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History

Current area of Szprotawa Forest District was established by Director-General of the State Forests on 1st April, 1993. Earlier it had also included Żagań Sub-district (from 1976).

First chronicle notes on forest economy in the area are dated as early as 1430. According to chronicles, in 1430 the town of Szprotawa already had its own forester to manage town forests. The forests covered the area of about 4300 ha and were located in south-eastern area of the contemporary Szprotawa Sub-district. They also included the area of "Buczyna Szprotawska" that had been a protected area for a long time and in 1930s gained status of a nature reserve covering the area of 85.20 ha. The reserve in its current shape covers the area of 152.30 ha. Two commemorative stones dedicated to successive Forest Inspectors of town forests from 19th century can be still admired in the reserve.

In addition to "Buczyna Szprotawska" there were two other reserves in the District - "Wysoki Las" (Tall Forest) and "Błota nad Szprotą" (Marshes by Szprota). The District Inspectorate also protected its natural monuments – "Chrobry" Oak, at the time known as "Wielki Dąb" (Huge Oak) ("Grosse Eiche") and "Buk Trębacza" (Trumpeter's Beech) ("Trompeterbuche").

The remaining forests of the present Szprotawa Forest District were owned by rich landowners and local farmers. Even today tourists can admire border stones of Heinrich von Neuman – 19th century owner of Wiechlice estate and the neighbouring lands.

Modern history

Szprotawa Forest District was established in 1946 and covered the area of current Szprotawa Sub-district amounting to about 8000 ha. The original division was very simple – one section constituted one unit.

Between 1945 and 1951 the division was based on an approximate age class table.

From 1952 to 1965 forest management was based on the provisional plan and finally in 1965 a definitive plan based on complete appraisal was drawn up.

During all the years that have passed since the end of WWII the State Forests, including Szprotawa Forest District, have gone through a number of reorganizations and territorial divisions.

In the 1970s, as a result of enclosure of units, a single large Forest District was formed to include 4 Sub-districts (Szprotawa, Małomice, Żagań and Żuków) and cover the area of more than 100 000 ha. Currently Szprotawa Forest District includes two Sub-districts (Szprotawa and Małomice) having approximately 19 000 ha of forests each, with total territorial range of 65 000 ha. As part of the Lower Silesian Wilderness Szprotawa Sub-district forms compact whole, whereas Małomice Sub-district includes over 300 forest complexes, including 106 with area below 1 ha and 114 with area from 1 to 5 ha. Field and forest border of the Forest District is about 1000 km long, which makes it comparable with the lengths of Polish-Czech and Polish-Slovakian borders altogether.

Since 1946 Szprotawa Forest District has been managed by seven Forest Inspectors (including the current one). The most famous Forest Inspector was Zygmunt Patalas (1951 - 1952), who was later appointed the Director of Forest Research Institute in Warsaw. From 1947 to 1951 Białobrzezie Forest District Inspectorate (from 1951 known as Żuków Forest District Inspectorate, included into Szprotawa Forest District Inspectorate in 1973) was managed by Adam Szczerba, who was later appointed the Director-General of the State Forests.


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Forests of our Forest District

Forests of our Forest District

Szprotawa Forest District Inspectorate includes two Sub-districts – Szprotawa and Małomice – and manages a total area of over 19 000 ha. Its share of forested areas is only 28.2% making it the lowest ratio in the entire Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Zielona Góra. Forests managed by the Inspectorate include forests maintained for industrial purposes, protected forests and reserves.

Landscape of the Forest District is very heterogeneous.The area of Szprotawa Sub-district and the southern part of Małomice Sub-district is quite monochromatic, whereas the northern part of Małomice Sub-district is known for its undulating landscape (end moraine) at places turning into hills.

Geological structure

The Forest District is located within the area of Middle Polish Glaciation, in Mazovia-Podlasie Stadial.It is dominated by geological deposits originating from the Tertiary and the Quaternary, such as:fluvioglacial sands and gravels, river sands and gravels and boulder clay and sand.

Types of forest habitats

Forest habitats of the Forest District consist mainly of mixed and coniferous forests, with a small share of riparian forests and alder forests.Pine is the most common tree and the entire forest ecosystem consists in 60% of this species.The second most common species is Oak followed by Alder.

Plants and animals

Forests of Szprotawa Forest District are home to a variety of plant and animal species, including those under strict and partial protection.There are over 20 protected plant and lichen species in the District, including:Common Cottongrass, Common Toothwort, Marsh Gentian, Purple Foxglove, Yellow Iris, Stiff Clubmoss or Usnea Filipendula.

Forests of Szprotawa Forest District are inhabited by many protected animal species. By Jerzy Wilanowski.

Mammal species includeWild Boar, Roe Deer, Deer, Fox, Raccoon Dog, Badger, Marten and Hare.Forests of Szprotawa Forest District are also inhabited by rare invertebrate species, including 9 species included on the Polish Red List of Animals.The species are:Medicinal Leech, Great Capricorn Beetle and Lucanus Cervus.

Apart from the protected invertebrate species there is a large number of amphibian and reptile species.The most interesting species includeViviparous Lizard, Smooth Snake and European Tree Frog.

Birds inhabiting the district also include many rare and endangered species:Black Stork, Whooper Swan, Wood Sandpiper, Eurasian Pygmy Owl, Boreal Owl and the pride of the District – White-tailed Eagle.

White-tailed Eagle hunting. By Bergringfoto/Fotolia

Szprotawa Forest District on the map.