Sustainable governance in forestry and nature protection.
At the global level, due to the negative effects of over-exploitation of natural resources, numerous processes and initiatives for their conservation and sustainable governance have started. The beginning of the transition process, as well as political and economic changes that followed in the countries in transition, were in line with the new orientation of the international forest and nature protection policy. The transition process has caused, among other things, a redefinition of the role of government in managing natural resources. This meant a shift from “government” to “governance” concept. This concept refers to the change from the classical approach of “command and control” to active participation of all involved parties and establishing rules for the division of responsibilities and benefits. The aim of the paper is to identify, analyze and systematise the current concepts of sustainable governance in forestry and nature protection, their characteristics and the principles on which they are based, with a main purpose of preparation of a research platform for more detailed research in this area. The paper gives recommendations for the application of the principles of governance in forestry and nature protection, as well as recommendations for future research in this area.