This review regards the pressures and threats linked with the human use of European urban and suburban forests. They can be divided into the following major categories: urban development, fragmentation, and isolation of forests; human pressures on soil and vegetation (e.g., changes in vegetation due to trampling, environmental and especially air pollution); human pressures on animals (e.g., wildlife losses due to collisions, frequent presence of dogs accompanying the visitors); and other threats and damages (e.g., littering and acts of vandalism). The directions of negative relations between people and forests shown in this review draw attention to the high complexity of the discussed issues. Awareness of this complexity (when planning and implementing forest management) can limit or counteract conflicts arising from the use of urban and suburban forests by people. This is of particular importance in the era of progressing urbanization and the evolution of human needs regarding the use of forests.

Research Highlights: The presented findings result from the first large-scale research conducted in Poland in relation to the State Forests—the most important place for the protection of Polish nature. They may constitute an important contribution to the improvement of the nature conservation system. Background and Objectives: The current model of organization of nature conservation in the State Forests in Poland is not fully effective. In regard to the growing influence of society on nature protection and the need to improve the existing system of nature conservation, this study poses the question: what are the expectations of various stakeholders as for the organization of nature conservation in the State Forests? The aim of the article is to present these expectations, to broadly discuss them, and to present recommendations for the future. Materials and Methods: The survey was conducted in 2013, among 41 various stakeholder groups in Poland. The choice of the surveyed groups was determined by their legal competence and/or practical experience in nature conservation in the State Forests. Results: A total of 77.9% of the respondents supported the concept of transferring full responsibility for nature conservation to foresters, while 51.1% supported financing of nature conservation tasks exclusively by the State Forests. In total, 46.8% of respondents believed that foresters should determine the principles and methods of nature conservation. The presented expectations of the Polish stakeholders differ from the current real situation, however, they still cannot be considered as a complete solution. Conclusions: The results indicate a need for a broader discussion and perhaps, consequently, a reorganization of the functioning of nature conservation in state-owned forests in Poland, considering the social expectations and trust in foresters. This can be inspiring also for other countries with a high proportion of state-owned forests.

This review regards the management and social problems in European urban and suburban forests linked to their maintenance and human use. They can be divided into major categories: forest management problems (e.g., the low priority of urban forestry, various or diffused urban forest management, lack of management plans or lack of sufficient funds); the social reception of forest works and forests (e.g., emotional reactions to total clear-cutting, negative evaluation of logging traces, negative evaluation of poor tourist infrastructure, specific expectations concerning a model forest: e.g., tall, of low density, mixed, old); and relations between forest users (problems related to e.g., crowding, fast-moving people, the presence of dogs, littering, thefts or noisy behaviour). Here, special attention is paid to problems and negative interactions, as they are challenges to forest management, as well as to the development of plans, strategies, and policies, both in relation to existent forests and those planned in various parts of Europe. Taking into account the feelings and expectations of forest users concerning forests, forest works/management, and infrastructure, as well as their attitude to other forest users, may reduce conflicts concerning various kinds of forest perception and use, and (with the support of societal education) may help to increase the sense of social responsibility for the “shared” forests. The presented findings are expected to be practical and useful for the management of urban and suburban forests, regardless of the location, as a type of checklist of possible problems, that may prove to be important and up-to-date in a particular location.

The aim of the study was to present plans (up to 2030) for the development of infrastructure and tourism activities in the Polish landscape parks located in the area of the State Forests’ administration. At the end of 2013, a survey was conducted the results of which were verified and their analysis completed in 2014. The questionnaire was sent to the directorates of all 122 parks. 70.5% of the directorates replied to the open question inquiring about their plans and demands for tourist activities (including educational tourism) and recreation. These were then correlated to parks in areas under the State Forests’ administration. The most commonly proposed/planned actions by the directorates in cooperation with the Forest Districts are: construction of new educational paths (in 41.9% of parks), maintaining the existing ones (24.4%) and the organization of tourism/recreation and educational events (22.1%). The largest share of proposed/planned actions without the cooperation of the Forest Districts comes from the creation of new routes/trails, parking lots, etc. along with their equipment (36.0%), construction of tourist infrastructure (bins, benches, tables, shelters, fire circles, sightseeing towers, bridges, 18.6%) and the issuing of maps, brochures, guides or other publications (17.4%). However, it is of particular importance to take the need for nature conservation in the development of tourism and recreation in areas of landscape parks into account. The literature provides a number of helpful solutions. Furthermore, such activity requires broad cooperation supported by external funds especially between the parks, Forest Districts and municipalities. It is also important to continue the environmental education of both, visitors and locals, as well as the promotion of eco-tourism and responsible use of the environment.

The State Forests -National Forest Holding protects, utilizes and shapes Poland's public forests over an area exceeding 7.5 million hectares. Apart from these tasks, it undertakes the forestry education of the society. Today, about 1.5-2 million people benefit every year from the educational activities offered by the State Forests. These are mainly financed by the State Forests organisational units' themselves. Nature protection is an essential aspect of the society's forestry education. It should include both information about traditional values of nature protection and up to date ecological forest management. Existing references offer detailed information designed for groups of various ages who benefit from such an education. The provision of information about nature protection in forests highlights a number of challenges that have to be met, e.g. stereotypes in social awareness, unavoidable involvement of both foresters and teachers/counsellors, the tendency to concentrate on particular questions while discounting other ones, etc. The widely understood fundamentals of nature protection should be an important component of forestry education, because they can reduce the number of conflicts resulting from an insufficient social awareness of the aims, rules and methods of nature conservation in forests.