Silesia expands nature reserves and proposes new forest management plans

New nature reserves have been established in the Silesian Voivodeship, bringing the total number of protected areas in the region to 70. The Bogdaniec and Psi Nos reserves cover nearly 220 hectares of Jurassic forests and limestone hills. Bogdaniec, located in the Janów municipality, spans over 126 hectares and protects ecosystems featuring beech forests and rock shelters. Psi Nos covers 93 hectares within the Złoty Potok Forest District.

In a separate environmental development, a proposal has been submitted for public consultation regarding the management of approximately 5,300 hectares of forest land around Bielsko-Biała. Prepared by the Institute of Environmental Protection – National Research Institute at the request of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the plan suggests two primary scenarios for nearly 4,700 hectares: total exclusion from timber harvesting to prioritize natural processes, or a transition to “nature-close forestry.” The latter aims to reduce large-scale clear-cutting in favor of more complex forest structures with diverse tree ages.