Warning: be wary of offers to sell forests

The Ministry of Environment has recently received questions from private forest owners about the offers they receive from various companies and public bodies to sell their forests.

In many cases, these companies send letters to landowners stating that they can provide information on current or future restrictions on the development of their land and offer to sell the forest for a favourable price. Often these offers claim to be in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment, the State Forest Service, the State Forest Enterprise, or even use the logos of these institutions.

There have been cases where the person tempted by such offers only realises after the sale that he has been paid well below the market price.

Ministry of the Environment therefore urges you to take a very responsible approach to such offers and to always consult with experts in the field before making a decision.

Neither the Ministry of the Environment, nor the State Forest Service, nor the State Forest Enterprise mediate in the sale of private forests.

The State Service for Protected Areas purchases naturally valuable forest plots from private owners, which are offered to the State for purchase by the forest owners themselves. The criteria used by the State Service for Protected Areas to buy private forests on behalf of the State are published on its website. Priority is given to land with inventoried natural forest habitats of European Community importance, which are not in a favourable conservation status, and to land with habitats of protected species characteristic of the forest.

The regional units of the State Forest Enterprise also purchase land for new forest establishment. The aim is to increase the country's forest cover.