Last winter, a private owner obtained all the necessary permits to conduct clear cuts as part of a forest renewal project. The clear cuts were visible from afar in the spring. On social networks, ecologists started a debate about the damage done by such actions and submitted photographs taken from drones.

Officials at the Novo Mesto regional offices of the Slovenian Forest Service were surprised at the publication of the photos that had apparently been taken without permission. The Forest Service would like to sue drones to inspect forest damage from heavy snow, high winds, and avalanches, as well as to monitor the progress of the bark beetle. But they cannot use drones because of directives issued by the Civil Aviation Agency.

Working alongside the Ministry of Defense, the Forest Service has conducted a few trial projects with the use of drones. The drones proved to be an effective resource, and the agency hopes that the current barrier to their use in forestry will be abolished.