In the first half of 2024 Polish timber exports to China increased by more than 30% compared to the same period last year. Despite earlier declarations by the Civic Platform on the simplification of timber exports abroad, sales of Polish wood natural material to China have achieved crucial growth. On Twitter, the Polish Chamber of Economics of the Tree manufacture reported: “In the first half of 2024, exports of unprocessed wood material from Poland to China amounted to 449.091 m3. Compared to the same period in 2023, this represents an increase of 151.411 m3".
Declarations by politicians and reality
The increase in timber exports to China was met with criticism on social media. erstwhile Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Małgorzata Glińska, commented on the situation, stressing that "wood should be considered strategical natural material". Glinska expressed the view that if wood was considered a strategical natural material, many of the government's actions that it thought were damaging forest management would be greatly hampered. She besides added that the current increase in timber exports to China is evidence of the hypocrisy of politicians: "Those who stoned timber exports to China have come to power, now the export has increased... and the silence," said the MP.
The cop criticized me like that.that the alleged manipulation of information aimed at obtaining circumstantial social emotions, including a negative attitude to Foresters: “You manipulate information to get circumstantial emotions, in this case negative for foresters. Why? To get social acceptance on this basis at the right time for circumstantial actions. Unfortunately harmful to the interest of Poland.”
Civil Platform and Export Policy
The Civic Platform before the parliamentary elections has repeatedly stressed the request to limit the sale of Polish unprocessed wood abroad. In their program “100 concretes for the first 100 days of government” they announced that they would halt “uncontrolled exports of unprocessed wood from Poland”. The natural material from Polish forests, according to them, should primarily service Polish processors. Donald Tusk has besides repeatedly talked about the request to reduce timber exports.
In the December Exposé Tusk emphasized: “I don’t know how you did it, due to the fact that it’s a miracle on earth,” he ironized, addressing the MPs of PiS and Sovereign Poland – you cut the most trees in past and Polish wood is the most costly in history. How is that possible? You not only slaughtered Polish forests, but almost slaughtered the pride of Polish industry, which was Polish manufacture working on wood.”
Conclusion
The crucial increase in timber exports to China in the first half of 2024 shows that economical reality does not always coincide with political declarations. Controversy around this issue shows the request for a clear and coherent policy on the management of natural resources and transparency in government activities. The discussion on timber exports has besides become an arena of political struggle, in which allegations of hypocrisy and manipulation of information are utilized to build narratives by various sides of political dispute.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
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“Another lie by Tusk” The government increased the export of wood to China by more than 30% in the first half of 2024
