DOI: 10.11118/978-80-7509-904-4-0067

FOREST EDUCATION AS THE BASIS FOR CONSCIOUS USE OF ALL FOREST FUNCTIONS BY SOCIETY IN THE CELESTYNÓW FOREST DISTRICT

Kamil Żołądek, Róża Brytan, Artur Dawidziuk

The Celestynów Forest District covers areas located southwest of the Warsaw agglomeration. The forests in this area are a place for recreation, hiking and cycling for local residents, a habitat for biodiversity, as well as a workplace for many people and a source of eco-friendly raw material - wood. The forests of the Celestynów Forest District serve ecological, social, and economic functions, and the task of foresters is to reconcile all of them, ensuring their sustainability for future generations. To achieve this goal, the employees of the Celestynów Forest District conduct forest education, one of the main tasks of which is to increase awareness among society about sustainable forest use. Most of the educational activities conducted by foresters are focused at the Forest Education Center in Celestynów. The center offers natural science lessons, workshops, lectures, and educational events for children, youth, and adults about nature, forests, and forestry. Forest education, combined with play and direct experience of natural phenomena, facilitates learning and understanding of processes occurring in nature, and builds responsibility for the natural environment. A comprehensive approach, taking into account all ecosystem aspects and various social groups, allows for the effective promotion of sustainable use of all forest functions.

Keywords: ecological awareness, State Forests

pages: 67-70, Published: 2023, online: 2023