Professional Study Programme in Forestry
Forestry in Slovenia is an important economic and environmental activity. Forests cover more than 50 percent of Slovenia and are potential natural vegetation for more than 90 percent of the territory. According to the 2005 data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2100 people are employed in the field of forestry. They are mostly employed outside of urban centres and they thus help solve the problems of demographically endangered areas. The Professional Study Programme in Forestry has a long tradition and it links natural science, social and technical subjects needed for close-to-nature, sustainable and multipurpose forest management. The main aims of the programme are to qualify a student for complete forest and forest space management. Full-time and part-time studies are provided at the Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources of the Biotechnical Faculty and in the field. Twenty-five percent of contact hours are devoted to fieldwork, which is carried out at different locations in Slovenia. The study programme lasts for six terms, during which a student obtains 180 credits. After the completion of all the prescribed study requirements, a student obtains a professional degree in forestry. Graduates can be employed in the public forestry service, organizations for game management and nature conservation, or in business enterprises. More and more opportunities are provided by independent business (primary wood processing, forest construction, wood trade, arboriculture, ornamental tree production, energy supply from renewable sources). Higher demands for forestry professionals are expected in administrative agencies for nature conservation, forestry business and in independent entrepreneurship.
