– It is impossible to maximize the economic and natural function of the forest at the same place and time – said the forest biologist in an interview with Zielona Interia the professor. Doctor Hub. NS. Bogdan Jaruzevic, Head of the Biaowiea Geobotanical Station of the University of Warsaw, and Deputy Director of the Biaowiea National Park in 2000-2005.
In his opinion, cutting down trees and protecting nature in the same area, at the same time, They cannot go hand in hand. However, this is what state forests do multifunctional economy – harvesting timber for the purpose of its economic use (and not harvesting which is a side effect, for example, maintenance treatments), while trying to maintain a certain natural and social value of the forest area. However, according to prof. Jaroszewicz, such an approach to forest areas is not only internally contradictory, but also externally contrary to Article 7 of the Forest Code “where timber production is included within the objectives of forest management”.
– (…) Much higher we have protection of natural forests, biodiversity, soil, water, etc. – the expert told us.
So what is the alternative? According to the professor. Jaroszewicz is to separate the most valuable forests and stop managing their forests, focusing on economic activity in the remaining forest areas.
– The amount of wood we get on the Polish scale is just over 70 percent. The so-called annual increase. This is more than 20 percent. Wood biomass, which grows annually in Poland, anyway stay in the woods. Excluding the most valuable forests from the harvest shouldn’t affect the amount of timber harvested – he explained in an interview with Zielona Interia.
As Jaroszewicz pointed out, before the function of timber harvesting in law, we have not only the function of protecting nature, but also a social function, that is, the preservation of forests in such a form that they constitute a place of recreation for citizens. Maintaining this type of forest area function is one of the goals of the National Forest Creation Project by the Natural Heritage Foundation. National Forest It will protect at least 20 percent. The forest areas of the state, which perform a social and natural function, are against economic overexploitation. In addition, the community itself participates in the process of forming the boundaries of national forests.
– (…) Thanks to our initiative, we wanted to involve citizens in this process and give them the opportunity to submit their own proposals for areas that will become part of the national forest. (…]There is a problem in our country that there are national parks and reserves, then nothing for a long time, then the Natura 2000 areas and landscape parks, which, however, in practice do not have a significant impact on forest management – said Zielona Interia Dr. Anthony KostkaGeologist and coordinator of the Foundation’s activities. He added that “forest protection must be increased, so the representatives of the state foresters who advocate the independence of the multifunctional management of forests are unheard of.”
The viewpoint of state foresters differs distinctly on the topic of multifunctional forest management. You can read on their website that “Sustainable forest management is multifunctional Addressing threats to the forestresulting from the development of civilization. The foundation also states that “forest workers know that the protection of biodiversity depends on the sustainable use of the land, and therefore, inter alia, the preservation of ancient hollow trees in forests, which are valuable for biodiversity.” In addition, the state’s forests state that they have “for many years engaged in activities aimed at preserving as many species as possible,” and “in many projects – local or national – valuable habitats with rare flora and fauna are actively protected.” ”
In Poland, the total area of forests annually absorbs slightly more carbon dioxide than that emitted in such a period from the Bełchatów power plants, that is, 40 million tons. However, what is most important when it comes to the importance of forests in the context of a climate crisis is what happens when these forests are removed – especially old and valuable natural forests – that are cut down. You can also learn from the text of Marcin Popkiewicz and Professor. Doctor. Hap. Tomasz Wesołowski posted on the website “Nauka o Klimacie”, “Old mature forests, with trees several hundred years old, store huge amounts of carbon”. So dispensing with it means Release of carbon dioxide stored for centuries and the rapid increase in emissions. Even if old forests are replaced by new ones, which absorb carbon dioxide faster than the old ones, the balance of such treatment in terms of emissions will certainly remain unfavorable.
On the other hand, the role of ancient forests in terms of biodiversity is obvious – they are home to a large number of plant and animal species. Science describes the current global biodiversity crisis as serious and threatening to society as it is climate crisis. Humanity, with its multifaceted exploitation of the planet, led to the sixth mass extinction of species on Earth – only between 1970 and 2016, the number of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles decreased by 68%. At this point, one million species of animals and plants are threatened with complete extinction. Only since 2000, 1.9 million square kilometers of natural habitats have been destroyed, which is approximately. Eight times the size of Great Britain.
