Polish municipalities are pressing for a revision of State Forest Fund allocations as damage too local roads from heavy logging traffic continues to rise. The Organization of Municipalities and Regions (OPOS) argues that the current funding model, based on a percentage of timber sales, is insufficient to cover repair costs-a growing concern as timber prices remain high. this dispute highlights the ongoing tension between forestry operations and the maintenance of public infrastructure in poland, with local governments seeking greater financial duty from State Forests [[1]].
Polish local governments are calling for revisions to how funds from the State Forest Fund are allocated for road maintenance, arguing that current mechanisms are insufficient to cover the damage caused by heavy logging traffic. The Organization of Municipalities and Regions (OPOS) issued a statement in December outlining the need for changes to address the escalating costs of repairing roads used to transport timber and forestry equipment.
Local authorities contend that municipal and county roads aren’t designed to withstand the weight of “heavy” and “oversized” vehicles commonly used in the forestry industry. According to OPOS, the frequent passage of fully loaded timber trucks leads to rapid deterioration of road surfaces and increased repair expenses that existing funding models cannot adequately support.
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To address the issue, OPOS is proposing amendments to both the Forest Act and the Act on the Government Road Development Fund, as well as related implementing regulations. The core of the proposal centers on establishing a clear obligation for State Forests (Lasy Państwowe) to contribute more significantly to the financial burden of repairing and upgrading local roads.
Currently, State Forests transfers funds to the Government Road Development Fund based on the Forest Act, allocating an amount equivalent to 2% of its timber sales revenue. Municipalities can then access up to 80% of project costs from the Fund. However, OPOS argues that this mechanism falls short of covering the actual costs associated with repairing roads damaged by forestry operations. This shortfall is becoming increasingly pressing as timber prices remain elevated.
OPOS highlights the substantial revenue generated by State Forests through timber sales. Citing data from the Central Statistical Office, the organization notes that revenue from timber sales has consistently ranged between approximately 9 billion and 13 billion Polish złoty (PLN) in recent years. Jacek Gursz, representing the OPOS presidency and serving as chairman of the Association of Municipalities and Counties of Wielkopolska, signed the appeal.
Źródła: opos.info, portalsamorzadowy.pl
