Lithuania's forestry sector faces challenges from 2020 onwards due to the lack of a clear strategy to address biodiversity conservation and other related issues. This situation is further aggravated by the fact that instead of coherent decision-making, the sector is more often confronted with controversial and often unjustified regulatory changes.
Remigijus Bakys and other stakeholders and experts in the sector often criticise the decisions of public authorities in recent years. They argue that current policies inefficiently restrict forestry activities and impose administrative burdens that make it difficult for the sector to operate smoothly. The criticism focuses on regulatory changes which, they argue, unduly affect the efficiency of forestry and potentially reduce the supply of raw timber to the market.
Experts believe that regulatory changes could reduce the supply of raw timber, particularly from public and private forests. State forest services and other authorities predict that, in the absence of changes in current forestry policy, the supply of raw wood could decrease by up to 20%. This is a cause for concern, as this situation could mean significant economic losses for the sector and complicate supply chains across the country.
Forestry representatives argue that Lithuania lacks an integrated strategy that balances economic benefits with environmental sustainability. Current policies, they say, often prioritise the protection of too many forest areas without taking into account that forests can also be used as a valuable economic resource. As a result, there is a risk of losses of €1.4 billion if there is no change in the approach to forestry policy.
The various economic and environmental issues arising from this situation clearly highlight the need to review existing forestry policies. A long-term and clear strategy is needed to reconcile economic and environmental objectives and to ensure a fair balance between forest protection and the use of forests for economic benefit. It is also important to involve stakeholders in the strategy development process to ensure that all interests are adequately represented.
