Signing a new annex to the forest management plan for the Białowieża Forest District, Poland is fully implementing the 2018 judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
The new annex will enable the active protection of valuable habitats and species in line with the guidelines of the European Commission and UNESCO.
“Amendments introduced in the forest management plan constitute a response to natural environmental processes and social needs,” said Government Plenipotentiary for Forestry and Hunting, Deputy Minister for Climate and Environment Edward Siarka. “It is an expression of care for forests, which is exercised by people with experience and knowledge, sensitive to the changes in the natural environment.”
The document assumes a reduction in the amount of wood planned to be harvested by nearly 60 per cent compared to the previous document from 2016. This means that by the end of 2021, the Białowieża Forest District will be able to harvest a maximum of 4,300 cubic metres of wood. More importantly, work will only start after the breeding season, in September at the earliest.
The majority of works (51 per cent) will be aimed at nature protection – through the implementation of the plan of protection tasks for the Natura 2000 area. The remaining works assume the implementation of other tasks from the current forest management plan that have not yet been completed and ensuring safety along roads and tourist trails. In areas where timber harvesting is not allowed, trees cut down for safety reasons will be left in the forest.
