FORESTRY PROFESSIONALS' AWARENESS OF THE EU TIMBER REGULATION IN THE FEDERATION OF BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA

UDK: 630*93:630*68(497.6) Illegal logging and related trade represent one of the most important forest-related issues at international policy scene. In 2002, the European Union had initiated establishment of regional initiatives on preventing trade of illegally harvested wood, well known as FLEGT process. Other important segment of European Union efforts is adoption of legally-binding Regulation No. 995/2010 - EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) that prohibits import of illegally harvested wood and their products into EU. Bosnia-Herzegovina is country with economy in transition and with relatively slow progress toward EU integration process, while rising of awareness on need for prevention and combat with illegal activities and corruption represent one of the mayor challenges for its society. This paper analyse forestry professionals’ awareness of the EU Timber Regulation in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina as precondition for planning further steps on improving human and institutional capacities in forest sector to prevent and combat with illegal activities. In order to conduct the analysis of forestry professionals’ awareness on EUTR, survey was conducted among currently employed forestry professionals in forest sector of the FB-H. Results revealed that employed forestry professionals in the FB-H have different level of awareness on EUTR. Therefore, creation and consistent implementation of informational forest policy instruments are needed in order to increase capacities of forestry professionals related to elements of EUTR implementation process. Efforts on prevention and combat with illegal activities in forest sector should involve implementation of mix of forest policy instruments directed toward harmonization of forest policy in the FB-H with EUTR requirements based on active participation of forestry professionals that are aware of EUTR implementation process and its potential influences on forest and wood-processing sectors of the FB-H.