To mark the centenary of their establishment this year, the State Forests have proposed the creation or expansion of 100 reserves.
Over the past decades, Poland’s forest cover has been increasing, with forest land growing to approximately 30% since 1945. While there are limits to afforestation due to reaching a certain threshold at the national level, the State Forests continue to acquire land for this purpose. Foresters also ensure the sustainability of forests, replanting areas within a maximum of 5 years after timber harvesting, often much sooner, even within the first or second year, and increasingly through natural regeneration.
Given the impacts of climate change on forests and their projected intensification in the future, there has been a significant societal debate on increasing forest protection. “Forests are both victims of climate change and our crucial ally in combating it,” emphasizes the Climate Crisis Task Committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences in its latest statement on forests. “We must reconcile timber production with carbon sequestration, water resource protection, and biodiversity conservation in forest ecosystems.”
In this context, it is worth noting that the State Forests currently have approximately 9-13% of areas designated as non-extractive zones. Responding to societal expectations for more such areas, the State Forests have proposed the establishment of 100 new nature reserves. This is the best way to honor the centenary of our organization’s existence. Work is already underway. Over 200 proposals for new reserves have been received from forest districts to date. Each proposal is currently being analyzed to select the most valuable and diverse areas. Over the next two months, foresters will review hundreds of proposals and announce them online. The next stage involves compiling documentation, incorporating feedback from local authorities, environmentalists, and residents of areas surrounding the new reserves. In the second half of the year, completed applications will be submitted to Regional Environmental Protection Directorates, which have the authority to establish reserves.
