The owners of private property in Poland are faced with revolutionary changes concerning logging. The government's draft amendment to the Nature Conservation Act, which caused a real storm in the Sejm, assumes a crucial extension of the deadline for decisions by the authorities – up until 60 days. This is nearly twice as long as the procedures so far, which raises concerns among Members and experts. However, the key component of this reform, which can change the situation of many Poles, is the introduction of the rule silent consent. This means that the failure to answer to the office within the prescribed time will be tantamount to allowing the removal of the tree. Is this an improvement or another bureaucratic maze? The case is tempoling and concerns thousands of properties throughout the country.
New Rules: Silent Consent After 2 Months?
Today, the process of cutting down a tree from a private property can be a actual way through torment. Provisions 21 days to inspect trees by officials and others 14 days to the Office’s possible opposition. The problem is, if the inspection is not carried out within the time limit, the full procedure can proceed indefinitely, leaving owners of the property suspended. The Ministry of Climate and Environment proposed to extend the deadline to reduce this uncertainty 60 daysThat's 2 months.
However, the key innovation is the introduction of silent consent. If the Authority does not issue a decision within those 60 days, the owner automatically receives approval to cut. Originally the ministry assumed a word 35 days, however, after intensive consultation with local governments and the State Nature Protection Council, which argued a deficiency of resources and a request for longer time to analyse applications, it was extended to the present 2 months. This change is intended to give the authorities more flexibility, but at the same time to give citizens assurance in the final decision.
Parliamentarians Alarm: Will 60 Days hold the Trial?
The government's proposal, alternatively of bringing relief, triggered A Hot Discussion and surprise among parliamentarians. During the session of the parliamentary committees on deregulation and local government, Members of the various groups expressed serious concerns that the extension of the deadline to 60 days may have the other effect. The Law and Justice MP Włodzimierz Tomaszewski was not surprised: “In any cities decisions are made within a twelve days. If we introduce 60 days, the offices can usage the full word alternatively than act faster.”
His words perfectly convey the fear that bureaucracy, alternatively of speeding up, will simply adapt to a new, looser schedule. Ryszard Petru from Poland 2050 and Waldemar Sługocki from the Civic Coalition expressed a akin opinion, who stressed that in the spirit of deregulation the rules should shorten and not prolong proceedings. For many parliamentarians, the thought of speeding up formalities in the context of Tree cuttings is crucial and the government's proposal seems to go against this principle.
Government Behind Compromise: Certainty alternatively of Speed?
Despite strong criticism from Members, the Ministry of Climate and Environment has consistently defended its project. Deputy Minister Krzysztof Bolesta emphasises that the intent of the amendment is not only to reduce waiting time, but above all to guarantee citizens of certaintythat the decision will be issued within a strict time limit. "It is local officials who will apply the rules, not us from the ministry," explained Bolesta, indicating that 60 days is the consequence of long negotiations and compromise with the Joint Government and Territorial Government Commission.
Local governments, who were on the frontlines of handling applications, have indeed raised the request for a longer time for procedures, especially in the face of expanding numbers of applications and staff constraints. Current task amendments to the Nature Conservation Act is at the phase of seismic work after first reading. The president of the committee, Michał Krawczyk of KO, suggested that a fresh agreement should be waited for between the government and local governments. It is possible that in the coming weeks the draft will return to the Sejm in a modified version, and Members will submit amendments to reduce the time limit.
What Change Does It Mean for Property Owners in 2025?
If a government task enters into force in its current form, private property owners gain first of all time assurance. alternatively of waiting forever, they can number on the case to be settled. Tree cuttings maximum 60 days. Most importantly, the key rule silent consent means that after the expiry of that period, regardless of the deficiency of a formal answer from the office, the owner will be able to legally remove the tree from the property.
This is simply a crucial facilitation that has the possible to unlock many of the processes that have been blocked so far. Despite Members' concerns about slowing down, this means the end of bureaucratic uncertainty for citizens. However, it is worth following the future of the task in the Sejm, as the final form of the rules may inactive change. 1 thing is certain: Tree cuttings on private plots in 2025 remains 1 of the most hot spots on the map of legislative changes.
Continued here:
Tree clipping. The government surprised. 60 days to decide, but it's silent!
