“Numerous irregularities and abuses” – this is how the Deputy Minister of Climate describes the situation in the State Forests. Therefore, the Ministry of Climate and Environment has prepared a draft recommendation specifying the directions of forest transformation. The document assumes, among other things, updating the strategy regarding wood sales, climate challenges and expenditure transparency.
On Monday, Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Mikołaj Dorożała announced on the X platform that the ministry had prepared a draft recommendation regarding the desired directions of transformation of the State Forests National Forest Holding.
The representative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection informed that after consultations with organizations representing employees of the State Forests, the recommendations will be forwarded to the general director of the State Forests. “The recommendations were developed on the basis of demands submitted by employees of the State Forests during meetings and in correspondence sent to the Ministry of Culture and Environment,” Dorożała added.
Fight against mobbing and employee protection
The published draft recommendations contain several main areas in which the ministry proposes changes. These include: LP's business strategy, protection of rights and strengthening the potential of employees, adapting the SF organization to current development challenges, strengthening the non-production functions of forests, cooperation of the SF with society and key economic partners, transparent financing of research work from SF funds.
The climate ministry offers, among others: conducting a review and update of the State Forests strategy for 2014–2030, so as to adapt it to the current social, economic and climatic conditions.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection points to the need to take action to: improving working conditions and development of employees of the State Forestsamong others by implementing a “modern staff development model adapted to contemporary conditions and challenges.” The ministry also recommends implementing “effective mechanisms to counteract all forms of mobbing and abuse of official position and discrimination of employees.” According to the authors of the proposal, the rules for career paths and verification of qualifications should also be defined.
According to the ministry, LPs should also take action to develop their organization. Optimization of management processes in the context of new goals and challenges (climatic, environmental, economic and social) was indicated.
According to the published project, LPs should reform internal control, among others: towards identifying potential abuses and introducing an audit system.
According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the State Forests should also prepare a “scenario concept of revenue diversification” aimed at diversifying their sources.
The document also indicates the need to: increase the protection of wetlands, water retention, adaptation to climate changeeducating the public, developing mechanisms enabling the inclusion of the public in some of the processes related to forest management.
Reform of timber sales and transparency of expenses
The draft recommendation also included a postulate reform of the timber sales systemwhich will be focused on “implementing mechanisms that guarantee greater stability and a more secure future, as well as easier planning of the development of partners from the wood sector, as well as increasing the transparency of the wood sales system.”
The draft recommendation also included a proposal to reform the wood sales systemShutterstock
According to the Ministry of Climate, the transparency of the process of spending money at the level of forest districts for socially useful purposes should also increase. This includes, for example, introducing solutions enabling ongoing monitoring and informing the public about the spending of money. According to the authors of the project, a reform of the system of financing joint tasks of LP units, local governments and other external entities should also be prepared.
The Ministry also mentions legislative changes that would limit the civil and criminal liability of forest inspectors for damage caused by trees towards people staying in the forest.
The State Forests are the largest organization in the European Union managing forests belonging to the State Treasury, managing one quarter of Poland's area. LPs employ approximately 26,000 people.
Main photo source: archive of the Workshop for All Beings