Slovenia
Slovenia has adopted a cross-sectoral strategy for forestry, coordinated by the agriculture and forestry sector, which promotes close-to-nature practices that mimic natural dynamics, natural regeneration, tree species genetic diversity, and support to ecological functions [1]. The country's approach is traditionally influenced by forestry legislation, which almost exclusively promotes these practices [1]. Financial support is provided in the form of free planting stock for areas affected by disturbances with changed or limited natural regeneration and free forestry service, including intensive protection of forests against pests and the control of invasive species, promotion of forest operations, monitoring, education, research, and capacity building through strengthening the cooperation with forest owners [1].
Slovenia has a large forest cover, with 61% of the land covered by forests [3]. The Natura 2000 network in Slovenia covers 37.9% of the national territory, of which almost 70% are forests [1]. The agricultural sector is characterised by small family farms, with 60% of holdings having less than 5 hectares of land [3]. The key objective of Slovenia's strategy is to ensure food security and sustainable food production throughout the country, while at the same time addressing environmental and climate challenges [3].
Slovenia has also adopted a sectoral adaptation strategy for agriculture and forestry in 2008, with two action plans prepared for 2009-2011 and 2010-2013 [4]. The country is already investing in research, new technologies, and development to reach the objective of climate neutrality and will continue to do so in the future [4]. The report states that construction with urbanisation and industrialisation, transport, and agriculture acceleration are among the salient and recorded pressures upon, and threats to, the species and habitat types in Slovenia that are important for Europe [4].
The "Leader" approach presents a novelty in the Slovenian agricultural policy, with the main objective being to describe the implementation of the approach in Slovenia [5]. The need for more coordination between sectors relevant to forestry development and forest resources conservation is underlined in Chapter 11 of the FAO report [6]. The report highlights the importance of a holistic approach that pays considerably more attention to the impacts of forestry policies on other policy domains, particularly positive policy linkages that result from protection forests and multiple-use forest management that exist towards agriculture, water resources management, rural development, and environmental protection [6].