Up until the end of the 18th Century, beginning in what is known as the Middle Ages, forests were considered places for travelers and ordinary folk to stay away from, as they were home to bandits and were believed to be inhabited by evil spirits. Over the years, many of the largest Polish forests have been reduced in size, and that reflected on the structure of forest inhabitation. A number of forested zones are now protected by the Polish government and, in many cases, they have become tourist destinations. Coniferous type accounts for 54.5%, whereas broadleaved type accounts for 45.5% (out of that, alder and riparian forests account for 3.8%). High percentage of Polish forests owned by the state is the result of nationalization of forests that occurred in the aftermath of World War II when Poland became a communist state (see People's Republic of Poland) under the Soviet sphere of influence.įorest in Poland occupy the poorest soil. Īs much as 81,8% of the Polish forests are state-owned, majority (77,8%) by Polish State Forests (Lasy Panstwowe), 2% constitute Polish National Forests protected zones, 2% are owned by other governmental entities (such as local self-government or the Agricultural Property Agency) and 18,2% belong to private owners. It is estimated that by 2050, the total area of forested land should increase to 33%. As of 2009 – 29,1% of Poland's territory was forested, amounting to 9,088,000 hectares. By 1970, forests covered 29% of the country. After World War II, the government of Poland initiated the National Plan of Afforestation. Furthermore, rich deciduous trees were replaced with fast growing coniferous trees of lesser value meant for commerce, such as pine. However, due to the 19th century economic exploitation during the partitions of Poland, as well as, the Nazi German and Soviet occupations between 1939–1945 with trees shipped to battle fronts across Europe, deforestation and slash and burn conditions of war shrank Polish forests to only 21% of total area of the country (as of 1946). At the end of the 18th century, forests covered around 40% of Poland.
0 kommentar(er)
