Effects of Forestry Transformation on the Landscape Level of Biodiversity in Poland’s Forests

Abstract

At all times, historical, political, economic, and social factors have affected the management of forests, with direct and indirect effects on the landscape. This study aimed to trace the impact of Poland’s forestry evolution over the last 75 years (1945–2020) on forest biodiversity at the landscape level. Five indicators were selected (forest area, forest fragmentation, protected forests, protective forests, harvesting intensity) to identify directions and dynamics of changes of the forest landscape and their determinants and repercussions. In addition, there were determined forest landscapes threats and recommendations for further action and intervention were formulated. The study period embraced two eras of widely divergent political-economic conditions in Poland (socialism and democracy). In the socialism era (1945–1989), there promptly increased total forest cover, wood resources (total growing stock) and the total area of protective forests (essential for safeguarding biodiversity, including the landscape level). In the era of democracy (1990–2020), average growing stock density increased intensely, and at the same time, a greater emphasis was put on reducing forest fragmentation and clear-cut logging. The results obtained showed equal average increase in the area of protected forests in both eras under the study (most intense at their crossing point). In view of the protection of biodiversity at the forest landscape level, the changes throughout the study period were considered positive, although not without problems and challenging consequences for foresters. The determined pressures to the forest landscapes, requiring legal, political, or financial solutions, include a risk of alteration of the ownership structure of Poland’s forests or possibility of operational changes in the State Forests National Forest Holding; outdated forest policies; organizational difficulties in the forest landscape protection; insufficient conservation funding; uneven distribution and further fragmentation of forests; and—last but not least—climate change impacts, including extreme weather events and droughts.

Biodiversity and Conservation of Forests

“…The dynamic recovery of European forests was confirmed in the study by Referowska-Chodak and Kornatowska [24], covering a period of 75 years in Poland. Irrespectively of the political regime, the study demonstrates the steady increase in forest cover and biomass, as well as in the areas designated as protected.…”

Effects of Forestry Transformation on the Ecosystem Level of Biodiversity in Poland’s Forests

“…In this study, consistent with the methodology adopted in Poland, forests undisturbed by man were considered forests under strict protection in forest nature reserves (area per ha). Forests protected in national parks were not analysed, as institutions other than State Forests are responsible for their management [26]. In the case of forest plantations, we took into account those established for increased timber production in shorter production cycles (ha).…”

“…Seed plantations (focused on the conservation of gene resources) and Christmas tree plantations (usually established under power lines) were not included in the analysis. The area of semi-natural forests (ha) was calculated as the difference between the total area of forests administered by the SF over the study years [26] and the sum of the areas of other forest categories examined, i.e., forests undisturbed by man and plantations; 2.…”

“…So far, these aspects have been studied based on selected indicators, in relation to biodiversity at the landscape level. The results of Referowska-Chodak and Kornatowska [26] show that in the era of socialism, there were prompt increases in total forest cover, wood resources (total growing stock) and the total area of protective forests essential for biodiversity conservation. In the era of democracy, average growing stock density increased intensively and forest management has put a greater emphasis on reducing forest fragmentation and clearcut logging.…”

“…Yet, numerous problems and challenges in this have still remained. These include, inter alia, unnecessary beneficial alterations in the ownership structure of Poland's forests; outdated national forest policies; insufficient funding for nature conservation; uneven distribution and ongoing forest fragmentation across the country; climate change impacts (e.g., extreme weather events) [26]. For a more complete picture of the consequences of the evolution of forest management in Poland, there is a need for further comprehensive analyses as regards other than landscape biodiversity levels, including but not limited to the ecosystem biodiversity level.…”