State Forests (Poland)

State Forests (Polish: Lasy Państwowe, full name: Państwowe Gospodarstwo Leśne Lasy Państwowe, literally National Forest Holding "State Forests", but usually referred to as State Forests National Forest Holding)[a] is a Polish governmental organization that manages state-owned Polish forests on behalf of the Polish State Treasury. The organization does not have a legal personality and is required to be financially self-sufficient. The Act on Forests of 28 September 1991, with amendments, makes the State Forests responsible for "forest management to ensure general protection of forests, sustainable maintenance, continuity and sustainable use of all forest functions and increase of forest resources". It was founded in 1924 and oversees about 7.5 million hectares (an area that constitutes about 25% of Poland's territory) of forested terrain. The territory managed by the State Forests covers about 77.8% of Polish forests.[b] Notably, State Forests do not manage Poland's National Parks[c]. They are, however, involved in managing of forests in Landscape Parks (which cover about 8% of Poland's territory). As of 2008, the fixed assets owned by State Forests were worth PLN 3,659.3 million. In 2013, State Forests received the prestigious Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation, for outstanding contributions in the management and preservation of the environment (see [1] and [2]).