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Forest Use

Forest use means making use of its resources – acquiring timber, harvesting fruits of the forest, plants and their parts for pharmaceutical industry, selling Christmas trees, mining and many others. Foresters provide the society with access to all those resources without endangering of their sustainability.

In recent years Szprotawa Forest District has been a source of 72 000 m3 of timber per year (on average), including about 40% obtained from felling works. The remaining amount is obtained from maintenance works that condition further growth and development of tree stands. The most common methods of acquisition are short wood system and logs making, which is justified by the current demand in the market.

Amounts of acquired timber depend on the scope of felling, maintenance and occasional works.
More than 70% of timber is obtained from coniferous trees (Pine) and the remaining part is obtained from broadleaf tress (Oak and Birch).

Szprotawa Forest District Inspectorate employs state-of-the-art machines for cutting and logging of trees – harvesters, forwarders and skidders. The machines are owned by enterprises – Forest Services performing works in forests. Yet, there are many areas where traditional working methods (using chainsaws and tractors) are most efficient and economical. Logging with the use of horses is employed in case of the most difficult conditions.
Apart from timber acquisition as part of forest management plans, Szprotawa Forest District Inspectorate also performs so-called auxiliary use, to meet the needs of local communities. It consists mainly of sale of Christmas trees and branches used for decoration.

Wild mushrooms are delicious examples of natural resources offered by Szprotawa Forest District. By Tomasz Nowak/Fotolia

Incidentally, upon obtaining proper permits, herbal resources, such as bark from Alder Buckthorn are also acquired.


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Tourist Attractions

Tourist Attractions

Nature reserves being sanctuaries for many protected plant and animal species, a 750-year-old natural monument (the oldest tree in Poland) or various forms of wildlife conservation that will amaze any nature lover – these are only some of the natural attractions that can be admired in the forests of Szprotawa Forest District.

750-year-old Pedunculate Oak named "Chrobry" is an exceptional specimen of the species on national scale.This unique natural monument grows in the Lower Silesian Wilderness, in the vicinity of "Buczyna Szprotawska" Nature Reserve, close to the village of Piotrowice and surprises the visitors with its massive size.

Chrobry Oak is over 750 years old. By Jerzy Wilanowski

"Buczyna Szprotawska" Nature Reserve being habitat for an extremely rare species, Edible Dormouse, is a must see as it is the largest reserve managed by Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Zielona Góra.

Other places of interest include:

  • "Annabrzeskie Wąwozy" Nature Reserve,
  • "Park Słowiański" Landscape-Nature Protected Complex,
  • Bóbr Valley, Dalkowskie Hills, Brzeźnica Valley, Szprotawka Valley and the Lower Silesian Wilderness – all qualified as nature parks,
  • Lower Kwisa Valley, Szprotawsko-Piotrowicka Beech Wood, Borowina (Peloid), Małomickie Riparian Forests, Przemkowskie Ponds and the Lower Silesian Wilderness – all of them included in the network of "Natura 2000" Protected Areas,
  • as well as areas of protected ecology, such as Owl's Bog, Crane's Bog, and Swan Ponds.

Trails leading to Park Słowiański. By Jerzy Wilanowski

Szprotawa Forest District can boast an excellent network of bicycle trails.

Szprotawa Forest District also includes a network of walking trails designed by PTTK (Polish Tourist and Sightseeing Society) in Żary that combines natural and historic attractions of the area in a tourist-friendly form.