Forest reproductive material represents basis for all activities related to forest establishment (afforestation of available forest areas and abandoned agricultural land, burned areas, landfills, queries, protective belts and help to natural regeneration). Increase of negative influences on natural ecosystems together with increase of public needs for all functions which forests provide open the space for more intensive nursery production in the future. This is the reason why forest reproductive material and afforestation in the future should have more pronounced significance in the Croatian economy if we take into the account the fact that besides utilization of forest products, ecological and other services forests also provide economical benefits in the frame of signed EU agreements.

Croatian Forest Research Institute was established during 1960-s with the aim of forest culture establishment with different purposes and was the leading institution in production of forest reproduction material. From the 1992 Institute continually conducts expert supervision of nursery production which points to real needs not only in artificially established forest cultures but in natural stands as well. The nurseries supervision is conducted in all registered nurseries for FRM production in Croatia and is appointed by the Ministry of agriculture. The data collected during supervision of FRM production which is conducted by CFRI was used for analysis of forest tree seedlings production.

Forest seedlings have an important role in silviculture activities in the Republic of Croatia as well as in other European countries. In addition to forest restoration, the need for restoration after natural disasters and biological threats to which our forests are exposed is continuously increasing. Therefore, the need for planning the production of forest seedlings of good quality and in sufficient quantities is continuously growing. The Croatian Forest Research Institute (CFRI) is the official body that carries out and is responsible for controlling the production, marketing and quality of forest reproductive material in the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Based on the Law on Forest Seeds and Forest Seedlings (NN. 68/98) and the Law on Forest Reproductive Material (NN 75/09, 61/11, 56/13, 14/14, 32/19, 98/19) Expert supervision on nursery production employees of the CFRI, Department of Silviculture, have been continuously working since 1992. The Ministry of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Croatia, current Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries approved the certificate for this supervision (Classes: UP/I-321-03/23-01/5; Ur.br. 238-12-20-01-23-1.). After the employee of the CFRI has done expert supervision, that person issues a Record. The Record of the production of forest reproductive material in an individual nursery contains information on the executor and the representative of the supplier of planting material, as well as the basic documents controlled by expert supervision. After inspecting the documentation on forest seeds and forest seedlings, the Inventory List (made on September 30), an inspection of the amount of forest reproductive material and its quality as well as the conditions of nursery production, a List is issued (which is an integral part of the Record). The List establishes that the planting material listed in it corresponds to the type and category from the Act, i.e. from the Ordinance on conditions and criteria for classifying forest reproductive material and quality classes, as well as the manner of its declaration, labelling and packaging (NN 68/13, 21/17). The Record also contains other remarks and suggestions (e.g. improvement in the organization of the production process, recommendations for the acquisition of necessary resources, i.e. tools for work, the establishment of an irrigation system for nurseries that lack it, recommendations for plant nutrition analysis, improving the soil by applying fertilizers or green manure, fencing if it has not already been done, etc.). Attached to the Record is the Record of the owner’s inspection registered in the Phytosanitary register, which was made based on the spring and autumn health inspection, and the taking of samples to analyse possible plant diseases, fungi or pests.