Bottles, tires, refrigerators, damaged suitcases, plastic bags – these are just a few examples of trash we encounter in forests. Garbage not only makes the landscape look worse, but is also a deadly threat to the animals living there. Decomposing, they often release chemical substances that can contaminate air, soil and water, including drinking water. In the event of a forest fire, they turn into fuel that sustains the fire and facilitates its spread.

As the Minister of Environment Henryk Kowalczyk pointed out, forests are home to many species of animals, plants and mushrooms, as well as our national asset, which we should protect together.

“I am glad that today we all join this very valuable initiative together with the President and the First Lady, the State Forests, my colleagues from the Ministry of Environment, students and scouts – and clean up a fragment of the forest in the Ostrów Mazowiecka Forest Inspectorate,” said the minister.

Małgorzata Golińska, Vice-Minister of Environment, pointed out that she is a great nature aficionado, particularly enjoying forests.

“I wish it was always beautiful and clean. That is why today, as part of the Cleaning Together campaign, we collect trash left behind by people alongside State Forests and many thousands of Poles,” she added.

“Let us remember that we do not only do this for nature, but also for ourselves and future generations, so that we can continue to admire and enjoy our national treasure. I am glad that today each of us could make a small contribution to the protection of nature and forests that teach, protect and feed," added Vice-Minister Golińska.

Despite regular forest cleaning, tons upon tons of waste end up there year after year. Every year, foresters remove trash that could fill a thousand railway carriages from our forests. The State Forests allocate nearly 20 million PLN annually to combat this issue.

“Seeing the incredible response and involvement of the society, I hope that our Cleaning Together campaign will not be a one-time thing, but instead will turn into a regular event – a campaign to protect the environment in Poland. I also believe that such initiatives will make some people think twice before they leave their rubbish in the forest again,” said Minister Kowalczyk.