Although there is a legal framework suggesting that forest governance and management should be sustainable, the environmental governance in Poland has resulted in forest policies that fail to address the crucial needs and concerns of society, climate and nature. Marta experienced this legal violation directly in her village when The State Forests (a Polish government body responsible for managing state-owned forests) aimed to fell trees through clear cuts in one of the largest landscape parks in Poland. Being someone who has always cared deeply about the preservation of nature, particularly forests, she promptly began to inform and mobilize others to take action. She discovered that individuals organized to address this issue lacked both the knowledge and resources to act. 
 

For this reason, she gathered, analyzed and interpreted public data from the government, recorded the extent of the social movement advocating for forests across the nation (only 30 grassroots initiatives focused on forest preservation found in Poland in 2019), and proceeded to establish a platform for sharing experiences. This effort led to the formation of Forests and Citizens. An online map complemented the platform, indicating which forests were scheduled for logging and the respective timelines. With the information at hand and the public's engagement as a foundation, Marta developed tools for capacity building and organization for those interested, enabling them to understand decision-making processes and the necessary steps they should take. As a result, Marta has been instrumental in raising awareness and holding the State Forests accountable for their many breaches of citizens' rights to information regarding forest management and the protection of forests themselves. 

Marta's strategy, which consisted of focusing on community organizing and capacity building on the one hand, and on research and advocacy on the other, has undeniably been a game changer. By developing support at three tiers – entry-level groups, long-term active groups and expert leaders who extend beyond local networks – Forests and Citizens has facilitated the launch of 520 initiatives so far. The countless efforts undertaken go further than this; Marta co-developed “Forest Manifest” alongside six civil society organizations and more than 270 local projects, which led to the consideration of a thorough reform of forest policy by the coalition agreement of the Polish government. The Forest Manifest is structured around ten specific demands, beginning with the exclusion of 20% of forests from all economic activity, rather than their exploitation and sale; advocating for their restoration for both communities and nature; putting an end to the combustion of wood in power plants; and providing the public with transparency regarding forest-management.  

This document also served as the basis for the first forestry election guide, helping voters understand the candidates' positions on forestry issues. Such a step was essential, particularly following the 2023 trial concerning Polish forests presented to the Court of Justice of the EU, which determined that Poland was breaching environmental regulations, and as a result, the Forest Management Plans were to be contested and held accountable. After a change of government in 2023, the appointed General Directorate of the State Forests made public, for the first time, details regarding annual logging plans to the Fundacja Lasy i Obywatele. In January 2024, the new Minister of Climate and Environment declared that tree logging would be halted or limited for a period of six months in ten sites across Poland. Marta and the Lasy i Obywatele team successfully changed the conversation surrounding forest conservation from solely focusing on biodiversity to encompassing various forest benefits, including water retention, mental and physical wellness, and air purification. This shift has made the discussion about forests pertinent to a broader audience, thereby bringing it into the mainstream. While these efforts have already contributed to concrete policy shifts, Marta Jagusztyn’s work remains ongoing as she continues to push for systemic, long-term reform of forest governance.