Status of forest management certification in Poland

Statement last updated on 18 Oct 2024

Background

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification has been a vital component of sustainable forest management in Poland for over 25 years. Until 2022, approximately two-thirds of the total forest area of 9.2 million hectares in the country were FSC-certified. Unfortunately, in 2022 and 2023 the Polish State Forests (RDSFs) opted to discontinue FSC certification in their respective regions. The total FSC certified area dropped to 1.7 million ha.

In February 2024, FSC and Polish State Forests developed a roadmap aimed at restoring FSC certification nationwide. The key milestone of this roadmap - a clear agreement between the two parties - was successfully completed in September 2024. It opens doors to bring the certification back to Polish forests.

Recent developments

Three regional directorates of State Forests (Szczecin, Katowice and Bialystok) successfully renewed their FSC certificates, leading to increase in certified area to approximately 3 million ha. Several other regional directorates are planning audits in the coming months.

Importance of FSC in Poland

Many Polish forests have met high FSC standards for almost three decades, which means they were managed in a responsible way according to best practice.  To get FSC certification in Poland, forests must protect important natural features, such as biodiversity and waterways, while limiting pesticide use. This not only helps the environment, but also supports people. Social benefits include strong health and safety measures for forest workers and engagement of local communities and interested stakeholders in forest management.

The collaboration between Polish foresters and FSC has enabled many Polish companies to grow their market reach through exporting their FSC certified products to regional and international companies. Today, Poland is among the top world producers of furniture, doors, windows, panels, and other wood-based products.

The success of FSC in Poland is the result of the strong commitment of different actors including the State Forests, the timber and paper industry, as well as environmental and social NGOs.