Small and Medium Enterprises Based on Non-Wood Forest Products: Characteristics and Types in Serbia

Dragan Nonić; Jelena Nedeljković; Nenad Ranković

doi:10.7595/management.fon.2014.0024

Dragan Nonić University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry
Jelena Nedeljković University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry
Nenad Ranković University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7595/management.fon.2014.0024

Abstract

In order to increase the contribution of the forestry sector to economic and social development, it is necessary to support the establishment and development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whose business is based on wood and non-wood forest products (NWFPs). To properly plan the development of the private forestry sector, it is also necessary to establish the basic structure and forms of SMEs for procurement, processing and sale of NWFPs (NWFP-SMEs) as well as their business. In this context, the aim of the research was to determine the characteristics and types of NWFP-SMEs. The study included 91 representatives of NWFP-SMEs in Central Serbia. The analysis of the results showed that, based on the characteristics and activities they perform, there are three types of NWFP-SMEs. Based on the characteristics and attitudes towards additional training, four types of NWFP-SMEs representatives can be distinguished. The results can serve as a basis for further study on types of SMEs and improving the entrepreneurship in NWFP sector.

Author Biographies

Dragan Nonić, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. Dragan Nonić is associated professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade and Head of Forestry Economics and Organisation. He teaches the followng courses: organisation and management in forestry and nature protection, entrepreneurship and SMEs in forestry, and governance in forestry and nature protection at both BSc, MSc and PhD levels. As the author or co-author, he has published a textbook, several monographs and around 200 papers in national and international scientific journals. He has been coordinator of “Tempus”, DAAD and European Forest Institute projects, and collaborates as an expert in FAO, World Bank and regional projects. He was a visiting researcher at Albert Ludwigs Universität – Freiburg, ETH – Zürich and BOKU – Wien, and a visiting professor at the University in Sarajevo and the University of Banja Luka. Dr. Dragan Nonić is Alexander von Humboldt and DAAD Foundation’s Alumni.

Jelena Nedeljković, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry

Jelena Nedeljković, graduate engineer, is research assistant at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade. Her fields of research interest are: organisation and management in forestry, entrepreneurship and SMEs in forestry and governance in nature protection. She has been a co-author of around 30 scientific papers and several national and international monographs, and also participated in international research projects. She was granted European Forest Institute (EFI) scholarships for PhD students and was a visiting researcher at EFI Mediterranean Regional Office – Barcelona and BOKU – Wien.

Nenad Ranković, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. Nenad Ranković is full professor at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, where he teaches courses in forest economics, forest policy, and trade and marketing of forest products at BSc, MSc and PhD levels. He has published, as author and co-author, 3 books, 4 monographs and more than 140 papers in national and international scientific journals. As coordinator or participant, he has been involved in several research projects.