Forest Utilization versus Environmental Protection in Sustainable Forest Management

How should forest utilization issues be considered in the case of forests growing in economic activity areas where, with a view to specific environmental protection requirements, human activity is or should be significantly reduced? In this outline, the author discusses issues related to the utilization of forest resources in different zones and under different forms of environmental protection that are in the sphere of interest of the National Environmental Council.

It can be said that forest utilization boils down to meeting material and spiritual needs. Therefore, abandoning direct use of forest products in favour of only spiritual pleasures derived from e.g. looking at a forest or a single tree, or from dreaming or having nice feelings about such a forest or a tree, is also its utilization. The paper presents results of the study on solving problems related to manage forests that is forests, which are at the same time under different forms of protection. The findings show that changes taking place globally require from forestry further, essential changes in evaluating forest functions and revision of the forms of utilization of forest resources applied by man. This is connected with reorientation of the current methods and seeking new ways of exploring and utilizing forests, with respect to their functions and sustainability, as well as protected areas. The forest management methods applied worldwide are not less diversified than natural habitat conditions. In each of the analyzed cases, forests located within protected areas are also utilized to obtain, to a smaller or larger degree, immediate, direct raw materials benefits and, always, other benefits necessary for man’s development.

Particularly now, at the time of the global energy crisis, and in light of natural environment protection requirements, the notion renewable forest resource, seen through a prism of forest biomass, with potential to be used as an energy carrier, must be clearly defined.

The percentage share of protected forest area in Poland is about 18 per cent, according to the International Union for Nature Conservation categories embracing national and landscape parks, as well as nature reserves. Additionally, in the territory of the State Forests National Forest Holding, there are: 9038 areas of ecological utility of an area of 28096 ha, over 10757 nature monuments, including single trees and groups of trees, 218  historical tree avenues,  460 erratics, 239 rocks, caves and grottos, as well as many landscape monuments.