Mission
The State Forests National Forest Holding is the largest organization in the European Union responsible for managing forests owned by the State Treasury. We operate responsibly, professionally, and transparently, managing a shared national asset - our forests - while ensuring their sustainability, development, and the protection of natural resources. At the same time, we fulfill the forests functions in line with society’s expectations and the needs of the economy.
We care for the biodiversity of forests and protect them from numerous threats, including natural disasters, insect infestations, tree diseases, fires, pollution, as well as poaching and vandalism. In doing so, we not only protect nature but also enable the people of Poland to enjoy the benefits of forests safely - both for their own sake and for the well-being of the forests. We also ensure that forest management, which supplies the market with wood – an environmentally friendly and versatile raw material, is conducted in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, taking into account all forest functions. This commitment is confirmed, among other things, by the international certifications held by the regional directorates of the State Forests.
One of our fundamental tasks is to make forests accessible to the general public. State stewardship of the vast majority of Poland’s forests provides a key benefit: free access for all. We encourage everyone seeking recreation to take advantage of the State Forests’ extensive tourism offerings. Visitors can enjoy holiday resorts, foresters’ lodges, and guest accommodations beautifully situated amid forest landscapes. All the information needed to plan an activity-filled stay in the forests can be found in our Forest Tourism Guide, Czaswlas.pl.
Foresters are a rich source of knowledge about Polish forests, their history, natural value, and much more. We are actively involved in educational and promotional activities that help people better understand forests as an important part of the nation’s heritage. We publish books, journals, and brochures, and maintain the website https://www.lasy.gov.pl/en
For many years, our staff has supported schools at all levels of education. Together with non-governmental organizations, we organize both one-time and recurring initiatives aimed at expanding knowledge about forests, nature, and ecology. We also cooperate with scientific institutions, supporting research in the field of forestry.
For foresters, the forest is not only a workplace but also a passion. Every day, more than 25,000 employees of the State Forests work with dedication to ensure that Poland’s forests thrive and continue to develop. They do so under increasingly modern conditions. We combine the rich traditions of our organization with the latest achievements in science and technology. We introduce state-of-the-art forestry machinery, measurement and monitoring equipment, and other tools that ensure the safety, speed, and efficiency of our operations. We place great importance on the use of information technology. The State Forests Information System, which collects and processes data, supports forest management, business planning, and supervision. Timber from state forests can be purchased online through the Forest and Timber Portal and the e-drewno application.
Poland’s forests belong to the entire nation. Adam Loret, the first Director of the State Forests and a highly highly regarded figure among foresters, wrote:
“The importance of forest management is not limited solely to its economic role in the life of the nation. Forests possess many other irreplaceable qualities for the country, including their influence on climate, humidity, soil protection, public health, and more. Only the state, as the owner, is capable - through rational forest management—of fully realizing all the economic, ecological and cultural benefits that forests provide. The state, whose existence is not measured by the span of a human life, is called upon to care not only for the present but also for the future well-being of the nation and the country.”
