Project Update: February 2002

We have purchased 1,691 hectares of meadows and pastures- habitats seriously treated in Poland. The purchase of these meadows allowed for the redevelopment of the project and added new elements to its realisation. Purchase of equipment for management (preservation) of meadows and pastures helped to acquire several dozen volunteers- people that were involved in cutting saplings in order to prevent succession. Purchasing petrol and other exploitation materials allowed Pro Natura to be independent form other sources of funding.

The project has been recognised by other funders- the EkoFund Foundation. As a result, Pro Natura received funding for renaturalisation of the meadows purchased, for a tractor with a big mower. The meadows purchased by Pro Natura with the support of the Whitley Laing Foundation has also been recognised by the local government.

All the activities mentioned have contributed to the protection of feeding grounds of the white stork, black stork, nesting places of corncake, lapwing, little plover and crane. The species of migratory birds, not observed on the meadows before restoration have been recorded: spotted redshank, osprey, white-tailed eagle. In small water reservoirs that been constructed a small rare fish (the sun bleak) started breeding. The right conditions for burbot spawning has been created and in the last two years this fish appeared again in the Barycz river- the Lacha river flows into the Barycz.

Information about the project has been presented in the Polish Regional Television, Polish radio, in the project brochure and the book about the management of meadows and pastures published by Pro Natura. Several articles have also been published in local newspapers.