The Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology and other stakeholders commemorated the thirtieth anniversary of Pro Silva Bohemica, an association of foresters dedicated to promoting close-to-nature forest management. Professor Emeritus Vladimír Tesař delivered a keynote address on this occasion.
Professor Tesař devoted several decades of his career to the Faculty, where he specialised in silviculture. His teaching and research shaped multiple generations of forestry professionals and significantly contributed to the advancement of close-to-nature forest management. As a co-founder and the first chairman of the Czech branch of Pro Silva, he played a pivotal role in defining its vision and direction. In his address, he reflected on the symbolic meaning of the anniversary. Founding Pro Silva Bohemic marked a rare convergence of three generations of foresters—from those who remembered the shift away from clear-cutting through the post-1989 generation that embraced shelterwood systems to the youngest professionals advocating close-to-nature approaches.
In his speech, Professor Tesař emphasised the importance of continuity, intergenerational respect, and comprehensive training as prerequisites for the successful transformation of forest management. He cautioned that the transition to non-clear-cut systems cannot be implemented through regulation alone, warning that such top-down approaches may be counterproductive without sufficient practical training for foresters. “The successful outcome of any activity lies in the motto: to want to, to be able to, to know how to,” he noted. These pillars—will, competence, and skill—should form the foundation of every forester’s professional identity.
He also underscored the need for continued professional development, advocating for specialised courses in refined silvicultural practices to prepare foresters for the demands of modern legislation and the complex realities of forest management. He stressed that forest transformation based on Pro Silva principles must not be merely a reaction to climate change but a deliberate and informed choice rooted in a deep understanding of forests as multifunctional ecosystems.
In closing, Professor Tesař expressed his satisfaction that Pro Silva Bohemica has grown from an academic initiative into a respected professional platform that has remained true to its founding values and established itself as a lasting presence in Czech forestry. He reminded the audience that pursuing truth demands inner effort, not comfort. His address served as a dignified reflection on the association’s thirty-year journey and a call for the thoughtful, professionally grounded development of non-clear-cut forest management methods.
