Women in forestry: In Slovenia, about 40% of forest owners are women. Valentina Šmid is one of the voices challenging stereotypes and opening paths for others.

Forestry has long been considered a male-dominated field. And although things are slowly changing, women often still have to prove themselves more than their male colleagues. Yet in Slovenia, progress is evident — women now represent over 40% of forest owners, placing the country among the European leaders in gender balance in forest ownership.

One of the inspiring faces in Slovenian forestry is Valentina Šmid, a young undergraduate forestry student at the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana. A passionate hunter and nature lover, she grew up in the Bohor hills, on the southern edge of the Kozjansko region. She now works part-time with Slovenian State Forests, gaining hands-on experience in the field — quite literally, in the forests of her home region.


“I’m in the forest every day — in one way or another. It’s part of who I am. And yes, my favorite color is green.”

Valentina med svojimi prijatelji - člani Društva študentov gozdarstva na licitaciji lesa 2025 v Slovenj Gradcu.

FROM FOREST CHILDHOOD TO FORESTRY CAREER

Valentina’s connection with the forest started early. Her father is a hunter, and she often joined him on walks and work in the woods. This led her to enroll at the Secondary School for Forestry and Woodworking in Maribor, and later continue her studies in Ljubljana.

“Where you live really shapes what you want to do,” she explains. “At my high school, there were only three of us girls in the entire forestry program. Today, the numbers are better — also thanks to our efforts to promote it.”

At the university, women now make up around 30% of students in all forestry programs, and around 35% at doctoral level. Among professors in the forestry department, women represent about 22%. Valentina plans to pursue a master’s degree and then work in a role that combines fieldwork and forestry planning — ideally with some research involved. “I’m especially drawn to forest technology,” she adds.

WHEN FOREST WALKS BECOME FIELD ASSESSMENTS

For most of us, forests are a place to unwind. But for someone like Valentina, a walk in the woods is rarely just that.

“I find it hard to switch off. I see what’s going on — what’s overgrown, where thinning is needed… It’s hard not to analyze everything.”

WOMEN INVOLVEMENT IN FORESTRY

This professional mindset is something she’s eager to pass on. Through various projects and initiatives, including Fem2Forests, Valentina actively promotes greater involvement of women in forestry. The international project aims to develop inclusive career pathways and empower young women through workshops and mentorship — one of which she recently attended.

“We need to support each other more. At times, the attitude toward women in forestry can still be a bit patronizing. I remember a landowner being visibly surprised when I showed up with a forest ranger,” she says, adding that things are gradually improving.

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY NEEDS SMART TECHNOLOGY

Valentina is also a strong advocate of sustainable forest management — something that Slovenian forestry takes seriously. “We’re moving in the right direction,” she notes. “Even the equipment has evolved — chainsaws are quieter, vibrate less, and produce fewer emissions. We’re aiming for ergonomic and environmentally friendly solutions.”

She also points out the importance of using native tree species and warns against introducing invasive ones. “Diversity should be achieved with local species — that’s the only way it’s truly sustainable.”

SOMETIMES LESS IS MORE IN THE FOREST

She’s quick to point out that large harvesting machines aren’t always the best solution. “In rugged terrain, or when tree diameters are too large, a tractor with a logging winch and a forestry trailer can actually do less damage than mechanized harvesting.”

This practical approach reflects not just her education, but the deep-rooted understanding of her local forests. And right next door, Tajfun is developing and manufacturing forestry machinery built precisely for that kind of thoughtful, terrain-aware work.

THE FUTURE IS DIVERSE – AND GREEN

Though she laughs when asked about her favorite tree — “The one with the most cubic meters!” — Valentina is serious about the future of forestry. “We need to walk through the forest with our eyes open. Bohor is completely different from Pohorje or Kočevje. Every forest has its rhythm and energy — winter snow, spring growth, summer shade, autumn colors. It never gets old.”

And most importantly, she wants more people — especially young women — to know that forestry isn’t just a man with a chainsaw.