EN
In the EU countries a forest management plan is a common, however not always obligatory, document updated every 10 years. According to the type of the forest property and its area it may differ in terms of the form and specifity. The forest management in Poland has a long history dating back to the end of 18th century. Nowadays, before each new decade, there is a discussion on the changes, which may improve the whole process of forest management and its final document. The aim of the paper is to present current legal determinants and selected problems, which occur in Poland as well as the major threads of the present discussion. The type of the forest property does not affect the principles of protection, extension of forest resources and forest economy. The protective function of forests requires its uniform consideration itself. On the other hand, the social and productive functions allow for different legal regulations within the State and private forests what results in different forms of the forest management plans. A well−prepared forest management plan allows to maintain all the natural values of the multifunctional forest. It is also a basic source of information for the authorities, society, and other units, which collect data on forestry. The arrangement of the content of the forest management plans needs the consideration because they often include useless information. Moreover, there is also too much specific information. The protection of forest biodiversity causes the increase of costs for the forest economy, however the benefits are incommensurate to expenditure, since well−managed forest ecosystems provide a lot of social services. In order to show this relations the economical appendix (e.g. business plan) to the forest management plan should be prepared. It would enable to describe all the economical determinants of forest area. In view of Polish long tradition of forest management a great importance to the forest management plan is being still attached. On the other hand, some new environmental, climatic, political, social and economical conditions necessitate a verification of the rules of the regulation of forest utilization. Social expectations should be considered, especially in case of forest functions and the participation in selected stages of the process of the forest management plan preparation.