| Abstract [eng] |
On 17 November 1918, the fi rst forestry administration was founded in the Ministry for Agriculture and National Wealth, which immediately organized the takeover of forests from the retreating Germans. On 15 February 1922, the Founding Seimas passed the law on Land Reform, which together with the Introductory Land Reform Law on the Expropriation of Forests, Marshes, Waters and Land Acquired by Privilege, became the theoretical basis for the forest property. The biggest part of Lithuania’s forest had to be state- owned. According to its quantitative parameters, forest and timber industry in Lithuania was second only to the food industry. However, forestry and wood processing enterprises were much bigger. After WWI the industry of Šiauliai city started to significantly recover only during the 1920s. Šiauliai county had 23 percent of Lithuania’s exploitable timber resources (Kaunas County had 30 percent). This allowed for more rapid development of forestry and timber industries in the region. In 1930, there were 239 enterprises in the city among which there were four furniture producers, one chair producer, and one sawmill. Besides, three windmills had their own sawmills. After the fi rst Soviet occupation, the process of Sovietization began. It was decided to nationalize all enterprises with more than 20 workers and all important mechanical engines of a particular industry. After WWII, the second stage of Sovietization of forestry and timber industries was started in Šiauliai County. After founding the Ministry of Forestry in 1947, subordinate institutions were created throughout the whole Republic, which took over forests to its care. Since then, forestry enterprises were involved exclusively in production. During the war Šiauliai suffered numerous losses. However, the Soviet authorities were seeking to increase the size of production enterprises and the efficiency of the production process. [...]. |
