The Podlaskie Voivodeship, in collaboration with the Białystok University of Technology and the University of Białystok, is implementing a strategic project: ‘Protection and restoration of biodiversity, landscape diversity and ecosystem functions in the Podlaskie Voivodeship’.
The project is co-financed by European Union funds under the ‘European Funds for Podlaskie 2021–2027’ programme.
Its aim is to protect and restore the unique ecosystems of the Podlaskie region and to raise public awareness of nature conservation.
The project will include, amongst other things:
- Updating and developing conservation plans for the province’s three landscape parks
- Nature monitoring and conservation activities in the Łomża Landscape Park of the Narew Valley, including the development of educational infrastructure
- Inventory and protection of the natural resources of the Knyszyn Forest Landscape Park and its buffer zone
- Establishment of the Suwałki Landscape Park Biodiversity Centre in Turtul
- Implementation of the BIO4FUTURE task – the Podlaskie Centre for the Protection of Fungal and Plant Diversity
- Establishment of the University of Białystok Biodiversity Park with a programme of educational workshops
- Launch of a grant programme supporting local initiatives in the field of biodiversity conservation
- Implementation of the training programme ‘Protecting biodiversity – can we, or must we already?’, based on examples of good practice and case studies
Key project objectives
- Halting the loss of biological and landscape diversity and managing species and habitats more effectively, including the identification of new threats
- Increasing respect for nature and the landscape in the region’s social and economic development processes
- Improving the effectiveness of conservation measures through the development of environmental education and the capabilities of nature conservation services and public administration
Benefits for the region
- Increasing knowledge about the natural environment of the Podlaskie Voivodeship
- Improving the quality of habitats and the functioning of ecosystems
- Better living conditions and population growth of key species
- Increasing the areas covered by active nature conservation
- Strengthening the potential of ecosystem services
- Engaging the local community in activities promoting sustainable development
- Raising nature conservation standards by increasing the numbers and qualifications of environmental protection services
Project implemented by a consortium:
- Podlaskie Voivodeship – leader
- Białystok University of Technology – partner
- University of Białystok – partner
- Łomża Landscape Park of the Narew Valley – partner
- Knyszyn Forest Landscape Park – partner
- Suwałki Landscape Park – partner