PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Rows of trees growing alongside roads and among fields have been a hallmark of traditional European rural landscapes for centuries. They have contributed to the biodiversity of cultural landscapes, serving as habitats and green infrastructure. In the last fifty-plus years, however, the development of transportation infrastructure and land consolidation has led to a dramatic decline of trees in Europes rural landscapes. This results in a loss of biodiversity, including loss of EU priority species, and loss of cultural values. Reversing the decline of roadside trees in rural areas can be done through ensuring that decision-makers, local communities and the general public are aware of their importance. Another necessary task is to improve the tree planting and tree maintenance skills of road authorities. Such actions can thus contribute to halting the loss of biodiversity in rural landscapes and to enhance the protection of EU priority species. The proposed project is a continuation of a pilot project 'Roads for Nature', which has been carried out in some Polish regions since 2008. Thanks to LIFE+ support the project will now be able to cover the whole territory of Poland.
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of the project is to preserve and restore tree avenues, which play an important role as habitats and components of traditional European landscape. In particular, the project aims:
Expected results:
RESULTS
The Roads for Nature LIFE project is a continuation of the pilot project 'Roads for Nature', initiated by coordinating beneficiary Fundacja EkoRozwoju, which has been carried out in some Polish regions since 2008. Thanks to the LIFE funding, this initiative has been implemented throughout Poland.
The project achieved its objectives of reversing the decline of tree avenues and other trees in rural areas, and raising awareness of their importance among local communities, through a series of concrete actions. A total of 66 successful local campaigns were conducted in support of tree avenues in all Polish regions. The project team created a database of over 1 500 tree avenues in 66 municipalities/communes; planted 4 500 trees in rural areas; and provided professional care based on best practice for almost 660 older and vulnerable trees. Over 3 500 officials, professionals and tree enthusiasts participated in 220 days of training, seminars, and/or conferences. The project also arranged for 120 tree professionals to participate in awareness-raising study visits to Germany.
Roads for Nature reached around 1 million people with its message through various media, and published 10 000 copies of a brochure aimed at professionals. The project led to the planting of the first trans-border tree avenue connecting Poland and Germany; the establishment of a network representing 8 European countries to raise the profile of tree avenues internationally; and provided assistance in saving thousands of trees through its help desk.
The project contributed to the implementation of the EU Biodiversity 2020 in particular the EU Green Infrastructure Strategy; and local, regional and national policies and legislation concerning tree conservation, especially for tree avenues and trees outside forests. It contributed to an amendment to a national law on environmental protection of 2017 that aims to prevent massive uncontrolled tree felling on private property. The project also contributes to national policies concerning Natura 2000 by propagating avenues of old trees as important habitats for species listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (e.g. Osmoderma eremita, Cerambyx cerdo, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis bechsteini, Barbastella barbastellus) and birds listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive (e.g. Emberiza hortulana, Coracias garrulus, Dendrocopos syriacus, Lanius collurio). Some tree avenues are included in Natura 2000 sites in Poland.
In terms of awareness-raising, the project tried to reverse societal attitudes to roadside trees as mainly dangerous to motorists, by showing that they are vital elements of a landscape that provide vital services to people and nature. This pioneering approach to public discussions about roadside trees recognises their value to man and nature, and promotes a prudent approach to tree removal decision-making processes based on solid knowledge about trees ecosystem services they provide. Best practices from other countries (e.g. Germany) were transferred and adapted to Polish conditions. In particular, a tree inspection method was designed and tested. This knowledge has been transferred to tree and green spaces professionals in Poland, and has become a basis for Certified Tree Inspection courses.
The good practice methods developed and implemented in the project have demonstration value and are potentially replicable throughout the EU. To this end, the project published the "Trees in the Landscape" handbook, the first comprehensive tree management manual published in Poland, and the book "Trees - a Lifespan Approach" (in Polish and English), which is the first publication, not only in Poland, but also in Europe, which brings together best knowledge about tree development and care over three phases of tree life.
The projects methods and guidelines, originally focused on roadside trees, are relevant to all trees in man-made green spaces (e.g. in urban areas, along waterways, in parks and cemeteries). The environmental, economic and social benefits of the project are therefore substantial.
Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).