The State Forests responded to TVN24 with a claim that the channel presented false information about the agency. LP stated unequivocally that they do not export any timber. They also urged TVN24 to avoid spreading misinformation that could mislead the public during a sensitive period of political activity.
In a dedicated statement, the Forestry Commission asserted that there is no export of timber to China and emphasized that all timber sales are conducted within Poland through a transparent system designed to benefit domestic processing and jobs.
Staatsbosbeheer noted that TVN24 had disseminated false or manipulated information about the agency. The organization stressed the importance of accurate reporting and cautioned against using the commission as a political tool in election campaigns.
Full text of the statement:
Contrary to TVN24’s claims, the Forestry Commission does not export timber, and the quoted expert does not distinguish between raw wood measures and finished wood products, nor between raw exports and value-added exports. The commission highlighted the strong condition of Polish producers who rely on a robust local market. It rejected TVN24’s information and asked the television outlet to refrain from contributing to disinformation that influences political discussion.
It is not true that the National Forests export wood, nor that they ship it to China. Timber is sold in Poland through a formal sales system that directs materials to processors within the country. Timber harvest follows ten-year plans approved by the ministry and prepared by specialists in consultation with local communities. These plans have evolved over decades and are not altered by current demand, prices, or political developments.
The sales framework has a long history of openness, with clear rules accessible to all buyers. The observed rise in timber exports, largely recorded at Polish ports, is largely due to increased transhipment from other countries, reflecting growth in port facilities, attractive pricing, and favorable logistics for foreign contractors.
Some wood is exported by Polish firms that purchase Polish raw materials from the State Forests and sell them abroad. Foresters do not control these exports, and a ban would conflict with European Union rules that guarantee free trade.
Staatsbosbeheer supports Poland’s initiative, in consultation with the European Union, to restrict or ban the export of unprocessed wood from Polish forests as a matter of policy, acknowledging the aim of boosting domestic processing capacity.
Staatsbosbeheer also notes that the expert cited by TVN24 as evidence of rising exports relies on data from the Central Statistical Office that includes total wood and wood product exports, and that the expert overestimated these figures by a substantial margin. The claim of 99 million tonnes per year for 2022 is inaccurate; the correct estimate is far lower. The article and TVN24’s reporting failed to distinguish between raw trunks and finished products, and between weights measured in kilograms and tonnes.
The commission emphasizes that higher exports of wood products support the state’s timber industry and demonstrate the growing competitiveness of Polish producers in international markets.
From Staatsbosbeheer’s perspective, the simple presentation of distorted or manipulated information by TVN24 appears intended to undermine the agency and to serve political agendas. The organization condemns such reporting and urges trusted media to avoid repeating misinformation.
Source: wPolityce