One forest, four functions
Forests serve many functions. Foresters work to reconcile the long-term sustainability of these highly complex ecosystems with the expectations and needs of society, the demand for timber and the country’s economic development.
The multifunctional model used to manage areas administered by the State Forests ensures that the environmental, economic, social and defence functions of forests are carried out in a balanced way and complement one another.
The environmental function primarily involves preserving forest biodiversity, reducing carbon dioxide, protecting water resources, mitigating flood risk, protecting soils from erosion and preventing landscape degradation. A significant proportion of the areas managed by the State Forests is covered by various forms of nature protection. These include 1,372 nature reserves, more than 12,000 natural monuments and 4,710 species protection zones.
Thanks to the social function of forests, people in Poland can connect with nature and spend their free time outdoors. In state-owned forests, people may collect mushrooms and berries for personal use free of charge and without quantity limits. Foresters provide and maintain, among other facilities, approximately 37,000 km of tourist trails and around 4,600 forest car parks and stopping places. The State Forests also offer free environmental education through more than 900 educational trails, nearly 490 outdoor educational shelters, and almost 300 educational centres and forest education facilities.
The economic function primarily involves supplying timber to society and the economy. Forests and the raw material they provide also support more than 400,000 jobs. Most of these are in thousands of local, family-run businesses, including those working directly in forests and those operating in wood processing and wood-based industries. Altogether, the wood industry generates approximately 2% of Poland’s GDP.
The defence function of forests is related to the importance of forest areas for national security. Forests can serve as natural terrain barriers, support defence-related activities and contribute to the protection of critical infrastructure. In response to contemporary security challenges, defence considerations are increasingly being incorporated into the planning and management of selected forest areas.
