resornoga istraživanja (Böcher i Krott 2010), koji aktivnosti i rezultate Instituta promatra kroz sfere istraživanja, integracije, znanstvene i praktične primjene. Veze između tih sfera prikazane su proizvodnim linijama, koje predstavljaju tijek i rezultate proizvodnje, u našem slučaju projekata. Analiza obuhvaća 51 znanstveno-istraživački projekt u razdoblju od 2005. do 2010. godine. Rezultati pokazuju primjenjivost modela resornoga istraživanja na odabrani Institut te jaku vezu između Instituta i korisnika rezultata istraživanja. Korišteni model, analizom aktivnosti Instituta za nizinsko šumarstvo i okoliš naglašava upravo uporabljivost rezultata koja je pri uobičajenim metodama evaluacije Instituta teško vidljiva., Many governments express a growing need for having a science that is “usable”, which means that research results should be useful for practical application. In Serbia and Croatia current strategies and laws addressing science and research see public research institutes as organizations with activities primarily oriented toward public interest, in a way that policy actors are provided with timely and adequate science-based information. In this paper we analysed scientific and research activities of public research Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) to see whether, how and to what extent this institution meets the needs of actors in policy processes, i.e. if it is in line with the requirements of “usable science”. The Model of departmental research (Böcher i Krott 2010), based on sociology of scientific knowledge and analytical theory, has been applied on total scientific and research activities of ILFE. The very Model consists of following spheres: research, integration, scientific and practical utilisation, whereas production lines connect them and stay for activities of research projects (Figure 1). In total 51 research projects of ILFE for the period 2005–2010 have been analysed (table 1), based on project documentation, as well as semi-structured questionnaires and interviews with project leaders and management of the Institutes. Collected information was used in analysis of each project and graphically presented by production line on the model of departmental research. This was followed by synthesis and interpretation of the results. Results showed five types of production lines: (1) Preliminary research, starting in integration sphere, with the idea what will in the future be relevant for particular actor(s). However most activities remain in the research sphere, and foster results toward scientific utilization (Figure 2). In total 15 research projects of ILFE correspond with this type of production line. (2) Research stopped in the integration discourse. This production line also starts in the integration sphere, continues to the research sphere, where project proposal has been made, but its implementation gets stopped by the actors in political process, i.e. in the integration sphere (Figure 3). Only three projects of ILFE correspond with this type of production line. (3) Research oriented toward practical utilisation, where constant interaction between research and integration spheres, ends up in practical utilisation of results (Figure 4). Analysis showed 6 out of 51 projects fall into this group of typical science-based advising of actors in policy processes. (4) Research projects oriented toward scientific and practical utilisation, with the main difference that results are meant not only for practice, but for the scientific community as well (Figure 5). A group of 18 projects can be presented by this production line. (5) Consulting activities of public institutes. In ILFE seven out of 51 projects can be depicted by this type of production line, for which is typical that usually entire project is within the integration sphere with outputs in the practical utilisation discourse. During the research we were able to present all projects of the ILFE by production lines on the model of departmental research. There is a strong connection between ILFE and users of its expertise, with more than half of research projects having practical application (table 1). There are also im portant consulting activities going on which confirms importance of their role and quality of connection with the practise and society. The model proves to be advantageous over existing evaluation methods, while it makes transparent all aspects of departmental research, which is useful for both users of science-based expertise and founders of these institutions. It also makes a solid base for optimisation and quality management processes within institutions.