Foresters submitted a statement to the Director General of the State Forests, Witold Koss, regarding actions aimed at suspending or limiting work in some Polish forests.
At the beginning of January, the Ministry of Climate and Environment issued an order to state forests to suspend or limit the felling of the most naturally valuable forests. The public welcomed the restriction. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about foresters and representatives of the timber industry.
Foresters’ appeal
In recent days, foresters have sent a letter to the Director General of the State Forests, Witold Koss, in which they present their position on actions aimed at suspending or limiting work in some Polish forests.
One of the topics discussed earlier was the future of people working in this field related to the logging ban.
We look with great concern at the future of the State Forests, and thus the future of foresters and our closest partners: forest entrepreneurs, woodcutters and all forest people. We understand the need for changes, but we are also aware of the effects of the order contained in the letter of the Minister of Climate and Environment of January 8, 2024, which suspends and limits not only wood harvesting works, but also other previously planned forest management activities that directly affect about 0.5 million people – foresters indicate in their letter.
They argue that the effects of implementing the often contradictory and imprecise instructions contained in the order of the Ministry of Environmental Protection are clearly noticeable today.
Society has divided into those who are satisfied with the suspension of work in the forests and those who, aware of the consequences of this decision, strongly express their dissatisfaction – there is increasing anxiety and clear opposition shown through protests – they add.
As the forest services emphasize, they take care of the forests and constantly expand their area. However, their tasks do not end there. Employees of state forests protect all nature and individual species, support the activities of National Parks and scientific research. Additionally, they implement water management projects: limiting floods, preventing droughts and collecting water resources in forests, but also in their immediate vicinity.
So why have we recently come across negative information almost every day about the forest in which we serve in accordance with the legal status in force in Poland and about us, Polish foresters, who are considered in these reports to be the main culprits of the untrue state of Polish nature, its protection and extremely the harmful image of “huge fellings”? – they ask in a letter to the director. – There are reports of “logging”, “destruction of nature”, “cutting down forests” even several times in one day. They contain many slanders, accusations of forest devastation, robbery and mismanagement of foresters. We do not consent to the use of such words that destroy our multi-generational achievements, the long-term work of us and our ancestors, destroy our good image, social trust, honor and dignity that have been built over the years. Such actions are extremely harmful to every forest person, but also to their family, which is strongly emotionally connected with the work of a forester, forestry or timber entrepreneur – they point out.
There was a proposal to create the Forester’s Manifesto
Foresters note that Polish state forests are in excellent condition, which can be seen at every step.
Even those who criticize our work admit that state forests in Poland are naturally valuable, beautiful, contain areas worth protecting and are home to many rare, protected species. So why is no one interested in and assessing the quality of forests other than state-owned forests, of which we have about 20% in the country? – they ask.
In response to the Forest Manifesto prepared by environmental and social organizations, in which they call on politicians to introduce changes in the management of state forests in Poland, foresters proposed the creation of the Foresters’ Manifesto, the assumptions of which are to result from the experiences of foresters, naturalists, and entrepreneurs working in the State Forests and their surroundings.
In our opinion, some changes can be introduced, but gradually, evolutionarily, after substantive discussion, and not abruptly – through unilateral decisions. They must be preceded by an open, transparent dialogue; supported by conversations with practitioners – foresters, social organizations, trade unions, scientists, representatives of forestry and wood companies, and representatives of local governments. During the dialogue, we must develop a uniform, coherent position that we, foresters, present in all conversations – they appeal.
Foresters emphasize that they support the positions of the Polish Forest Defense Movement of January 24, 2024 and Position No. 1/2024 of January 24, 2024 of the Council of the National Section of Forestry Employees of NSZZ “Solidarność” regarding the actions taken by the Ministry of Climate and Environment aimed at suspending the works and use of parts of forests.
We must unite and cooperate beyond all divisions and speak with one voice in the discussion regarding significant changes in forests. The key figure in this dialogue and change process is the Director General of the State Forests, they write.
Foresters expect specific actions
In their appeal, the forest services proposed a number of actions that the State Forests management should, in their opinion, take:
- We propose organizing a “forest round table” with the participation of representatives of the General Directorate of the State Forests, trade unions operating in the State Forests and all social organizations (Movement for the Defense of Polish Forests, Polish Forestry Society, Association of Forestry and Woodworking Engineers and Technicians, etc.) and developing a plan of joint activities . This is necessary before the next meetings of the Parliamentary Committee on Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry and the dialogue with our environment.
- We request that decisive action be taken urgently to defend the dignity of foresters, entrepreneurs and their families: reacting to false information, hate speech, contempt and general hate.
- When making decisions that limit forest management in any way, first of all, protect the jobs of foresters and forest entrepreneurs. People are the highest good. All decisions should be preceded by consultations with territorially appropriate organizational units of the State Forests, local governments and the local community.
- The process of selecting new areas excluded or subject to restrictions in forest management should take place with the participation of representatives of the State Forests. We believe that only active involvement of SF structures and foresters gives a chance to reach a compromise and a permanent solution to this matter, acceptable at least to most stakeholders.
- Urgently start an information campaign in the media on this topic:
– the role of the State Forests in shaping the very good condition of Polish forests;
– very good cooperation with local communities in the field of nature protection and creation of the local labor market;
– wood as a renewable raw material of the future and its promotion in construction;
– forestry as an important sector in the concept of sustainable development.
For this purpose, we propose to appoint a media team and a press spokesman with high PR competences – they add.
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