Long distance timber transportation in Croatia - its status and development factors

Timber transportation comprises all types of moving wood from the forest (stump) to the user. According to the place, method, means and aims within forest transportation, we speak of collecting, skidding and long-distance transport. The last of the three refers as a rule to long and very long distances which has always required application of special techniques and development of specific technical means. In the past, the application of technical and technological means depended on how civilized and economically developed the particular society was. The paper is an attempt to present the development of long-distance transport of timber considering the major factors influencing it such as technical and technological development of the whole country as well as of some forest activities. The development and present status of long-distance timber transportation in Croatia is given special attention. Lorries and standard gauge rail are the major means of timber transportation in Croatia. Forest railway had gradually been losing its importance and in 1980 it was finally abandoned. Waterways are not being significant in timber transportation.