Forestry and timber commission. Entrepreneurs „Generally satisfied”

On 19th December in DGSF headquarters took place another Forestry and Timber Commission hearing, this time its purpose was to summarize conclusions drawn upon the ongoing timber sale procedures.
22.12.2016 | KRZYSZTOF TRĘBSKI, DGSF

On 19th December in DGSF headquarters took place another Forestry and Timber Commission hearing, this time its purpose was to summarize conclusions drawn upon the ongoing timber sale procedures.

The Commission agglomerates mainly entrepreneurs, who buy timber form the SF, and the representatives of the SF organizational units.

In the beginning, Konrad Tomaszewski, the Director-General of the State Forests, recalled the most important changes and new solutions, which were introduced into the new timber sale principles applied since 24th October 2016. The Director spoke among others about the division of timber relevant markets, so called geography of purchase as an offer assessment criterion, means of offering and final settling of the price, and amount of timber assigned to the purchaser.

Once more he emphasized that in 2017 the SF plans to sell 40.5 million cubical metres of timber in total, which should more than fulfil demands of entrepreneurs as well as retail clients. Konrad Tomaszewski informed meeting attendees about the process and the effects of verification, performed by forest district employees and Forest Law Enforcement, of about 9000 timber processing points reported by entrepreneurs via Forestry and Timber Portal. The Director-General also announced among others: preparing an advanced analysis of price timber influence on profitability of various sectors of timber industry, which would be taken into consideration during the implementation of the SF marketing policy.

Piotr Smiatacz the director of the State Forests IT Department, familiarized the members of commission with current timber sale results on the most important for them basic market. Until today, on the principal stage and during two so called “shootouts”, the State Forests offered entrepreneurs about 32.7 million cubical metres of timber, out of which about 30 million were sold. The average price of cubic metre of timber within the contract amounts to 213.13 PLN, that’s about 3.9 % more than last year.

The Director-General of the State Forests emphasized that against some people’s concern, the sales in accordance with the new principles proceeds satisfactorily, purchasers receive sufficient, in proportion to their demand, amount of raw timber, moreover, there is no strong or unjustified increase in timber price. Konrad Tomaszewski informed attendees about the course of the Economic Committee of the Council of Ministers’ hearing, in which he participated on 13th December 2016, during which he presented the new timber sale principles as well as the situation on the timber market, and Senate Committee on Environment hearing also devoted to the same aspects.

According to Konrad Tomaszewski, members of Economic Committee of the Council of Ministers and senators took the introduction of sales geography criterion by the SF well, also sort of reciprocity principals against foreign clients. They were also given full information about environmental conditioning of timber logging in the State Forests and it was explained why demands, concerning abrupt and irrespective of forests’ state and affluence increase in timber logging, are irrational.

The discussion ensued around summarized speech which took place during above mentioned Senate Committee of the Head Office Manager of the Polish Economic Chamber of Wood Industry Bohdan Czemka. The Director-General of the SF recognized that presented by Czemka numerous objections concerning new timber sale principles conflict with previous declaration of the chamber.

Present at the meeting President of the Polish Economic Chamber of Wood Industry Sławomir Wrochna admitted, that the declaration of Bohdan Czemka in the Senate was not consulted with him and he does not agree with political threads which appeared during his speech. He indicated however, that during Bohdan Czemka declaration there was an information, that PECWI generally approves the new timber sale principles, although the chamber is concerned about the effects of certain solutions.

Other entrepreneurs – members of Forestry and Timber Commission payed attention to the fact that PECWI does not represent their viewpoint and speaks for a certain part of the timber industry. There were also many questions regarding among others the issue of discount, assignment, a possible increase of geographical criterion importance in the future, the number of shootouts in a procedure on basic market or the problem of purchasing so called energy wood. Everyone has appreciatively risen to a great deal of work, performed by the State Forests while preparing the new timber sale system, they also agreed that the direction of changes is positive and they are satisfied with current process of timber sales.

I’m generally satisfied with the results. I think that those principles positively influenced the marked, the competitiveness was equalized for example – said the representative of Stelmet S.A.