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New head of the State Forests. Adam Wasiak appointed Minister of Climate
Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska has appointed Adam Wasiak as the new Director General of the State Forests.
'Recognizing his accomplishments and extensive professional background, I have appointed Adam Wasiak to be the director general of the State Forests,' announced the head of the Ministry of Culture and Environment via social media.
New Leader of the State Forests
She further stated that the State Forests are responsible for managing Poland's exceptional natural heritage, which necessitates careful oversight, particularly amid the challenges posed by climate change.
On Monday, Minister Hennig-Kloska relieved Witold Koss from his role as director general of the State Forests. Koss had been in charge since January 2024 and had made several changes to the timber sales framework.
Read more: Dismissal of the Head of State Forests >>>
Who is Adam Wasiak?
Adam Wasiak previously held the position of Director General of the State Forests from 2012 to 2015 and served as Deputy Director of the Bureau of Forest Management and Geodesy from 2017 until 2024. Since 2024, he has been the Director of the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Radom.
The Ministry of Climate reported that the newly appointed Director General has completed his studies at the Faculty of Forestry at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Warsaw, and earned an MBA from Kozminski University in Warsaw. He also possesses a diploma from the Polish Institute of International Affairs.
Wasiak is also the project manager for Wetlands Green Life, an EU LIFE initiative focused on the restoration and conservation of wetlands, peat bogs, and marshes in Poland.
Controversy Surrounding Tree Cutting Restrictions
A primary objective set forth by the Ministry of Climate for the management of the State Forests under Witold Koss was to enhance the protection of forest ecosystems. The Ministry proposed various initiatives in this regard. In January 2024, a forest moratorium was implemented, which suspended or restricted tree felling in ten designated areas.
This decision impacted 1.3% of the forests overseen by the State Forests. Initially intended as a temporary measure, the moratorium was extended by the minister at the end of September of the previous year. The implementation of the moratorium faced criticism from both the opposition and segments of the timber sector. Environmentalists also expressed dissatisfaction with the overly limited scope of action. According to the coalition agreement, 20% of Poland's forests should be exempt from timber harvesting, focusing on the most valuable forest areas, including reserves, ancient forests, and community forests.
In January 2025, the Ministry of Culture and Environmental Protection announced that ancient forests should encompass at least 1 percent of the area managed by the State Forests by 2026. Foresters would be tasked with securing the stands and initiating preliminary field assessments and gathering essential information to designate such areas.
During Witold Koss's tenure in 2024, modifications were made to the timber sales system for 2025-2026. The Ministry of Climate indicated that the revised system would bolster local businesses and help diminish timber exports outside the EU. Among the changes, a geographical criterion was introduced to favor processing facilities closer to the point of sale, and the price criterion in tenders was adjusted to emphasize timber processing depth and geographical considerations. Companies are now allowed to place orders for 75% of their previous purchases, and timber sales occur twice annually instead of thrice. Entrepreneurs procuring timber must agree to potential audits by foresters to confirm that the declared processing is indeed taking place.
Timber Export Issues
However, representatives of the State Forests emphasized that without substantial systemic changes, including legislative reforms, it would be impossible to significantly curtail timber exports. Therefore, they proposed amendments to the Act on Preserving the National Character of the Country’s Strategic Natural Resources, which would implement a three-year ban on timber exports outside of EU nations. In May of this year, then-Minister of Development Krzysztof Paszyk announced that the ministry was drafting a law aimed at defining timber as a raw material of strategic importance to the Polish economy, which would restrict its exports and promote local processing. Nonetheless, the draft bill has yet to be released. The State Forests National Forest Holding asserts on its website that it is the largest organization in the European Union managing forests owned by the State Treasury.
