The Wood Industry Protest in Poland has initiated a campaign encouraging the public to write letters to defend Polish forests. This action counters a recent call by Greenpeace Poland, which urged people to sign a letter to the Prime Minister advocating for forest protection. The Wood Industry Protest has set up the website prawdziwaochronaprzyrody.pl, where individuals can send letters to the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Białystok. The protest argues that these letters are a way to participate in consultations and to protect local communities, forests, and the national economy.
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The controversy began when, on January 8, 2024, the Ministry of Climate and Environment imposed a moratorium limiting or halting timber harvesting in 30 forest districts in Poland, with over 60% of these areas in the Białystok region. The Wood Industry Protest criticises the lack of consultation and analysis regarding the decision's natural, social, and economic impacts, arguing that the economic consequences are already severe and the natural ones will soon follow.
The protest asserts that the forests under the Białystok Regional Directorate's management are thriving due to active forest management. It argues that forest management has been effective, allowing for afforestation and the sustainable harvest of wood, a vital resource for the local economy. The group calls for cautious expansion of protected areas, ensuring the balance between nature conservation and economic needs.
Source: www.biznes.meble.pl