Caution in Maksimir: Croatian Forests issue warning, especially to parents with children

Croatian Forests has issued a special warning to parents after visitors showed interest in the machinery being used to clear storm damage in Maksimir Park.

The company asked people to follow on-site signs and stay behind the tape marked “Caution, logging area!” It said the machines particularly attract children, but warned that approaching them could cause injuries.

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The goal of this work is to remove all the wood left on the ground after the severe storms, and we are working to make Maksimir Park safe for all visitors as soon as possible.

The work aims to remove trees and other wood left on the ground after severe storms struck Zagreb and the surrounding area in March. Much of the damage occurred in forest areas that heavy machinery could not easily reach.

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We know that our work to repair the windthrow damage in the northern part of Maksimir Park attracts visitors’ attention. We ask everyone who encounters the work to follow the signs on the ground and not cross the tape marked: 'Caution, logging area!'

Unfavorable weather through much of the spring also prevented crews from operating safely and increased the risk of further damage to forest soil. Work in the northern part of Maksimir began in mid-August, with felling and timber removal expected to finish during October.

Ante Pejić, an authorized urban forestry technologist and deputy manager of the urban forestry unit in Zagreb, said the goal was to remove all storm debris and make the park safe for visitors as soon as possible. Activities in Maksimir are being coordinated with the Nature of the City of Zagreb public institution, the city office responsible for cultural heritage and nature, the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, and the Faculty of Agriculture.

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We also know that our machines arouse interest, especially among the youngest, but it is very important not to approach them because of the risk of injury.