From Bookings to Biodiversity: Our Team Visit to Poland’s Forever Forests

At Bookinglayer, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword. It’s embedded in how we operate, who we support, and the kind of world we want to help build. That’s why we joined 1% for the Planet.

And through that commitment, this year we’re proud to support Las na Zawsze, a Polish foundation working to both plant new forests and protect old-growth forests across the country.

A Walk Among the Trees

During our recent team trip to Poland, we had the privilege of meeting with the Las na Zawsze team and hiking in one of the forests they’ve purchased and placed under long-term protection. And it was a powerful, hands-on learning experience.

Native species like hornbeam, lime, oak, and beech revealed how they work together, and against each other, to create thriving Polish forest ecosystems. Each species follows its own timeline and growth rhythm, contributing in different ways to long-term biodiversity.

Diverse plant species create dynamic forests that are home to a variety of organisms. 

One of the most memorable lessons was seeing how truly natural forests take shape over decades, even centuries, when left untouched by commercial forestry. We witnessed the value of features often seen as flaws in managed forests, like deadwood, uneven growth, and species diversity. 

At one point, we even saw how nature reclaimed the site of an old brick factory, offering a living example of the power of regeneration.

What They’re Up Against

Las Na Zawsze isn’t just planting trees. They’re protecting mature forests from being logged, fragmented, or exploited. And it’s not an easy job. Only 20% of forests in Poland are in private hands, meaning they can be taken under the umbrella of Las na Zawsze. The rest remain in the hands of State Forests, a state-owned organization whose main focus is to ensure sustainable extraction of timber from the managed forests

Forests left to develop and heal on their own showcase the resilience of nature. 

The team shared the bureaucratic and legal obstacles they face in trying to buy, protect, and restore forest land. This often means going up against outdated or extractive forestry policies. It’s a vision rooted in patience, humility, and hope for future generations. They’re thinking in centuries, not quarterly results.

Why It Matters to Us

As a company serving adventure-based hospitality businesses around the world, we know how closely travel is tied to nature. When we support organizations like Las na Zawsze, we’re helping ensure that the places our clients and their guests love stay wild, thriving, and intact. And more importantly, we are helping ensure vital ecosystems continue to exist.

Unmanaged forests are brimming with diversity, offering essential lessons on modern forestry.

Our pledge to 1% for the Planet is just one way we give back. Seeing the work of Las na Zawsze up close reminded us why these efforts matter so much and how even small contributions can grow into something deeply rooted and long-lasting.

Want to Learn More?

Check out Las na Zawsze’s Connected Forest initiative to learn how they’re reimagining forest stewardship in Poland.

And if you’re a hospitality business looking for software that shares your values? Let’s talk. We even offer a 5% discount to clients who join us in a pledge to 1% for the Planet, so that shared values can lead to shared impact.