ZLV Online

Abstrakt

Existing works dealing with the issue of financing the forest sector agree that – due to the fragmentation of resource potential – funding is very inconsistent, and deserves to be reviewed. The main aim of the article is to examine alternatives to the current conservative subsidy system. Methodically, the data for the analysis were obtained through public survey among academics engaged in forestry, and wood economics and policy. Two hypotheses were stated. Based on the former, an alternative system will be preferred and, based on the latter, the preference will be given to a major innovation of the system. The first hypothesis was not confirmed because two alternatives were similarly preferred (each by 30% respondents), which however were at the same time major innovations. Thus the second hypothesis was confirmed. For the actual application of these alternatives – i.e. payments for ecosystem services or lump sum payments per forest area – a series of analyses will have to be carried out on issues relating to public administration as well as other stakeholders.