VIRGIN FORESTS AND FOREST RESERVES IN ... - Natura 2000

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Preface
preserved, and took on systematic research. The example was followed by Slovenia
(MLINŠEK 1967, 1976) and other Central and East European countries (PINTARIČ 1978,
PRÙŠA 1985, KORPEL 1995, PRPIČ and SELETKOVIČ 1996).
Organisation of the meeting and preparation of the proceedings
The third plenary session of the management committee and of the working groups of the
COST meeting started with a two-days excursion to virgin forests of the Koèevje region,
to mountain forests of Pokljuka (the Triglav National Park) and to the littoral part of
Slovenia (Karst). Thirteen experts from Slovenia and 46 from other European countries
participated. Prominent scientists from Central and East European countries with a rich
tradition of protection and investigation of forest reserves, which do not formally cooperate
in the COST Action E4, were also invited to take part in the meeting. In invited
lecturers’ reports they presented the development of the concept of forest reserves and
their current situation in individual countries. Their reports represent an important
contribution to the Action and are published in the proceedings. An important part of the
meeting was held in the field, therefore some of the more extensive contributions
presented in the field are also included in the proceedings. The reports of the remaining
Central and East European countries that participate in the Action (Slovenia, Slovakia,
Russia and Hungary) are published in the joint proceedings of the Action (PARVIAINEN
1999). A short summary of the country reports by Mr Parviainen is presented in this
proceedings on pages 162-171.
In the present proceedings, the reports have been arranged alphabetically according to
participating countries. They are published as they were presented at the meeting but in a
smaller format and with some graph or chart changes to achieve better resolution. The
contents of each individual report are the sole responsibility of the author.
All involved in the organisation of the meeting in Slovenia wish that the present
proceedings will contribute to a further insight into different approaches to the
investigation of virgin forests in Europe and to a link between them, as well as to a
broader discussion and further research in this field.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The meeting in Slovenia and the publication of the proceedings were made possible by:
The Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources of the Biotechnical Faculty,
University of Ljubljana, the COST Action E4 of the European Union, and the Ministry of
Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia within the framework of projects
MS-42797 and J4-0513-0488-98. Objectives of the meeting were successfully achieved
with the aid of the Forest Institute of Slovenia, the Slovenian Forest Service, and the
Triglav National Park.
Our particular thanks for assistance in the organisation of the meeting are due to:
– Mr. Albin Babič of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of
Slovenia,