Green Infrastructure Case Study Template The aim of the exercise is to provide information on how the elements of the Green Infrastructure Strategy are implemented at national level and to provide case studies on Green Infrastructure projects. The case studies will be demonstrated in a brochure, which will provide decision-makers, spatial planners, NGOs and other stakeholders with information on Green Infrastructure projects development and implementation. Country: Poland Person filling in: Monika Kotulak Affiliate organisation (if applicable): Naturalists Club Date: 8.11.2013 Brief description of the case (4-5 lines): The Library of Warsaw built a green roof to improve water storage capacity, air quality, temperature control besides increase image enhancement and accessibility for exercise. Detailed description of the case Type of Green Infrastructure (GI) element (see list here): Green urban and peri-urban areas a. Location, expansion, type (urban or rural) and protection status of the sites (e.g. Natura 2000, Ramsar, other protected area, urban area, etc.): urban area, no protection b. Actions carried out to designate, construct, manage and maintain the Green Infrastructure element: Initiative was on the side of Library, then 'greens designer' developed a project together with technical support, constructed by professional company. Now it is managed by library which hired a gardener. c. Importance for biodiversity conservation (ecosystems connected, type of species benefitting, ecosystem services' enhancement, etc.): ecosystem connection, photosynthesis and primary production, Biogeochemical cycle (cycling of nitrogen, carbon, sulphur, phosphorus and others), Hydrological cycle, purification of air and water, pollination, recreation, tourism, aesthetic and educational functions, Cultural, intellectual, spiritual inspiration, Tranquillity, calm, relaxation, Social relations, sense of place d. Short term (up to three years) environmental and social benefits of the GI element and
its effects (see lists of benefits here) please quantify if possible: Pollination - food base for pollinators, in size of 5 111 m2 green space, surrounded by other city parks (ab. 1 km in straight line), 15 km from forest Water storage capacity Water purification Temperature control Air quality Accessibility for exercise and amenity Noise regulation Employment - 1 gardener Image enhancement Recreation e. Long term environmental and social benefits of the GI element and its effects (see lists of benefits here) please quantify if possible: Pollination - food base for pollinators, in size of 5 111 m2 green space, surrounded by other city parks (ab. 1 km in straight line), 15 km from forest, Water storage capacity Water purification Temperature control Air quality Accessibility for exercise and amenity Noise regulation Employment - 1 gardener Image enhancement Recreation f. Sources of financing: Library of Warsaw University g. Duration of financing and implementation: 1996-2001 h. Actions specifically financed: designing, creation, maintaining i. Main stakeholders involved: University of Warsaw, library of the University j. Legal and policy background (national, local, etc. acts, law and policies influencing the specific case): no General information on Green Infrastructure implementation on the national level a) Is habitat connectivity regarded as a major issue in national/regional/local conservation? If yes, can you list already existing tools on the ground that
helped implementation (e.g. ecological corridors designated and managed)? In mid 90, in frame of project Nationa Nature Plan made by IUCN, an ecological network was described - ECONET-POLSKA, using landscape criteria. This conception was used as a base to document: 'Concept of landscape management policy of the country, Polska 2000 plus'. It was also implemented into regional documents. In 2005 was developed a map of ecological corridors connecting Natura 2000 sites. Also, in Institute of Mammals Biology a map of ecological corridors was made, covering whole country. b) Are Green Infrastructure projects general practice to connect ecosystems and solve fragmentation problems in your country? Green bridges are obligatory with highways (how many kms? Any other forms of mitigation measures of GI?) but other forms of GI are not popular. (fish passes, amphibian passes?) c) What are the most commonly implemented Green Infrastructure projects? Green bridges over roads. d) Are projects planned and linked spatially? Yes, but mainly on regional, not national level. e) Who is responsible for implementation? In the case of green bridges - investor f) Do authorities have sufficient capacities to carry out monitoring, data collection and additional work? Usually they lack of funds and human resources g) Can you list some issues, which in your view are important to be tackled by Green Infrastructure projects at any level, but generally and currently overlooked? Foresting green corridors; small green infrastructure especially in urban areas. h) Is the concept of Green Infrastructure known and accepted as delivering multiple benefits among relevant stakeholders (e.g. spatial planners, local authorities, conservation and environmental authorities, project developers, NGOs)? If no, please list the main reasons. It is quite well known concept but the main problem is not transferred into practice. Main reasons are finances. Also only most popular elements of GI are known like green bridges or passages for fish. City parks, green elements etc. are not known and popular concept among authorities and spatial planners. There are NGOses or nonformal groups popularizing urban gardens or protecting city parks, but still it is still limited Legal background a) Is there suitable enabling legislation at national, regional and local level to develop Green Infrastructure projects? If yes, please list. Green corridors are
not included in system of protected areas. Polish law is tackling the issue on generic level in national Act on Nature Protection from 16th of April 2004. and pointing need of keeping the connectivity when preparing environmental decision for investments significantly affecting environment. b) Are there specific regulations or laws that really hinder GI designation and implementation? It should be more concrete in Act on Nature Protection. c) During new project development, are connectivity problems taken into account? Green Infrastructure projects are compulsory to be implemented, e.g. during new motorway, dam, etc. construction? During works in the rivers usually connectivity for fish is taken into account, unfortunately very often it is badly done, so corridor is not functional Green bridges are compulsory only for highways. Financing a) Which are the main funding sources? Usually European Union funds when bigger infrastructure, in case of city parks - municipalities. b) Which activities/projects are most likely to get financial support? green bridges c) Is Green Infrastructure project funding regarded as one of the issues directly referred to in national operational programs or does the government/ministry regard it as a priority within conservation/climate change mitigation and adaptation measures? No d) Are there any examples of business or private stakeholders to develop Green Infrastructure projects? Yes Monitoring and capacities a) Are there any data collected or monitoring for successful implementation? Some NGOs or scientific institutions are monitoring green bridges functionality b) What are the data sources? Inventories, photo traps, observations. c) Were there sufficient data to set baseline and quantifiable targets? Recommendations d) How do you think the concept of Green Infrastructure could be more streamlined into decision-making? By law enforcement, more systematic approach on landscape planning
e) Would standards help GI implementation (e.g. green roofs, green bridges, integrated planning procedures)? Work was done by proofed method of building green roofs. f) Which stakeholders are missing mostly? Why? Often NGOs and general public because decisions are made without their knowledge. g) How do you think the concept of Green Infrastructure and its benefits should be communicated better to various stakeholders? 1. By presenting different benefits of ecosystem services provided, 2. by giving imitative for organizing small GI projects to the people h) Please list at least three recommendations on how funding should be improved. 1. Fund only projects with opinion of environmental specialist on its quality, 2. some other axis of funding for small GI projects, i) Please list at least three recommendations on how stakeholder involvement should be improved. 1. By consultation meetings while preparing spatial development plans, 2. By encouraging to actions to create small GI projects themselves (good examples, funding), 3. By preparing or promoting guidebook for participation of public in spatial planning processes, there is one created by Genreal Directorate of Environmental Protection promoting good practices: here j) Please list any other recommendations in terms of how Green Infrastructure projects can be developed better and function more effectively. 1. Inclusion in the study of conditions and directions of spatial development of municipalities and other planning documents areas of ecological corridors; 2. Securing the area of ecological corridors before dedicating their location for development and other investments permanently changing the landscape area (with the exception of the investments necessary due to public purposes). 3. Support for afforestation of agricultural lands within the limits of ecological corridors by setting this goal areas of lower suitability for agriculture (low quality soil, slope steepness, selected wetlands, etc.) and other activities. 4. Supporting a diverse, mosaic structure of the environment by adjusting the plantation to the geological and habitat. 5. Supporting the introduction of woodlots and planting shielding - as elements that positively affected the landscape, natural diversity corridors and ecological functions; Please attach any related materials annexes (pictures, maps, websites, etc.)
http://buw.uw.edu.pl/mapa/poziom/ogrod/
Source of pictures: Warsaw University
Localization of most threatened parts of ecological corridors which should be taken under law protection. Source: Jędrzejewski 2009 1. corridors; 2. hotspots Network of ecological corridors. Source Jędrzejewski W., 2009, Sieć korytarzy ekologicznych łączących obszary chronione w Polsce [in] Ochrona łączności ekologicznej w Polsce, Jędrzejewski W., Ławreszuk D. (red.), Zakład Badania
Ssakków PAN, Białowieża, 71-82 1. North, 2. North-central, 3. south-central, 4. western, 5. eastern 6. southern, 7. Carpathian, 8. main corridors The activity is financially supported by the European Commission.