Land purchase in coastal areas of Poland

Slowinski National Park (ca. 18.900 ha) is located at about 140 km northwest from Gdansk. The park was established in 1967 and in 1977 was appointed by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve and is also protected by the RAMSAR Convention. Slowinski National Park is famous for holding the most unique and extensive area of drifting dunes (about 1000 ha). EUCC Poland aims to purchase over 30ha of land at the Slowinski National Park and surrounding areas in 2001. The overall objective is to purchase a total of ca. 90 ha by the end of 2002. The target areas of the running project are coastal wetlands within the borders of the park that are on private hands and facing management problems, as well as valuable areas outside the boundaries of the park. EUCC–Poland holds the ownership of the land, while the management right is transferred to the National Park authorities. This project is therefore strengthening the relation between the Park Authorities and a completely independent NGO, setting up a cooperation example that can be repeated in other areas of Poland and Europe. EUCC-Poland has further been invited to take a sit representing the NGO community at the National Parks Advisory Committee.

The Polish EAF partner managed to secure 180 hectares of land on strategic locations and implemented conservation measures.