Poland Defends Its Forests on International Day of Forests
On March 21, observers marked International Day of Forests. In a formal resolution, the Council of Ministers reaffirmed Poland’s stance on forest stewardship, underscoring that forestry and forest management should remain the prerogative of each member state within the European Union. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki highlighted this position in a message released on social media, noting that the day aims to raise awareness about forests, trees, and their essential role for people and the planet, as well as the commitments needed to protect them.
The resolution, initiated by Anna Moskva, the Minister of Climate and Environment, reiterates Poland’s belief that forest policy is best handled nationally by each EU member state. The prime minister added that Poland’s timber industry supports around half a million jobs and contributes about 2.3 percent to the country’s gross domestic product. Poland also sustains forest cover that accounts for roughly 30 percent of national land and encompasses more than 9.2 million hectares.
The government, led by the Law and Justice party, emphasizes responsible forest management as a means to curb deforestation and natural degradation, restore degraded areas, and provide renewable resources and employment opportunities. Morawiecki described Polish forests as a cornerstone of the nation’s green heritage, safeguarded for future generations.
Poland’s Forests: A National Treasure, Protected by Polish Hands
Anna Moskva stated that the government’s stance reflects a commitment to keeping forest governance within national borders. Forests are portrayed as a national asset, with foresters who understand how to care for them and ensure they remain in Polish hands.
The Prime Minister’s Chancellery confirmed that the resolution recognizes forestry and forest management as the exclusive responsibility of individual EU member states. Forests, constituting nearly a third of Poland’s territory, are described as the nation’s natural heritage. They fulfill protective, social, and economic roles, contributing to the wellbeing of both present and future Polish generations and necessitating national oversight.
In Defense of Poland’s Forests
The resolution argues that Poland’s approach to multifunctional sustainable forest management, along with wood construction and the production of wooden goods, supports biodiversity, has a positive climate impact, and drives economic development. It also notes that under the current EU treaties, there is no centralized European forestry policy and that forestry remains a national competence.
The Council of Ministers cautions that attempts by the European Commission to shift forest-management competences toward shared EU authority could adversely affect Poland’s forests. Opposition arose within the ruling party and among foresters to shifting forestry from national to common EU competences. Earlier this year, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee signaled support for amendments that would move forestry toward shared EU-state competences, but such amendments require unanimous consent from all EU member states.
The government’s position has been echoed in media coverage, highlighting comments that underscore Poland’s desire to keep forests under national control. The discussion includes historical reflections on material shortages in the past and how local stewardship has supported sustainable resource use.