Forum global sur la sécurité alimentaire et la nutrition (Forum FSN)

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Prof. Ryszard Kozlowski

Membre depuis
Organisation: Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, ESCORENA Focal Point
Pays: Pologne
I am working on:

natural fibres, biocomposites, organization of the research, international co-operation of the Networks within ESCORENA system of the European Cooperative Research Networks in Agriculture. I am Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Natural Fibers, Scientific Bulletin of ESCORENA, Euroflax Newsletter.

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      1. Is the FAO definition on primary forest (FAO, 2018) adequate to your national/regional/global assessment and reporting purposes? If not, what criteria would you like to add/remove from the FAO definition?

      Yes, FAO definition on primary forest is correct. But in Poland is still primary forests (def. FAO: naturally regenerated forest of native tree species, where there are no clearly visible indications of human activities and the ecological processes are not significantly disturbed) in Poland is still discuss, because we have clear definition of forest (acc. to art. 3 decree from  28.09.1991 r. about forests; DzU of 2020. Pos.. 6 with further changes)- opinion of Dr Wojciech Rakowski.

      I would like to appoint that primary forests status should not be influenced by any changes especially by the group of people who put pressure on exploring  valuable species of wood/timber. This wrong situation was noticed in Poland in our primary forest Bialowieska Puszcza by decision to cut so many trees under the pretexts of insects’ attack. As high ranking specialist know all these primary forests are of special kind of biocoenosis, which have  self curing phenomenon in case of biological danger. As you probably know Poland belongs to remarkable producers of furniture and pulp & paper in Europe. For this reason big international companies look for the possibility of exploring these primary forest resources as well.

      There was a judgment in EC and as a result Poland had to pay penalty for this wrong action against Bialowieska Forest.  Now fortunately this action was stopped and we hope that this primary forest on territory of Poland will survive. 

      The forest which can comply the definition of primary forests  are:

      Białowieża Forest in Polish: Puszcza Białowieska (ca 1500 km2),  Czatożańska primary forest (ca 80 ha), Puszcza Karpacka (19,000 ha), Puszczę Romincką (ok. 15,000 ha).Moreover:

      Białowieża Forest in Polish: Puszcza Białowieska is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain. Covers ca 1500 km2.

      Augustów Primeval Forest or Augustów Forest in Polish: Puszcza Augustowska 1600 km2

      Puszcza Knyszyńska, Puszcza Knyszyńsko-Białostocka –area 1050 km²,

      Puszcza Notecka –1372 km²

      Niepołomice Forest (Polish: Puszcza Niepołomicka) is a large forest complex in western part of Sandomierz Basin, about 20 km east of Kraków (center The main complex covers about 110 km2 (42 sq mi).

      Bory Tucholskie ok. 3 tys. km² s Greatest group of pine forest.

      The above mentioned above are primary forests with special biocenose under caring of Polish

      authorities.

      1. Is the background paper missing any major issues? If yes, please specify. In my opinion no major issues are missing.
      2. Which methodology and data, if any, do you use to assess primary forest area and its changes?

      These problem are still discussed by Polish Academy of science, Universities and Research Institutes. Prof. Janusz Faliński introduced terminology used to plant communities as: 1. autogenic: primary and natural, 2. anthropogenic: seminatural and synanthropic and 3. Xenospontaneous. For more data I suggest to contact specialist dr Wojciech Rakowski.

      1. Which methodological changes would be needed to improve reporting on primary forest area and its changes at national, regional and global levels, with particular emphasis on improving consistency among countries?

      According to the part of the world some countries have different attitude towards reporting and methodology. According to Dr Wojciech Rakowski: he certainly would not include "wilderness" here, which gained this name only thanks to the large number of trees growing on a large area, such as the Noteć Forest (planted in the 1920s, centuries-old pine monocultures), despite the fact that most of it is covered by various forms of protection nature (area Natura 2000 Puszcza Notecka PLB300015).

      Also, the vast majority of forests in Polish national parks have little to do with originality or naturalness; in some national parks forest management is conducted; the extreme case is the forests of the Wielkopolski National Park (mainly pine monocultures on former agricultural lands).

      1. How can FAO help countries improve their reporting on primary forest?

      The unified definition of primary forests and their proper management would be of help. Moreover FAO patronage and support of the conferences, symposia and workshops would be advisable.

      Prof. Dr Ryszard M. Kozłowski

      ESCORENA Focal Point

      Poland