– In the several-year history of our activity, talks have been difficult. However, foresters are people you can talk to. The problem is not people, but the system – assessed Sławomir Kubisa from the Utrata Forest Initiative. This is one of 17 groups and non-governmental organizations that will take part in talks on designating social forests around the Warsaw agglomeration.
The talks will start on September 16. This is part of a process initiated by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. Its aim is to designate a new form of nature protection in forest districts around 12 cities and agglomerations – social forests. The government has set itself the goal of excluding a total of 20 percent of forests from typical forest management. In addition to reserves and protection of the most valuable natural forest complexes, forests are to be designated that are of special use to people living in the area.
Deputy Minister Mikołaj Dorożała explained that the main determinant of social forests will be that the economic function – i.e. cutting for the purpose of obtaining wood – is to at least fade into the background. The Ministry has designated 12 cities around which the first social forests will be created. However, the designation of specific fragments of forest districts that will be covered by this form of protection is to be developed in dialogue between the community, foresters, local governments, and the wood industry. Consultations are to start in September.
– On the one hand, we are full of hope, but our optimism is moderate – said Anna Kalina-Gagnelid. The worst-case scenario for initiatives trying to protect forests would be to designate community forests in very small fragments or with a low level of protection, which could allow the authorities to trumpet a success, but would not really improve the situation in the forests.
Green ring around Warsaw
Social initiatives are coming to Monday's meeting with a ready proposal to designate social forests around Warsaw. It is based on years of protests, talks with foresters, petitions, negotiations – activists said.
– There are many controversial places and this shows that a large part of society is waiting for social forests. If there are no significant changes in forest management, social disappointment will be great – emphasized Agnieszka Chołuj from the Initiative Precious Rembertów-Okuniewskie Forests.
The initiatives have prepared a map with a proposal for social forests designated with precision to specific forest plots. Some would like to stop forest management, while others would like to limit it. – We want to treat these forests as coherent, functioning ecosystems, not small fragments for recreation – added Chołuj.
In addition, activists expect the preservation of ancient trees, an end to cutting down entire sections of forests, and plowing up land after cutting. They pointed out that although recreation is important and valuable, forests around agglomerations perform many other functions: they regulate the climate, purify the air, and retain water.
– Since the mid-20th century, urban planners in Poland have noticed the role of agglomeration forests. There should be a green ring around Warsaw – Chołuj emphasized.
50 meters of forest per resident
Anna Kalina-Gagnelid (Inicjatywa Las Młochowski) pointed out that Warsaw is one of the few cities in Poland where the population is growing. – The suburbs are growing rapidly. And the number of green areas is not increasing – she said.
Activists, citing research, indicated that there is an average of 50 square meters of forest per Warsaw resident. The average for Poland is 2,000 square meters. “In such conditions, intensive forest management is exceptionally painful for residents,” she said.
Sławomir Kubisa gave an example. – The Młochowski Forest is now being cut down on a massive scale. In aerial photos it looks like green Swiss cheese. People who see it do not hide their anger – he said.
The activist gave another example from his neighborhood:
– One day, red dots appeared on 120-year-old and older oaks at the edge of the forest, indicating that they were to be cut down. After our intervention, the foresters promised to preserve them. But why didn't they themselves think that this was something worth preserving?
Representatives of the initiatives said that now they were “finally” sitting at the negotiation table with foresters and they wanted the State Forests and the government to “take them seriously”. And they noticed a problem at the very beginning of the process – the Regional Directorate of the State Forests allocated two hours for the first meeting and the same amount for subsequent ones, concerning specific regions. In their opinion, this is too little, especially since there are many stakeholders.