Roads for Nature campaign promoting trees in Poland's rural landscapes, as habitats and ecological corridors

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:

To prepare and implement local campaigns leading to the restoration of trees in rural landscapes and to reverse the trend of tree removal in 66 selected municipalities. The campaign will include training sessions, study visits to Germany (Mecklenburg-Pomerania) and the production of a guidebook on good practices in tree resources management;

To create positive attitudes among public administration officials and the general public towards open landscape trees and roadside trees; and

To mobilise citizens to become actively engaged in biodiversity conservation through tree protection and planting.

Expected results:

An end to the net loss of trees in rural landscapes in selected municipalities;

Increased appreciation of roadside and farmland trees among the general public;

Increased involvement of citizens in actions supporting biodiversity related to roadside trees;

Development of local tree protection strategies in 66 municipalities, in each of 16 Polish voivodships (regions);

Some 700 civil servants, mayors and schoolteachers will take part in training sessions and study visits highlighting the importance of trees;

Production of a guidebook on good practices in tree resources management;

Some 100 000 people (1 500 per participating municipality) will be involved in the project's activities or exposed to its results;

More than 9 000 trees will be planted along roads and in open landscapes;

Production and distribution of an educational film on roadside trees conservation;

Some 1 300 people will be trained in tree valuation and proper maintenance;

75 people will attend a study visit to become acquainted with tree planting and tree maintenance practices in Mecklenburg-Pomerania;

A total of 600 people will participate in 20 regional seminars;

A total of 240 people will participate in three national and international conferences;

A nationwide audience (some 1 million people) will be provided with information on protecting roadside trees through various media; and

Some 40 project co-workers will improve their skills in tree conservation and conducting educational campaigns.

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).