The protection of the environment, as one of the most important resources, is a key issue and our awareness of this matter is constantly growing. Cities need to address the challenges of climate change, support sustainable development and create master plans to provide the people living in them with an environment that fosters good health and a sense of comfort and security.
The low availability of green spaces negatively affects the quality of life and is not only felt by humans, but also deprives the habitat of urban animals, including birds and insects, which are particularly important for maintaining biodiversity. Therefore, in the current edition of the PL-UA Programme, we are focusing with particular attention on the challenges of environmental protection, the preservation of biodiversity and the promotion of green infrastructure. The response to these challenges includes two environmental projects, which signed partnership agreements at the end of January this year, officially launching project activities.
On 21st January this year, during a ceremony at the Marshall Office of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, the partnership agreement was signed for the regular project “Cross-border Biodiversity - protection of valuable natural areas in Strzyżewice, Chełm, Lviv and Zymna Voda” (acronym BIODIVERSITY). The agreement was signed by representatives of the BIODIVERSITY project in the presence of Jarosław Stawiarski, Marshal of the Lubelskie Voivodeship and Jarosław Kwasek, member of the Management Board. The Head of Joint Secretariat, Andrzej Słodki, also took part in the ceremony.
The Interreg NEXT Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027 Programme allows us, Poles and Ukrainians, to take care of common interests, this time nature. We want to show our compatriots that there are naturally valuable areas in Poland that need to be taken care of. This cooperation allows us to deepen cross-border integration, which is so much needed on both sides. Thank you for being willing to create the beauty of Polish and Ukrainian nature together with us, said Marshal Jarosław Stawiarski.
The BIODIVERSITY project aims to restore and protect the biodiversity of historic parks in Poland and Ukraine. Historic parks are a valuable natural element of the landscape. Old trees play a huge natural and ecological role – they are the habitat of many organisms. Many of them are threatened with extinction and owe their existence only to old trees. The project focuses on the valorisation of the natural resources of the parks, together with an assessment of their condition, so that long-term protection can be planned.
The main activities of the BIODIVERSITY project include the concept development, maintenance and protection of old trees in 4 historic parks. In Lviv, the historic gardens (former St. George's Monastery Gardens) will be restored to become a model of horticultural art. As part of the project, trees will be marked in order to be able to establish a protection area – a natural monument. The Centre for Protection of Old Trees will also be established. In the Strzyżewice commune, the project will include activities related to the revitalisation of the landscape park located in the manor-park complex in Piotrowice. The park, which regularly organises cultural, sporting and recreational events, is popular not only with residents but also with tourists. The Public Regional Specialist Hospital in Chełm will carry out a revitalisation of the historic park located on the hospital grounds. The potential of this site is currently untapped due to its extensive devastation. Thanks to the revitalisation and the construction of a small health-promoting infrastructure, the park will provide suitable conditions for patients' convalescence in contact with nature and will provide an opportunity for the local community to spend time in an attractive way.
The project leader is the Strzyżewice Commune and the partners are: Public Regional Specialist Hospital in Chełm, the Territorial Community of the Zymna Voda Commune and the Religious Community of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the St. George Archcathedral Parish in the Halych District of Lviv. The total budget of the project is almost 2.3 MEUR, including more than 2 MEUR in funding from the PL-UA Programme.
Another partnership agreement for the regular project “New historical life of Vyshnivets and Tarnobrzeg parks” (acronym EcoParks) was signed on 24th January at the Wiśniowieccy Palace in Vyshnivets, Ukraine.
The implementation of activities on the Polish side of the border include carrying out a study of the condition of Dzikowski Park in Tarnobrzeg and striving to restore its biodiversity, including the restoration of the historical species composition of park plantations, or preparing a plan for the work and maintenance of greenery and planting new plants. A project for the reconstruction of the park will also be developed, including the improvement of the surface of the park alleys with reference to the existing layout of historical ones, so that they can be used by people with disabilities or parents with pushchairs. New benches, litter bins and other small architectural components will be installed in the park to provide places for rest and recreation. There will also be lighting in the form of stylish lamps and the historic fountain at the foot of the castle hill, together with the adjacent area, will be given a new face.
On the Ukrainian side, preparation of project documentation for the revitalisation and reconstruction of the historic park in Vyshnivets is also planned. Activities include the construction of a pavilion/gazebo, which will serve, among other things, as a meeting place for organised tourist groups. The modernisation includes the restoration of the urban layout of the park area, the reconstruction of stairs and landings, footpaths and alleys, which will improve the accessibility of the park. A new water supply system for irrigation of the green areas and an external sewage network will be created, and the retaining walls will be rebuilt. A fence will be erected around the park and its attractive appearance will be enhanced by new lighting and tree and shrub planting.
In addition, an interactive tourist application will be developed as part of the project, including tour routes for visitors to the parks in Tarnobrzeg and Vyshnivets. It will enable the user to obtain various information about the history of the parks and their cultural significance, as well as read descriptions about the plants and/or animals found in the parks.
The project is implemented by the Tarnobrzeg Municipality (Lead Partner) in cooperation with the National Reserve "Castles of the Ternopil Region".
The total value of the project is more than 2.7 MEUR, of which 2.4 MEUR is PL-UA Programme funding.
Both projects will also implement soft activities in the form of conferences, study visits, practical training and educational campaigns. The BIODIVERSITY and EcoParks projects will raise awareness, enrich knowledge and provide an opportunity to exchange valuable experience in Polish-Ukrainian partnerships.
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