Poland launches second pilot stage for urban social forests

The Institute of Environmental Protection - National Research Institute (IOŚ-PIB) has launched the second stage of a pilot program to establish “social forests” around major Polish urban areas. The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, aims to strengthen the natural and social functions of forests, balancing nature conservation and water resource protection with recreation and ecological education.

As part of the pilot, an anonymous geo-survey is available until August 30 to map significant local forest areas based on public usage and importance. Local meetings are also being organized for several forest districts, including Chojnów, Celestynów, Drewnica, and Jabłonna, particularly within the Warsaw agglomeration.

The project targets nine metropolitan areas, including Bydgoszcz, Toruń, and Warsaw, with the goal of creating a “map of maximum compatibility” to reconcile the differing interests of various stakeholders. This follows the successful implementation of social forests near Wrocław, covering over 11,000 hectares where logging restrictions were introduced to protect biodiversity and water resources. The final documentation for the current pilot phase is expected by January of next year.