Although the ReForest project has officially come to an end, the dissemination and uptake of its results continue. Across Europe, project partners are carrying ReForest knowledge, tools and experience into farming communities, helping to keep the conversation around agroforestry active and relevant.
In Poland, this conversation is particularly important. Field hedgerows and agroforestry systems remain a topic that can stir considerable debate among rural communities. Poland has a long tradition of maintaining field hedgerows and other forms of trees within agricultural landscapes. However, this tradition was weakened by changing market conditions and agricultural policy following Poland’s accession to the European Union.
Today, there are encouraging signs of a revival. Improved support mechanisms under the Common Agricultural Policy are creating new opportunities to strengthen integrated agroforestry landscapes. At the same time, initiatives such as ReForest have helped bring knowledge about agroforestry closer to farmers, advisers and rural communities, demonstrating its practical, environmental and economic potential.
On 9 September, OSA had the opportunity to continue this knowledge exchange at a regional conference organised by the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Centre in Minikowo.
The event focused on trees in rural areas and their contribution to nature and landscape protection, providing an important forum for discussing both the benefits of agroforestry landscapes and the challenges associated with their development.
Alongside the presentation of tools developed through REFOREST, participants heard about support schemes introduced by Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The programme also explored the ecological importance of field hedgerows and their role in maintaining biodiversity across agricultural landscapes.
The discussions demonstrated that putting agroforestry into practice involves more than understanding its environmental benefits. Questions raised by farmers focused particularly on the legal complexities surrounding trees located along property boundaries and on how environmental awareness can be strengthened within rural communities.
These concerns highlight why continued dialogue between farmers, advisers, researchers, policymakers and other rural stakeholders remains essential.
One particularly encouraging aspect of the conference was the participation of young farmers, who represented a significant share of the audience. Reaching this group is especially important for ensuring that knowledge generated through projects such as REFOREST continues to influence land-management decisions well beyond the lifetime of the project.
The event also attracted the attention of journalists from regional television in Bydgoszcz. Following the conference, journalists interviewed speakers and subsequently featured the event in the station’s agricultural programme, bringing the discussion on rural tree planting, agroforestry and available support to an even wider local audience.
OSA, our Polish project partner, is pleased to see the project’s results continuing to reach local communities and contribute to strengthening knowledge among farmers and agricultural advisers across the region.
We would like to thank to OSA and all ReForest partners for their efforts in post-project dissemination.
Learn more about the event:
Regional conference organised by the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Centre
See the regional television coverage:
Report from TVP Bydgoszcz’s agricultural programme
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