State Forests present seven primeval forest districts. Why is it worth visiting them?

The most valuable forest complexes in Poland in terms of nature, landscape, and culture have received strengthened protection in a new form. The primeval forest districts cover an area of more than 201,000 ha and are located in six different regions, from Pomerania to the Carpathians. In a large part of this area, a ban on tree felling has been introduced.

In defense of old-growth forest

The idea of establishing primeval forest districts emerged last year and was formalized by the Regulation of the Director General of the State Forests of 8 November 2024. As part of the project, seven forest complexes located within the territories of the RDSFs in Białystok, Krosno, Gdańsk, Szczecin, Radom, and Wrocław were designated. Their total area is comparable to the area of all national parks in Poland.

The primeval forest districts are divided into three zones. The most important of them excludes the use of forest resources, allowing timber harvesting only in situations that threaten human life and safety or pose a fire risk. The total area of the zones covered by the moratorium is 94,500 ha.

The other two types of zones allow limited timber use or no restrictions in this regard. The State Forests ensure that the three basic functions of the forest—ecological, social, and economic—are maintained thanks to this division.

Polish primeval forest districts: seven exceptional areas

Exactly one year after the regulation was announced, the State Forests published a special brochure dedicated to the most valuable primeval forests and woodlands in Poland. It includes key facts about local ecosystems as well as the greatest tourist attractions. The primeval forest districts are open to visitors and invite them to active but responsible recreation.

The Augustów Forest offers picturesque trails for cross-country skiing and horseback riding. In the woods, one may encounter a herd of European bison numbering 34 individuals, which have lived freely there since 2018, while the banks of streams are lined with the majestic ostrich fern—a pride of the local flora. Nearby, the Knyszyn Forest is famous for its beautiful Supraśl pines, and bison can be observed safely from behind a fence in the Demonstration Enclosure.

In the southeastern corner of Poland stretches the Carpathian Forest, where fir–beech forests intertwine with river valleys. Several educational paths run through the forest district, combining opportunities to observe beavers and waterbirds with learning about history. A journey through time also awaits in the Świętokrzyska Forest, where reconstructed bloomery furnaces—remnants of historic mining and metallurgy—can be admired. Nature has fortunately reclaimed this area, and the most valuable local species now include wolves, cranes, and black storks.

Among the primeval forest districts you will also find the Oliwa Forests, which directly surround the Tri-City for a distance of as much as 250 km. The hallmark of this area is its varied terrain of moraine hills, offering ideal conditions for MTB cycling.

Further west, in the Gryfino forest district, lies the Beech Forest, an intriguing relic of the glacial age. Among the greatest attractions are the Crooked Forest and the viewing platform on Slavic Hill, which overlooks the branching of the Oder River—considered the official beginning of the Międzyodrze area.

Along the Oder stretches the last of the primeval forest districts—the Odrzańskie Floodplain Forests. These unique wetlands, often called the Polish rainforests, require special protection due to the deepening water deficit. For several years, foresters have been working to restore the natural hydrological balance here by creating drainage ditches intended to supply the wet ecosystems and help reduce flood peaks during high water on the Oder.