More information
Description
Bory Tucholskie is a region of high biodiversity on a supra-regional scale and unique natural values. To preserve the valuable natural habitats associated with the pine forest complex, many forms of nature protection have been established. The area covered by the planned activities of this project, within the administrative area of the Woziwoda and Tuchola Forest Districts, is under protection.
The project involves comprehensive implementation of measures to increase the resilience of Tuchola Forest ecosystems to negative phenomena resulting from climate change.
Detailed activities of the project provide for the implementation of protective measures specified in the conservation plans or plans of protective tasks for 6 nature reserves, TPK and Natura2000 areas covering the area of the Woziwoda and Tuchola Forest Districts. Based on the concept prepared, measures have been designed to increase the retention capacity of wetland habitats through the construction of dams and levees. In order to better identify valuable natural habitats, a verification has been designed on an area of nearly 500 ha, carried out in accordance with the methodology of the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection. Selected, most valuable wetland ecosystems and peatbogs will be subjected to natural analysis by the partners of the project, scientists from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań and NINA from Norway on the basis of an innovative technique of hyperspectral imaging combined with aerial remote sensing. The project includes the improvement of tourist infrastructure infrastructure at the protected sites and a media campaign.
Summary of project results
The implementation of the project allowed for the achievement of all the set goals, the
attainment of results and indicators, in particular, those contributed to the
comprehensive protection of the valuable ecosystems of the Tuchola Forest.
In the existing nature reserves, the landscape park, and valuable habitats, conservation
actions were carried out aimed at ecological restoration, increasing resilience to the
effects of climate change, and protecting endangered species.
Close cooperation with project partners, including the Adam Mickiewicz University in
Poznań, allowed for the application of innovative approaches and modern technologies
(including aerial hyperspectral imaging) in the protection of valuable wetland habitats.
This collaboration resulted in the publication of a scientific paper on peatland protection,
which included recommendations for effective conservation of these habitats.
The actions taken in the project contributed to the creation of four new nature reserves
protecting the most valuable peatlands in Woziwoda and Tuchola Forest Districts.
The implementation of the project inspired further scientific research with the results
published in additional scientific articles. The project’s activities were accompanied by
several initiatives aimed at raising the awareness of local communities on topics related
to the project’s implementation (nature conservation, wetlands) and the contribution of
donor countries.
-2-
The project’s implementation, both during its planning and execution stages, was a
significant challenge for the employees of the Woziwoda Forest District.
The experience we gained during this project will certainly have a positive impact on our
future nature conservation efforts. The knowledge and experience acquired during the
project are shared willingly with other employees, including those outside of the State
Forests.
The following tasks were completed:
Task 1. Conservation actions in nature reserves: Actions were carried out to limit the
expansion of alien species in forest communities, promote proper development, and
gradually restore forest community mosaics in Querco roboris-Pinetum and Tilio
Carpinetum habitats, as well as to foster the proper development of mixed pine forests
in the I, II, and IIIa age classes of tree stands. Gradual restoration and regeneration of
forest communities in Tilio Carpinetum and Aceri Tilietum habitats were also conducted,
along with the gradual restoration of floodplain forests Ficario Ulmetum, Circeo Alnetum,
Fraxino Alnetum. The maintenance of the swamp pine stand was ensured, as well as
the gradual regeneration and conservation of ecosystems, shaping the landscape of the
river valley by preserving open spaces, including the maintenance of non-forest
ecosystems, and natural and semi-natural areas used for agriculture. Pine, birch, and
spruce were removed from the raised and transitional peat bogs, and spruce was
removed from the reed beds surrounding the bog.
Additionally, actions supporting the regeneration of Sorbus torminalis and improving light
conditions, as well as eliminating competitive species, were carried out. Trees and
shrubs of competitive species for yew were removed from the forest floor, understory,
and tree stand. Silvicultural treatments were performed on areas where yew seedlings
were introduced. Seedlings of sessile oak, beech, and yew were introduced into gaps
created by removing spruce in acidic oak-hornbeam forest patches. The expansion of
spruce was limited.
Task 2. Conservation actions on heathlands: Pine and birch encroachments were
cut, and heather was mown and burned for regeneration purposes.
Task 3. Water retention in wetland habitats: Actions were taken to enhance the water
retention capacity of wetland habitats, reduce drought effects, and improve water
conditions in five forest districts. Eighteen dams, one sluice, one embankment, and
reinforcement and elevation of a forest road were completed.
Task 4. Verification of natural habitats: Natural habitats were verified in the Woziwoda
and Tuchola Forest Districts, and aerial data was obtained and processed.
Task 5. Tourist infrastructure in the Woziwoda Forest District: Objects on the
nature-forest trail were repaired and conserved, the Green Control Point routes were
-3-
repaired and adjusted, and a photovoltaic system was installed at the Green School
educational facility.
Task 6. Tourist infrastructure in the Tuchola Forest District: Existing tourist
infrastructure in the "Nad Stążką" Dendrological Park (benches, barriers, handrails,
promenade, boards) and on the "Jelenia Wyspa" educational trail (benches, barriers,
platforms, handrails, shelters, and the observation tower) was maintained and replaced.
Task 7. Educational and media activities: Educational activities, workshops for youth,
events, and ecological competitions were held. Three scientific conferences and one
study trip were organized. A website was created and maintained, informational and
promotional spots were prepared and aired on the radio and in the press. A publication
on wetland conservation was published, and the local, national, and industry press was
regularly informed about the project activities.
Task 8. Personnel costs: Tasks related to project coordination with partners, planning
and executing tasks, preparing promotional and educational materials, conducting
educational activities, competitions, and events were completed.
Task 9. Partner UAM costs: Necessary scientific research was carried out, including
soil drilling, habitat mapping, and the processing of aerial survey results using purchased
equipment (peat probes, GPS, drone, computer). The research results were compiled in
a detailed report.
Task 10. Partner NINA costs: Tasks related to cooperation in analyzing data obtained
by UAM partners were completed, and the results were consulted with Norwegian data
results.
The objective of the tasks was to improve the condition of native nature, mainly through
the protection of six local nature reserves. It was necessary to restore distorted
ecosystems, increase resilience to the effects of climate change, and protect
endangered species and habitats. Actions were carried out to limit the expansion of alien
species in forest communities. Activities supporting the regeneration of Sorbus
torminalis and common yew were performed. Measures were taken to increase the
water retention capacity of wetland habitats, reduce the effects of drought, and improve
water relations in five forest districts, as well as actions for the preservation of
heathlands. Natural habitats were verified in the Woziwoda and Tuchola Forest Districts.
The tourist-educational infrastructure within the protected areas was repaired and
modernized, helping to reduce tourist pressure on these areas, and a photovoltaic
system was installed at the Green School educational facility. The actions contribute to
improving the local nature, which positively affects the quality of life of the local
-4-
community. The result of the project is the implementation of ecosystem management
plans (9 protected area management plans implemented).
Results of the information and promotional activities:
1. Study trip planned for 2021 did not take place due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Instead, a representative from the foreign partner was invited to the first scientific
conference, where she presented one of the lectures comparing research
conducted on Norwegian wetlands with those in Poland, promoting cooperation
among international scientific and forestry communities. Foresters and scientists
benefited from the partner''s expertise.
2. Promotion of the project on the forest district website, the project’s website,
and social media (Facebook). The project was promoted simultaneously on 3
websites owned and managed by the Woziwoda Forest District. Articles were
published on the forest district’s website and the project’s dedicated site. These
articles were shared on the Woziwoda Forest District''s Facebook profile.
According to Google Analytics, the website reached between 500 and 1100
unique users annually. The website in the LP corporate portal reaches about
21,000 unique users per year. The Woziwoda Forest District’s profile on
Facebook has 4,500 followers, and each of our posts reaches from several
hundred to tens of thousands of users. Additionally, our materials were published
on the websites of the project partners, on their social media profiles, and on the
main LP website and its Facebook profile. Some materials were also distributed
in the LP newsletter, sent to all LP employees’ email addresses. The project’s
promotion was aimed at society at the local, regional, and industry levels.
3. Promotion of the project in the media:
a. Radio spots – The forest district commissioned the production of spots for the
planned campaign topics. They contained information about the project, its
funding sources, and the campaign topic. Each spot aired for at least one week
on Polish Radio PiK and Radio WeekendFM. Additionally, the spots were
broadcast on Złote Przeboje (Bydgoszcz branch) and Meloradio (Toruń branch).
We estimate that the total reach was 870,000 listeners.
b. Programs – Additional promotion of the project in local and national media,
including TVP3 Bydgoszcz, TVP1, and Radio PiK. Five programs on the project
were recorded. These recordings were aired multiple times and were available on
TVP3 and Radio PiK websites for public use.
4. Scientific conferences – Three conferences were held (1st conference – 79
participants, 2nd conference – 53 participants, 3rd conference – 70 participants).
Lectures were given by scientists, foresters, representatives of the project
contractors, and institutions and organizations dedicated to nature conservation.
The conferences fostered cooperation between various groups, disseminated
knowledge about nature conservation and donors, and produced
-5-
recommendations on wetland protection and proposals for creating nature
reserves in peat bogs.
5. Training for students – In 2022, classes were organized for students and
doctoral candidates from the faculties of Biology and Geographical and
Geological Sciences in cooperation with the Woziwoda Forest District. The
workshops involved case studies on the conservation of peat bogs in the
Woziwoda and Tuchola Forest Districts. During field classes, various types of
peat bogs were presented, and topics such as ecology, paleoecology,
conservation, and restoration of specific sites at different spatial and temporal
scales were discussed. The classes were led by scientists from Adam Mickiewicz
University in Poznań. The beneficiaries of this knowledge were the students and
foresters participating in the training.
6. Study trip, training, and meeting with the foreign partner (trip to the foreign
partner) – 18-26 August 2022 – 8 participants, foresters from the Tuchola and
Woziwoda Forest Districts and the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Toruń.
The purpose of the trip was a visit to the Norwegian partner, organized during a
scientific seminar on wetland protection. This event provided an opportunity to
present the key findings made by a team of scientists, mostly from Poland and
Central Europe. The seminar included researchers from the Norwegian Institute
for Nature Research (NINA), Norwegian University of Science and Technology
(NTNU), Lund University (LU), University of Greifswald, Warsaw University of Life
Sciences (SGGW), University of Warsaw (UW), Adam Mickiewicz University in
Poznań (UAM), Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Białystok University of
Technology, and other institutions interested in wetland ecosystem protection and
climate.
7. Publication summarizing the project – A publication was released in the first
quarter of 2024. The publication was available as a printed book and an e-book
for download through, among other sources, the forest district’s website, the
project’s site, and the publisher’s platform. The printed version had a circulation
of 1,000 copies. The paper version was distributed to the authors as personal
copies for distribution, project partners to share with their employees and
collaborators, the Institute of Dendrology PAS in Kórnik, participants of the final
scientific conference “Protection of valuable ecosystems of the Tuchola Forest,”
participants of the national conference “Active Methods of Nature Conservation
in Sustainable Forestry,” and to various forestry units of the Regional Directorate
of State Forests in Toruń, the Wetland Conservation Centre, and individuals who
contacted the forest district following the promotional campaign.
8. Press articles published in local, regional, and national media.
During the project, 88,600 copies of press publications were distributed. Nine
press campaigns were conducted. Some publications reduced their print runs,
leading to supplementary press campaigns in additional media. The following
distribution/print runs were achieved: 4,510 copies for Tygodnik Tucholski, 3,950
copies for Czas Chojnic, 25,000 copies for Ech Leśnych, 32,670 copies for
-6-
Gazeta Pomorska, 10,000 copies for Głos Lasu, 1,030 copies for Życie Lasów
Kujawsko-Pomorskich, 10,000 copies for Bory Tucholskie, and 7,000 copies for
Las Polski, totaling 94,160 copies, which was 5,560 more than originally planned.
During the project, 27 articles promoting the project’s themes and its donors were
published in eight media outlets (local, regional, and national), enriching the
knowledge of readers, including the whole community.
9. Lectures (workshops), educational activities, competitions, campaigns:
Workshops for high school students – Six workshops were conducted,
with 286 participants, four fewer than originally planned.
Competitions for children and school youth – Three competitions were
held with 345 participants, 45 more than anticipated.
Educational activities (classes, educational campaigns) – From 2022 to
2023, 10,996 people participated in various forms of education offered by
the Woziwoda Forest District (5,564 in 2023 and 5,432 in 2022), as
recorded in the unit’s educational activity reports. The participants were
primarily local schools and schools coming from both within and outside
the region.
10. Development of a project leaflet (brochure) – Two editions of a promotional
leaflet for the project and its donors, with a total print run of 6,000 copies (2x 3,000
copies). The leaflets were distributed to the local and external communities during
various educational and promotional activities with the participation of adults,
organized by the forest district at the educational base and externally.
11. Publication summarizing the project titled “How to Protect Peatlands in
Forests”, gathering the results of the work of Polish scientists, foresters, and the
project contractor. A print run of 1,000 copies was produced and distributed to the
public as part of the unit''s promotional efforts.
Summary of bilateral results
One of the objectives of the project was to strengthen bilateral relations between Donor and Beneficiary countries. The direct project partner and representative of the Donor countries was the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA). During the project, scientific conferences were held as a platform for knowledge exchange and experience sharing among scientists, foresters, and organizations working on nature conservation. A representative of the foreign partner (Dr. Hanna Silvenoinen) participated in the conference and gave a presentation, which facilitated international cooperation. The project tasks also included the verification of natural habitats and peatland research within the forest districts, which were conducted in collaboration with Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, and the results were consulted with the NINA partner. To further strengthen bilateral relations and exchange of experiences, a study trip was organized, during which a meeting with the foreign partner took place. A group of foresters participated in a scientific seminar on wetland protection, organized by NINA. The Woziwoda Forest District, in cooperation with the scientific partner, developed a publication summarizing the project, which compiles the results of the work done by the team of Polish scientists, foresters, and project contractors. It was distributed to project partners and various other scientific communities, foresters, and individuals interested in wetland protection. The publication serves as a valuable source of knowledge to be used by, among others, the Norwegian partner. The collaboration not only contributed to the exchange of experiences but also increased interest in the project among stakeholders. The involvement of the foreign partner enhanced media coverage which helped raise visibility of the activities. The Woziwoda Forest District expects that the cooperation with the Norwegian partner will continue.