Questions have been raised about potential changes to forest policy and public land use, including whether national forests or land owned by state bodies could be altered to impact the budget. In the Sejm, Law and Justice MP Paweł Sałek expressed concern that the state’s forest assets might be affected by a deficit scenario and posed several targeted questions to the ministers responsible for climate and environment. The exchange reflected broader worries about how budget projections might influence land management and forest law, and whether strategic resources could be redirected to cover a growing deficit.
National forests and the budget deficit
During a Sejm session on Thursday, Paweł Sałek highlighted signals suggesting the national budget could fall short by around 20 billion PLN relative to the government’s forecast. Sałek, a former environmental policy adviser to the Polish president, warned that Brussels policy intentions on forest conservation could be at odds with national priorities and asked whether the State Forests might bear the impact of a larger deficit. He noted that the reported gap would push Poland further into debt if not addressed.
Sałek paused to acknowledge a broader constraint on communication during the proceedings, indicating his willingness to pose a final question but choosing to address it at the outset as a point for the entire government to consider.
He then directed his questions to the ministers present, focusing on the finances surrounding forestry and the potential reallocation of funds. The core concern was whether the Finance Ministry might divert resources from forestry activities or whether the State Forests could be sold to bolster public finances. He also asked if there were plans to transform the State Forests into a unit primarily serving government revenue needs.
With the Finance Minister not in attendance, Sałek pressed three questions at the podium, directed at Climate and Environment Minister Paulina Hennig-Kloska:
Will funds earmarked for the State Forests be redirected by the Finance Ministry? Is there a plan to sell national forests or land within forest resources? Is there an intention to amend forest legislation or to repurpose forest land to reduce the deficit?
Discussions continued with references to whether Hennig-Kloska would provide direct answers to these questions or whether the Finance Ministry would offer clarity on funding for forestry activities and potential policy shifts related to forest assets.
Hennig-Kloska addressed broader topics
Minutes later, Minister Hennig-Kloska spoke about a range of issues connected to the duties of the Ministry of Culture and Environment. She acknowledged questions on waste management funding and noted that additional budgetary allocations for this area were included in a challenging fiscal plan. She also provided detailed figures showing the allocations set aside to address waste processing and the associated costs. In her view, there was a need for stronger state support for local governments when dealing with illegal waste sites. The minister also discussed funding for environmental inspections and the expansion of protected areas such as national parks.
Some observers wondered whether the forest questions had been obscured in the discussion, but the minister emphasized a broader agenda that encompassed environmental protection, waste management, and park expansion rather than focusing narrowly on forest policy.
Notes: sejm.gov.pl