The work has been initiated by local teams involving representatives of various stakeholders, whose task is to launch a pilot process and define the principles for managing forests with a leading social function.

The aim was to establish community forests within publicly owned forests managed by Poland’s State Forests and located in the proximity of cities.

Planned location of Community Forests

The first stage of the process was completed in June 2025. The locations of the first proposed Community Forestsin Poland have been confirmed.

In some cities, local teams have managed to reach agreements on the scope of community forests. The current completion of the process in these cities will consist in defining the principles of forest management. However, in some cities, it was not possible to reach a final agreement, not only on the principles of forest management, but also on the scope of the social forests themselves. Therefore, in the case of these cities, it was necessary to decide on the scope of the community forests, for which the principles of forest management will be defined in the next stage.

Temporary protective measures 

Work done so far on designating community forests has shown that it is a really complex and time-consuming process. That is why it was decided to extend the work on setting rules for managing community forests until July 2026. The Ministry of Climate and Environment has asked the State Forests to apply temporary measures to protect forests of special importance to society until final legal solutions are worked out. The State Forests have been obliged to introduce pro-social modifications to forest management in the area of planned forests with a leading social function.

In planned community forests, which are additionally characterised by potentially high natural value, temporary protective measures also include postponing timber harvesting until the current forest management plans expire. The proposed solution allows for a thorough verification of the natural values of these areas in the field. It will also enable the selection and implementation of targeted measures to ensure the long-term protection of the most valuable forest areas located near the cities covered by the pilot project.

Legal regulation of social forests

The Ministry of Climate and Environment intends to regulate the status of social forests in national legislation. The guidelines and recommendations from the National Conference on Forests indicate legislative measures as the optimal form of consolidating the solutions developed for social forests.

The analyses conducted so far have led to the design of a solution involving the creation of a new subcategory of protective forest, dedicated to forests of particular social importance. Work has begun on preparing the relevant legislative changes, which will be completed in 2026.

Contextual information

Green belts around cities

Community forests are unique forest areas that play an important role for people living in urban areas, especially cities and their surroundings. Ultimately, the main goal of forest management in community forests will be to maintain and strengthen social functions and provide a variety of ecosystem services that have a significant impact on our quality of life. The function of producing wood raw material in community forests will be continued, but it will remain secondary to non-productive functions.

Why do we need community forests?

Community forests provide conditions for recreation, education and activities that promote health and mental well-being. They offer city dwellers a place for walking, running, cycling, picnics and other outdoor activities. They offer opportunities for people to connect with nature. They are an excellent venue for educational activities, workshops and cultural events that promote knowledge about nature and ecology.

Community forests also provide regulatory services, including accumulating and slowing down water runoff, protecting against pollution, regulating climate and air quality, preventing erosion and providing key habitats that support biodiversity.

The primary objective of community forest management is to protect and maintain non-productive ecosystem services, which will be managed in such a way as to maximise benefits to society.

Social forests are created through dialogue

Emphasis was placed on ongoing dialogue with the public at all stages of community forest creation, both at the planning stage and during the implementation of forest management plans. Ultimately, permanent platforms for dialogue with the public should be established for community forests. The aim is to ensure effective communication between foresters and other forest users, based on an ongoing exchange of information about community expectations, the possibilities and means of meeting these expectations by foresters, as well as the needs related to forest management.

Different forest management of social forests

Restrictions on intensive logging will apply in community forests and forestry work will be organized differently. Forest management work will be organised in such a way as not to interfere with social functions, in particular the use of forests for recreational purposes.

Community forests mean greater diversity

Community forests mean caring for diverse forest ecosystems. They are rich in tree species that are less common in commercial forests, such as hornbeam, lime, maple, rowan, goat willow, but also native fruit and nectar-bearing species.

Community forests also take special care to maintain the attractiveness and surroundings of elements that increase landscape diversity: ravines, valleys, rocks, boulders, springs and seepages of groundwater.

Social forests mean increased tree retention

They will ensure a significant and permanent presence of old large trees that catch the eye of forest visitors, while also providing important habitats for many birds, bats and other organisms. Wood will not be harvested on steep slopes or near natural watercourses and water bodies.

In social forests, natural processes are strengthened

The aim is to promote the presence of dead wood and to protect biocenotic trees which create conditions for the presence of rare species of birds, insects, lichens and fungi. Natural regeneration is the preferred mode of forest renewal. All these factors contribute to greater diversity and attractiveness of forest ecosystems.