Introduction
Forest accounts are a set of inter-related accounts describing a number of key features of forests and associated land areas, timber resources and forestry and logging activity. The European Forest Accounts (EFA) consists of accounts in four main areas:
- asset accounts for wooded land
- asset accounts for timber stocks
- economic accounts for the forestry and logging industry and
- supply and use tables for flows of wood in the rough.
Economic accounts for forestry provide information on the economic contribution of forestry and logging to the national economy and use concepts specially adapted to the specific nature of the sector. Their consistency and completeness are provided in accordance with ESA '2010 and are developed under the methodology of Eurostat, published in the „European Forest Accounts Handbook”.
1. Legal bases
1.1 Legal basis
The legal basis for the realization of statistical surveys is: Law on State Statistics available ("Official Gazette" of Republic of Macedonia” No. 54/97, 21/07, 51/11, 104/13, 42/14, 192/15, 27/16, 83/18 and 220/18; and ("Official Gazette Republic of North Macedonia" No. 31/20).
International standards:
Regulation (EC) No. 691/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European Environmental Accounts (Anex VII for the module European Forest Accounts).
Regulation (EU) 2024/3024 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 amending (Annex VII “Module for forest accounts”) amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 as regards introducing new environmental economic account modules.
Regulation - 2024/3024 - EN - EUR-Lex
1.2 Data protection
Individual data are protected by the Law on State Statistics. Data collected with statistical surveys from the reporting units or indirectly from administrative or other sources are confidential data and are used only for statistical purposes. Results from statistical processing may also generate information considered as confidential, for example: anonymized individual data, tables with low level of aggregation, as well as unreleased data. The Policy on Statistical Confidentiality contains the basic principles used in the SSO.
2. Objective of the statistical survey and the statistical population
2.1 Objective of the statistical survey
The purpose of the survey is to show the value of forests and forest resources from an economic and environmental point of view. The Economic Accounts for Forestry describe the economic developments of forestry activity.
2.2 Statistical population
In the Economic Accounts for Forestry all units that perform forestry activity are included in the Economic Accounts for Forestry survey. In Republic of North Macedonia forestry is performed by: enterprises registered in forestry activity, entrepreneurs and agricultural holdings that meet a definition of the European comparable agricultural holding that has at least one hectare of utilized agricultural area, or less than 1 hectare of utilized agricultural area but at least 0.1 hectare of utilized agricultural area and 0.9 hectare of forest. Agricultural holdings perform forestry activity as a main or secondary activity.
Economic Accounts for Forestry cover the entire forestry activity, which is separable by definition, irrespective of the institutional sector in which it takes place. Because they are based on the concept of activity, all production units that perform activity as a primary or secondary and are registered in the same class of Standard Classification of Activities (NACE Rev, 2.1) are included. Silviculture and other forestry activities (A 02.10), logging (A 02.20), harvesting of wild growing non-wood products (A 02.30) and forestry services (A 02.40) are included in forestry activity (A 02).
3. Selection of a sample (Filled only for a sample surveys)
3.1 Defining the target population
Not applicable
3.2 Sampling design and framework
Not applicable
4. Reporting units and method of data collection
4.1 Reporting units
Not applicable
4.2 Method of data collection
European Forest Accounts are carried out on the basis of numerous statistical surveys:
- Statistical surveys of agricultural and forestry statistics
- Social statistics – retail energy prices
- Foreign trade statistics
- National Accounts (FISIM, taxes and other subsidies on production)
Forest Accounts are carried out on the basis of administrative data and evidences:
- Data from Public enterprise “National Forests”: data on forest products, machines and equipment, labor force, number of employees – part-time, full-time employees and seasonal workers.
4.3 Periodicity of data collection
Annual.
4.4 Reference period
Data are collected annually. Data are collected from March to August of the current year (t) for the previous year (t-1).
5. Basic concepts and definitions
5.1 Defining statistic variables
Main variables of the Forest Accounts are: area, of wooded land, wood stocks, production, intermediate consumption, gross value added, factor income, operating surplus/mixed income, fixed capital consumption, gross fixed capital formation, entrepreneurial income and employment.
The area of wooded land refers to all wooded land within the reference country plus relevant areas of other land with tree cover. The classes are Forest (1), Forest available for wood supply (1.1), Forest not available for wood supply (1.2), Other wooded land (2), Other wooded land available for wood supply (2.1), and Other land with tree cover available for wood supply (3). Data are valued in physical units – 1000 ha and monetary units – million denars.
The volume of timber on wooded land refers to all timber stocks on wooded land and other land with tree cover available for wood supply within the reference country. The entries for timber stocks are recorded following different classes namely: Forest (1), Forest available for wood supply (1.1), Forest not available for wood supply (1.2), Other wooded land (2), Other wooded land available for wood supply (2.1) and Other land with tree cover available for wood supply (3). Data are valued in physical units – 1000 m3 over bark and monetary units – million denars.
6. Definition of key indicators
6.1 Definition of indicator
Output of the forestry industry equals the value of the forestry goods output, the value of the forestry services output and the value of inseparable secondary non-forestry activities. It is calculated for an individual calendar year and it is valued at basic prices, which means that all taxes on products and services are excluded and all subsidies on products and services are included. Output of the forestry industry is composed of market production (purchase) and own final consumption.
Intermediate consumption is valued at purchase prices. It presents the value of all products and services that foresters purchase and use in the process of forestry output. Intermediate consumption covers all products with a life span of one year and products the value of which does not exceed EUR 500.
Gross value added at basic prices equals the output of the forestry industry at basic prices less intermediate consumption at purchase prices. Gross value added also equals the sum of fixed capital consumption, compensation of employees, other taxes on production and gross operating surplus/gross mixed income, while other subsidies on production are subtracted.
Net value added at basic prices equals the output of the forestry industry at basic prices less intermediate consumption at purchase prices less fixed capital consumption. Net value added also equals the sum of compensation of employees, other taxes on production and net operating surplus/net mixed income, while other subsidies on production are subtracted.
Factor income is the amount left to pay off the production factors> works, capital and land. Factor income equals net value added less other taxes on production plus other subsidies on production. Factor income also equals the sum of net operating surplus and compensation of employees.
Operational surplus is the residual category that equals factor income of companies less compensation of employees.
Mixed income is the residual category on unincorporated enterprises and self-employed persons. Mixed income can be shown either as net or gross including fixed capital consumption.
Entrepreneurial income equals net operating surplus/net mixed income less paid rents and interest plus received interest that refers exclusively to forestry production.
6.2 Indicator calculation
Output of the forestry industry = value of goods characteristic of the forestry and logging activity + value of services characteristic of the forestry and logging activity + value of other products from related secondary activities in the local KAU + value of other products.
Intermediate consumption = value of good input + value of services input + value of other goods and services not accounted for in any variables of intermediate consumption.
Gross value added = output – intermediate consumption
Net value added = gross value added – consumption of fixed capital
Factor income = net value added – other taxes on production + other subsidies on production
Operational surplus/Mixed income = factor income – compensation of employees
Entrepreneurial income = operating surplus/mixed income – rents paid + interest paid + interest received
7. Nomenclature and classifications
7.1 Classifications
1. Classification of products by industry – CPA
2. National classification of activities _NACE Rev. 2.1
7.2 Nomenclature
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7.3 Code lists
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8. Data processing
8.1 Data processing
After receiving the input data, a comparative study of data values is done on the basis of a comparison of values between years and (potentially) existing related data sources. Any uncertainty regarding the data is previously verified with input sources, any error correction is carried out in cooperation with them. After checking and correcting, data are entered in prepared tables and worksheets of the economic accounts for forestry. After completing the entry, tabulating of results is obtained with the preparation of tables, arranged according to the value of certain variables in standard format for transmission to Eurostat.
Procedures (imputation, inserting, weighting) for any missing responses (non-response) are not conducted.
8.2 Level of aggregation of output data
Data are aggregated at national level.
8.3 Data protection obligation
Employees of the Office for a fixed or indefinite period of time, as well as those who, on the basis of a contract, perform collection or in the course of their work have access to confidential data, are obliged not to disclose such data during and after the termination of the employment relationship or the employment under a work contract.
The mentioned persons, before obtaining access to confidential data, sign a declaration for the protection of statistical confidentiality through which they will be informed of the obligations for data protection.
9. Data publication
9.1 Media for publication of statistical data
MAKSTAT database
https://makstat.stat.gov.mk/PXWeb/pxweb/mk/MakStat/MakStat__ZivotnaSredina__SmetkiSum/
Eurostat database
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/for_eco_cp/default/table?lang=en&category=for.for_eaf
10. Data audit
10.1 Type of audit
There is no established policy on audit.
10.2 Audit reasons
Routine revisions are carried out regularly in order to incorporate the most current information.
Contact person:
Suzana Stojanovska