Deforestation in 10 most valuable forests suspended in Poland

Deforestation in 10 most valuable forests suspended in Poland shutterstock
Katerina Belousova

Cutting has been suspended for 1.5% of state forests

In Poland, the 10 most environmentally and socially valuable forests have suspended or limited logging for 6 months.

This was the first stage in the implementation of the country's sustainable forest development policy, Forsal.pl reports.

It is noted that deforestation will be limited to the territory of such forests:

  • Augustovsky;
  • Romnytskyi;
  • Boretskyi;
  • Świętokrzyskie;
  • Knysinskyi;
  • the area around Ivonich-Zdroj;
  • forests around Wrocław and Trujmist;
  • Bieszczady Mountains;
  • relict Carpathian forest.

"These are the most valuable natural places and forests with an important social aspect," said Poland's Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska. – In general, this is approximately 1.5% of the total area of ​​forests managed by the State Forestry Agency."

She added that this decision is an emergency measure in emergency circumstances and the ministry is working on a systemic solution to increase such areas. These decisions will be coordinated with representatives of the State Forestry Agency, local authorities and communities.

Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Mykolay Dorozhala emphasized that forestry companies for which these restrictions were imposed will still be able to perform contractual work. For example, cutting down of hundred-year-old conifers will be stopped in the Boretsky Forest, and in the Carpathian Forest – on the territory of 8,000 hectares of the future Turnytskyi National Park.

Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that eco-activists from the "Ukrainian Nature Protection Group" accused the state enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" of continuing the illegal destruction of ancient forests during sanitary logging.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, according to Global Forest Watch, during 2000-2020, the area of ​​virgin forest landscapes (NFL) in the world declined by 155 million hectares, that is, by 12%.

Related
Tenders for relatives and MPs: who is restoring Volyn’s forests for over 80 million UAH
Tenders for relatives and MPs: who is restoring Volyn’s forests for over 80 million UAH

Одна з фірм лише за три місяці існування виграла контракти на понад 70 млн грн

It’s not just salamanders: in Zakarpattia, ‘Forests of Ukraine’ have destroyed the habitat of a number of rare species
It’s not just salamanders: in Zakarpattia, ‘Forests of Ukraine’ have destroyed the habitat of a number of rare species

Activists have created an infographic showing the locations where valuable plant and animal species were recorded prior to deforestation

Saving the Zhikhor Forest from quarry expansion: a nature reserve project was presented in Kharkiv
Saving the Zhikhor Forest from quarry expansion: a nature reserve project was presented in Kharkiv

No government representatives attended the event, but the activists hope to get their message across to them at the forthcoming round-table discussion

There are plans to require large businesses to disclose their environmental impact
There are plans to require large businesses to disclose their environmental impact

The first year for which a report will be required is 2028