Abstract
This paper presents an analysis of policy application in Poland affecting landscape and forest management changes designed for an ecological restoration. “Ecological” policy was introduced in Poland in 1991 (Bill on Forests) and 1995-1999 (Decree 11 and 11A). To analyse the effectiveness of the policy and its impact on landscape change, the study uses five selected indicators: 1) species distribution, 2) methods of final felling, 3) forest functions in terms of protection and economic role, 4) cost structure and 5) wood production. The analysis shows that some of the ecological ideas were applied years before official documents were issued: species composition change, in favour of broadleaves has been carried out since 1945; since 1975, considerable growth in protective areas has been observed, doubling from 22.5 to 47.5% by 2006; timber resources have also grown by 50% in the last 35 years. After 1991, when the new policy was introduced, change in these indicators was more rapid. More direct and visible examples of policy applications in the last 15 years are observed in 1) the reduction of clearcuts: in 2005 this was at its lowest level in comparison with the previous 15 years and amounted to 19.9%; 2) the focus on protection: the cost of forest and fire protection in 2006 was the third largest expense in the State Forests budget, special attention was paid to reconstruction in order to increase water retention, 3) the afforestation process: this has doubled in intensity in the last decade compared with the previous decade. Nevertheless, organised landscape change is also accompanied by natural calamities, of which fires and windbreaks are most severe.