Does current forest management affect the ecologic and esthetic assets of the landscape in Poland?

Autorzy

• Alicja Słupska University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Forestry and Forest Ecology
  Pl. Łódzki 2, 10-727 Olsztyn, Poland
  e-mail: alicja.slupska@uwm.edu.pl
  0000-0001-7892-4834
• Anna Zawadzka General Directorate of State Forests, Forest Protection Service in Olsztyn
  M. Zentary-Malewskiej 51/53, 10-309 Olsztyn, Poland

Abstract

Forestry in Poland finds itself currently at a crossroads. On the one hand, there is powerful social pressure and concern for sustainable development and landscape assets of forests, while on the other hand, the output function is still important. Forest complexes are a crucial element contributing to the esthetic value of landscapes.
The esthetic and landscape assets of forests at a regional or local level are determined by numerous elements. Examples of measures at the regional level are afforestation programs, while at the local level, one of the most important factors influencing the landscape is the extent of clear-cut areas or the increase in the proportion/use of natural regeneration.
Forest management must take into account the multifaceted role of forests, in which the landscape function is extremely important. Allowing for a variety of ecosystem services that forests supply can contribute to minimizing the risk of potential conflicts whilst maximizing the benefits derived from forest ecosystems by different stakeholder groups. The aim of this paper is to present the results of a literature review relating to the impact of forest management (with its tools) on ecologic and esthetic landscape values at both regional and local levels.

Keywords

• landscape shaping
• ecosystem services
• forest-landscape
• forest management
• forestry