Active KPN
Layman’s Report
Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land
Ochrona zasobów przyrodniczych
Puszczy Kampinoskiej – obszaru Natura 2000,
poprzez renaturyzacje wykupionych gruntów
LIFE 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
Basic information about the project
Number of LIFE+ project: LIFE10 NAT/PL/655
Acronym: ActiveKPN
Full project name: Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest – Natura 2000 Site, through the
renaturalisation of bought-up land.
Start of the project: 1 September 2011
End of the project: 31 December 2015
Duration period: 52 months
Budget of the project: 5.568.653,00 €
European Commission funding: 50%
NFOŚiGW funding: 45%
KPN input: 5%
Project beneficiary: Kampinos National Park (KPN)
Address: Tetmajera 38, 05-080 Izabelin
Phone number +48 22 722 60 01, 721 83 91 do 93,
fax. +48 22 722 65 60
e-mail: [email protected]
WWW: www.kampinoski-pn.gov.pl
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
I. Project beneficiary – Kampinos National Park (KPN)
• Created on the 16th of January 1959;
• Second largest national park in
Poland;
• Located in the immediate proximity of
Warsaw, KPN is one of the few
national parks bordering capital cities;
• Biosphere Reserve since 2000;
• Declared European Bird Refuge by the
European Parliament;
• Part of Natura 2000 network ;
• Encompasses an area of 38.544 ha.
II. Goals of LIFE+ „ActiveKPN” project
The main goal of the project was renaturalisation of areas located within KPN, performed after the purchase of
said lands from private owners. Returning these areas to nature was possible by means of conservation
activities. In order to assure that the conservation activities would serve the nature, purchased properties
were subjected to detailed expert evaluation. Additional project goals included creation of geographic
information system – a geobase – regarding the lands managed by KPN, as well as promotion of the project
and education of the society.
1. Purchase of 200 ha of land
When Kampinos National Park was created, one third of its territory was privately owned, and the park was
inhabited by 16 thousand people. In 1975 the program of private land purchase was launched. In total, during
40 years the Park managed to buy 10.955 ha (about 80% of initially planned area), and the number of Park’s
inhabitants dwindled to 1.800.
Buying up of the private lands located within the national park is crucial not only due to its significance for
nature conservation. Mosaic of land ownership renders many conservation activities, such as eradication of
alien species, impossible. Land purchase is important also for social reasons. Inhabitants of Kampinos Forest
live in spectacular natural surroundings, but they are subjected to certain limitations, for example regarding
land development or new investments. As a result, the park is subjected to strong pressure of residential
development. On the other hand, local inhabitants would gladly sell their lands, if the restrictions taking effect
in the national park allowed for unlimited settlement on its territory.
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
Since the beginning, participation in the project of land purchase in Kampinos National Park was voluntary. The
same rule was applied to the “ActiveKPN” project.
Mosaic of swamp habitats
and land ownership in villages
Dąbrówka, Stara Dąbrowa
and Nowa Dąbrowa.
Investment pressure on
Kampinos National Park
and its buffer zone.
The map showing land purchased within „ActiveKPN” LIFE+ project is to be found on the last page of the report.
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
2. Monitoring and expert evaluation of purchased properties
Decisions made during the renaturalisation
activities have long-lasting repercussions.
Therefore they need to be carefully thought
through and planned on the basis of reliable
data. In order to obtain such data, every
purchased property was evaluated by expert
naturalists. Expert ornithologist analysed the
species and number of birds on a given plot and
in its vicinity. Expert entomologist studied
butterflies present on the property. Expert
botanist studied habitats and species growing on
a given plot. Every expert issued their own
opinion regarding the renaturalisation activities
that ought to be performed. At the end of the
project expert evaluation was repeated on
chosen plots to verify the effects of
renaturalisation activities .
Expert entomologist at work
3. Renaturalisation of purchased lands
The selection of renaturalisation activities performed on purchased lands was based on the location of given
property, local habitat conditions, results of expert evaluation, the area covered by trees and the number of
man-made objects (houses, fences, ditches etc). Respective actions were approved by the Park’s Director on
the basis of the opinion issued by the project’s technical coordinator, external experts (botanist, entomologist
and ornithologist), employees of the Scientific Research and Monitoring Department of KPN and officers of the
Park’s field service.
mowing
expert
recommendations
deshrubbing
opinion of the KPN
employees
afforestation
natural conditions
Selection process of
renaturalisation activities
performed on the
properties purchased
within LIFE+
„ActiveKPN”project.
supported natural
succesion
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
4a. Mowing
Mowing is one of the most fundamental activities of active nature protection. It protects and conserves open
ecosystems, and with them many valuable and rare species of flora and fauna. On the lands purchased within
„ActiveKPN” project very valuable molinia meadows can be found. Purchased meadows boast many rare and
protected species of plants (fringed pink, common centaury and lesser centaury or marsh gentian) and birds
(lesser spotted eagle, corn crake, common crane, Red-backed shrike etc.). 132 ha of meadows was mowed
during the project. It was the so called initial mowing, that is mowing performed on abandoned arable lands
and unused meadows. The aim of mowing is to restore the former function of those areas and, as a result, their
typical set of species.
Fringed pink (Dianthus superbus)
Mowed meadow in Wólka
Marsh gentian (Gentiana pneumonanthe)
Baling of mowed hay in Adamówek
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
4b. Deshrubbing
As a result of lack of human activity, some of the open habitats has become overgrown with shrubs and young
trees. The most common species among those trees is birch; however, present are also species unwanted in
the national park, like black locust, ashleaf maple or northern red oak. In order to save the most valuable
fragments of abandoned meadows approximately 5 hectares were subjested to deshrubbing. It is assumed that
those areas will soon transform into beautiful meadows with full richness of diverse planst, insects and
butterflies.
Deshrubbing of
plots in Sowia
Wola Folwarczna
Deshrubbing of
plots in Janówek
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
4c. Afforestation
Some of the lands purchased within the project do not constitute a valuable addition to the system of open
areas. Among them are the lands that had been cultivated despite their poor quality and areas of former
farmsteads. In such cases afforestation was implemented in order to restore oak-hornbeam forest and
ecological corridors for local fauna. Afforestation was performed with the use of local species of deciduous
trees. Such as oak, linden or maple. Other species, like hornbeam, larch, elm and pine, were used for planting
in smaller quantities. In total, 10 ha of land has been afforested within the project.
Afforested plots in Kępiaste
Afforested plots in Granica
Afforestation works in
Famułki Królewskie
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
4d. Selective planting supporting the natural succesion
Last one of the renaturalisation activities undertaken within the project was supporting the natural succesion
by planting of trees and shrubs. Frequently, the lands purchased within the Park had been abandoned many
years before. Shrubs and trees, mainly small-seeded species like birch and pine, appeared spontaneously on
these areas, initiating the process of natural succesion. To support these natural processes and accelerate their
consequent stages, large-seeded species like oak or hornbeam were planted, alongside rare species of shrubs
(viburnum, hawthorn, dogwood). In the future these trees and shrubs will serve as a seminal base for further
development and growth of the forest, which as a result will have a complete set of species and characteristics
suitable for given habitat. Within the project selective planting supporting the natural succesion was performed
on 87 ha of land.
Planting suuporting natural succesion on a plot in
Korfowe
Planting suuporting natural succesion on a plot in
Zaborówek
Maple sapling
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
5. Demolition of farmsteads
Buying up properties in a national park one cannot forget about the houses of their previous owners. Said
buildings are very diverse: there are small, wooden huts without basic infrastructure, as well as grand
residences complete with barns, stables and garages. All of the purchased buildings were demolished, the
debris was transported away, and asbestos was disposed of. Fences were taken apart, since they form a barrier
against animal migration. Only some wooden elements, mainly fragments of fences, were left intact, to
preserve lichens and fungi growing on them. In total, during the project 18 farmsteads were demolished. Some
of the sites have already been afforested, and the rest will be included in the system of protected open areas
and will be mowed in the future. Demolition of such abandoned farmsteads is very significant, not only from
the point of view of nature conservation. Abandoned, decaying buildings degrade the landscape and may be
dangerous for humans.
Building designated for demolition in Górki
Buildings designated for demolition in Zamość
Demolition in Kiścinne - Krogules
Demolition in Lasocin
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
Asbestos elements of demolished
households, prepared for transport
During the demolition of farmsteads particular attention was given to the cellars. Some of them were left intact
and included in Kampinos National Park’s project of bat wintering protection. Old cellars are excellent for this
purpose. The cellars, equipped with new or repaired doors, serve those useful mammals, ensuring that they
have a safe haven during their hibernation.
A cellar left for bat wintering in
Sowia Wola Folwarczna. The site of
demolition has been afforested.
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
6. Monitoring of invasive species
Invasion of allien species is one of the greatest threats for local flora in protected areas, including our national
park. On all properties purchased within the project monitoring of invasive species was performed. 14 invasive
species were found. It was the first step towards eradication of those species. Renaturalisation activities, such
as mowing or afforestation, not only destroys invasive species, but also prevents their future invasion.
On some properties it was not enough to recognise the threat and conduct the usual renaturalisation activities.
Where the situation required it, the invasive species were actively fought. Such was the case with black cherry
on the plot no 355 in Kępiaste and Japanese Knotweed on the plot no 63 in Górki. The photographs show
consequent stages of the eradication in the first year in Górki.
28th of May – before eradication
29th of May– digging out of the knotweed’s rhizomes
12th of June– after the first stage of eradication
5th of september –shoots growing back
(eradicated after the photo was taken)
The last picture shows resilient shoots of knotweed growing back from fragments of rhizomes hidden deep in
the ground. That’s why the eradication of this species in Górki is being continued. Meanwhile right after the
eradication was performed new shoots grew back in abundance, now both the strength of their growth and the
overgrown area are significantly diminished. Monitoring and eradication of the knotweed will have to be
continued after the project’s termination in order to prevent the species from reappearing.
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
7. GIS development and creation of metamodel
An integrated geographical information system was created within the project. It combines existing KPN
databases (geographical, botanical, zoological, containing data on existing habitats, etc.). Integrated access to
this data allows for more efficient management of purchased properties. The system includes „Geoportal”
application and GIS-KPN application. It has been developed by an external company. Since 31th of May, 2013,
the system supports the management of KPN’s natural resources.
Aerial photograph showing the
area of KPN Headquarters in
Izabelin. Such very detailed
imaging was bought as a part of
the creation of GIS for KPN.
„Geoportal” application – Geographical Information System of KPN – created within „ActiveKPN” project
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
8. Project presentation
2000 information brochures were prepared and
printed
10 information boards were constructed
The project had its own
website
The project encompassed educational activities, addressed mainly to children . The photographs show
presentation of the project during the Open Day of Kampinoski National Park, 7th of September, 2013.
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Active KPN
LIFE+ project no. LIFE10 NAT/PL/000655
„Protection of natural resources of Kampinos Forest –
Natura 2000 site, through the renaturalisation
of bought-up land”
The project was presented on
numerous meetings and conferences
for the benefit of people involved in
nature conservation . The photograph
shows KPN stand on LIFE Open Day,
organised by the National Fund of
Environment Protection and Water
Management on 14th of April, 2015.
On 29th of May, 2012, a press conference was held in order to
promote the project. As a result, regional television (TVP Info
Warszawa) broadcasted a reportage on the project and four
articles on this topic appeared in the newspapers.
9. After LIFE
„ActiveKPN” project was terminated on 31th of December, 2015. It does not mean that all the activities related
to the project will be finished. Renaturalisation of plots purchased within the project will be continued.
Afforested lands will undergo regular forest management practices, and the meadows will be mowed. It is
assumed that the results of the project will make a lon-lasting contribution to the nature of Kampinos National
Park, increasing natural values of the region, the country and Europe.
LIFE+ 10 NAT/PL/000655
Map of the lands purchased within „ActiveKPN” project
(marked in red).