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Description
Why is the project needed? Which situation or problem does the project aim to address? (provide reference to evidence, include reference to the relevant laws or policies, where relevant) (max 500 characters)
The agricultural landscape still retains the enormous natural richness of species. Many agricultural areas are included in protected landscape areas and national park buffer zones. The natural diversity of the Polish countryside should be treated as a special value, worth preserving and caring for. Hence, it is necessary to shape the ecological awareness of rural inhabitants and common education on the importance of biodiversity for the well-being of present and future generations.
Scheduled activities for the project:
• 20 two-day traditional training courses and a new edition of e-learning training for professionals
• Reprint and distribution of the 3-volume series of publications "Biodiversity of rural areas"
• Competition "Map of the richness of rural biodiversity" for school children and residents
• Educational stands at agricultural fairs, festivals etc.
• Updating and running the www.bogactwowsi.pl portal
• Project profile on the Facebook community portal
The project aims to increase the awareness of the inhabitants of rural areas in the subject of biodiversity protection in agricultural areas, in particular in the context of climate change.
The target group of the project are all inhabitants of rural areas, in particular farmers, students and employees of local government units.
The Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences:
- indicates specific solutions showing how to reach the target group of young people with education,
- shows the way to combine knowledge with the practice of building a green civil society,
- shares knowledge about Norwegian wetlands and issues related to their protection that can be implemented in Poland,
- disseminates information on the project and its results in Norway
Summary of project results
Biodiversity is the world''s greatest biological and cultural heritage, and the well-being of every human population worldwide is completely and directly dependent on ecosystem services.
Biological diversity is under threat, and the most important factors adversely affecting biodiversity are: infrastructure development, climate change, and agriculture. Social and cultural factors contribute to the loss of biodiversity, directly or indirectly affecting the agricultural sector. The EU''s biodiversity strategy until 2020 draws attention to the need to intensify actions for its protection, and Goal 3 of the 6 specific goals assumes increasing the contribution of agriculture and forestry to maintaining and strengthening biodiversity.
The main stronghold of biodiversity in agricultural areas, which in Poland cover 59.9% of the country''s area, are permanent grasslands. They occupy 12.4% of the country''s area and 20.7% of the area of agricultural land, less than the EU average of 35.6% (GUS 2014). However, the assessment of the state of preservation of most natural habitats and many species of agricultural land, according to the latest results of the State Environmental Monitoring conducted in 2007–2012, is unfavourable.
Intensive agriculture, due to the use of large doses of synthetic mineral fertilizers and chemical plant protection products and the simplification of the landscape, threatens the biodiversity of flora and fauna and may cause soil and water pollution. On the other hand, excessive extensification and abandonment of farming in fields and grasslands may cause succession and loss of biodiversity.
If we maintain the status quo, by 2050 11% of natural areas existing in 2000 may disappear, 40% of agricultural land currently used extensively may be transformed into intensively used areas.
Maintaining biodiversity is essential for maintaining the ecological functions and processes that ensure soil fertility and the productivity of agricultural ecosystems. By maintaining high biodiversity, farmers can obtain higher and more stable yields, of higher quality and reduce the use of pesticides. Additionally, it can also bring financial benefits to farmers in the form of subsidies. The presence of so-called pro-ecological infrastructure and areas (shrubs, woodlots, field margins, water holes, etc.) on the farm is of great importance in protecting biodiversity. These habitats are places of existence, shelter and food for beneficial organisms.
Social changes can have an impact on the strengthening effect of biodiversity loss in rural areas. Along with the intensification of agriculture and positive migration from cities, rural customs related to maintaining and protecting biodiversity are disappearing. Traditional rural farms with nature-friendly infrastructure are being abandoned.
According to the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, the opportunity for Priority 4 "Restoring, protecting and strengthening ecosystems dependent on agriculture and forestry" is the ecological education of society. Conscious protection of biodiversity requires the involvement of farmers and their families and other rural residents, administration, as well as the young generation, which is why the role of conducting ecological education for various groups of recipients is so important.
Ecological education of rural residents must take into account economic and social conditions along with the cultural heritage of the countryside. For people involved in agriculture, specialist knowledge is essential for them to make informed decisions and use tools supporting the protection of biodiversity, however, without popular science foundations available to all residents, without reference to a sustainable lifestyle, the well-being of all family members, the rural community will not be sufficiently motivated to make positive changes.
The main objective of the project was to raise awareness of rural residents in the field of biodiversity protection in rural areas, in particular:
• dissemination of knowledge at the popular science and specialist level regarding the value of ecosystem services, problems and challenges related to biodiversity protection, and solutions and tools available to professionals and ordinary residents,
• shaping pro-environmental behaviors aimed at protecting biodiversity among rural residents, including children and youth, by engaging and directly activating participants in activities,
• using intergenerational relationships to strengthen the message and achieve synergy for the ecological effect of the project.
Project: "Biodiversity - the wealth of the Polish countryside" was another nationwide edition of a multi-channel program of active ecological education with elements of a promotional campaign, addressed to all residents of rural areas - in particular farmers, students and teachers, as well as officials of local government units.
The successful first edition was implemented in 5 provinces, this edition used its well-received educational products and valuable experiences, expanding its reach to the whole of Poland and increasing the potential for disseminating results thanks to international cooperation.
The aim of the project was to make recipients aware of the priceless benefits that we derive from the surrounding nature and to increase the sense of personal responsibility for its protection. The designation of biodiversity as the wealth of the Polish countryside in the title of the project sums up its main message and a common slogan for all activities, recognizable throughout the duration of the program. Thanks to it, we draw the attention of the project recipients to the fact that the natural and landscape richness that characterizes the Polish countryside in Europe should be a matter of pride but also of involvement in its protection as our common heritage
Actions carried out for the project:
• 20 two-day traditional training courses, addressed to professionals
The two-day specialist training course was addressed to professionals - people currently professionally involved in activities that affect the biodiversity of agricultural areas and to students of schools from rural areas. Traditional training was a direct action with the highest educational potential. Advantages of traditional training: cascading thanks to the participation of agricultural advisors and teachers, the possibility of direct consultations with training experts, the possibility of first-hand knowledge of techniques protecting biodiversity thanks to visits to farms, high involvement of participants in relation to other types of education.
Result: 20 training courses for farmers, agricultural advisors, students and teachers were carried out - 19 in Poland and thematic seminars in Norway, in which 393 people participated.
In addition, a new, updated edition of e-learning training was prepared for people who could not participate in traditional training
• Reprinting and distribution of the 3-volume series of publications "Biodiversity of rural areas"
The series of 3 book publications is the most complete and universal product of the project in terms of content, fully utilizing the staff of experts from recognized scientific and research institutions that have assumed scientific patronage of the project. The series consists of 3 complementary volumes, constituting a substantive whole, the division of which results from functional reasons and is a response to the needs of the target groups selected for the project.
Result: A new edition of the 3-volume publication "Biodiversity of rural areas" was prepared in a version updated with the latest assumptions of the CAP Strategic Plan, circulation 9,000 copies.
• Educational stands at agricultural fairs, festivals, bazaars, markets, etc.
A very important element of the project were direct meetings with village residents, during which a popular science program was proposed, adapted to different age groups of recipients, as well as a specialist program, adapted to people who have an indirect or direct impact on the quality of the environment.
The meetings were carried out in Educational Stands at events organized in rural areas and addressed specifically to their residents. They appeared in places with the largest gatherings of such people in the selected macroregion - at local events (festivals, harvest festivals, etc.) and agricultural fairs. The stands are one of the most effective tools for disseminating the results of the project and effective direct contact with a large group of recipients. As part of the stands, a competition for residents was carried out, supporting the creation of an interactive "Map of the richness of rural biodiversity".
Result: Educational Stands were implemented under the slogan "Discover biodiversity - the richness of the Polish countryside" together with an exhibition and competition, over 9 days at local events (agricultural fairs, festivals, markets). The scope of the events was 170,000 people.
• “Village Biodiversity Richness Map” Competition
The project included two competitions for rural residents, with a common name “Village Biodiversity Richness Map”. One competition was aimed at students and teachers of primary schools (grades 6-8) and secondary schools, and the other was dedicated to participants of local events.
As part of both competitions, participants recognized, inventoried and presented the biodiversity of their area. The competition for students in particular was an interactive activity activating participants to familiarize themselves with often unknown local forms of nature protection in the rural landscape, to draw attention to the beneficial and adverse impact of human activity on the environment, enabled them to learn about the life of living organisms in their natural environment and to observe phenomena occurring in nature.
The involvement of students in the process, as a result of which the biodiversity richness map was created, gave participants a sense of agency and the opportunity to personally engage in the promotion and protection of local natural resources.
Result: A competition for primary and secondary school students “Village Biodiversity Richness Map” was implemented. The competition involved 93 teams from all over Poland, and nearly 2,700 new Observations appeared on the Map thanks to the competition.
• Updating and maintaining the www.bogactwowsi.pl portal
As part of the project, the www.bogactwowsi.pl website, created during the first edition of the project, was updated. This allowed for the effective use of its educational and technological resources, increased product durability, and significant budget savings for the current edition.
The project''s website is a portal - a specialized portal, publishing information on the protection of biodiversity in rural areas, but offering more functionality than a regular information website.
Thanks to the aggregation of all substantive materials of the project and the successive supplementation with full-value additional materials, the www.bogactwowsi.pl website is the widest, most comprehensive source of both popular science and specialist knowledge on the protection of biodiversity in rural areas.
Result: The project website www.bogactwowsi.pl was created, along with project news, articles and recommended publications and external projects, with access to e-learning and the Rural Biodiversity Richness Map. The website was accompanied by entries on the project''s Facebook page.
The project involved 170,393 participants.
The target group of the project was all residents of rural areas, in particular farmers, students, employees of local government units. The project activities were aimed at both people professionally associated with the agricultural industry and all residents of rural areas.
The project assumed the widest possible reach to residents of rural areas, taking into account both social, economic and natural diversity. The broadly planned target group allowed for the use of the potential of rural residents, performing various professional and social roles: our recipient was both a farmer and a member of a multi-generational family and a member of the local community. Young people returning from school at home build multi-generational relationships. The scope of the project''s substantive issues required appropriate adjustment of channels of reaching and language to individual segments of the target group. This project also took advantage of the fact that individual segments interpenetrate.
21% of rural residents are children and youth. Tools adapted to their age and educational needs were prepared for them, taking advantage of the popularity of modern technologies. People of working age make up almost 62% of rural residents. The division of the project''s activities into specialist and popular science results from the observation that only some of the inhabitants of rural areas work in the agricultural sector, hunting and fishing and can have a direct impact on changing its character to a more environmentally friendly one. Similarly to the general Polish society, the rural community is aging - the demographic structure indicates an increase in the number of inhabitants aged 50+ with a simultaneous decrease in the birth rate. The group of seniors is an exceptionally important group of recipients: in addition to education, we can use its potential related to life experience - they spent their youth in times of limited resources and the concept of sustainable consumption is closer to them than to young people.
One of the most valuable experiences of the project was the development of cooperation assumptions and exchange of experiences with the Norwegian partner - Inland Norway University of Applied Science. We managed to show good educational practices within the local communities of the partner university, obtain valuable natural knowledge about rural areas and practices protecting their biodiversity from a Norwegian perspective.
The Foundation''s success was the implementation of ecological education activities for complementary target groups, combining different recipients in both social and professional terms within trainings or educational stands. In particular, as part of the Educational Stand, which the organizers of many local events considered an additional attraction for visitors enriching their event.
The project was a nationwide edition of educational campaigns implemented so far in regional editions and showed the still great demand for knowledge among agricultural advisory centers. In particular, we managed to initiate and support local connections between ODRs and agricultural schools thanks to jointly organized trainings and study visits to demonstration farms for combined groups of farmers, teachers and students. We strengthened cooperation with many stakeholders, including the Agricultural Advisory Center in Brwinów, Radom Branch. One of the organizational conclusions of the project for the future is to move away from two-day trainings towards more one-day trainings - due to the availability of farmers and the possibility of spending time participating in training while performing duties on farms.
We are particularly pleased with the implementation of the competition for students "Map of the richness of rural biodiversity", implemented in a digital formula and as a result enriching the interactive map on the project website. This was yet another edition of the competition, this time aimed at primary and secondary school students (previously at agricultural schools). As many as 93 teams from all over Poland entered, presenting nearly 2,700 observations in the competition. The competition was very well received by teachers, who appreciated its uniqueness, digital and design formula compared to other school competitions. The project''s subject matter is still relevant and we are receiving information about the demand for the knowledge and educational activities provided in the project - especially training. The project''s information activities carried out in the form of seminars enjoyed great interest. In particular, the summary seminar allowed for the project''s effects to be presented to new stakeholders. As a result, the Foundation established cooperation with the Mazovian Teacher Training Center and will have the opportunity to promote the developed products and good practices of ecological education for the protection of biodiversity among teachers in the fall of 2024.
Summary of bilateral results
Bilateral cooperation between the Earth and People Foundation and the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN) resulted in the project "Biodiversity - the wealth of Polish countryside" being implemented internationally, which directly contributed to a much wider dissemination of knowledge and project results than would have been the case at the national level. The cooperation allowed for the expansion of the target group to include the local community of Norway and the age group of students and took into account the use of the quality and experience of an educational institution such as a university in a project coordinated by an NGO. In particular, the project enriched a number of academic seminars at INN as well as the workshop at the Forest Museum, Elverum, Norway together with a project group from ANNO Museum Norway. The implementation of the joint project became a solid basis for planning new potential cooperation thanks to the experience gained and paving the way in the organizational and accounting areas, which, regardless of the substantive and promotional benefits, is an extremely important element of international cooperation.