Poland

This report assesses the influence of agricultural policy and regional development on the biodiversity of three selected countries: Poland, the Czech Republic and Lithuania, and proposes directions for change. It aims at influencing policy-making in selected issues related to the agriculture sector to better conserve biodiversity in agricultural landscapes in Europe.

The aim of this international seminar was to discuss tools for ecological planning in the context of preparing for implementation of the EU Natura 2000 network, and to explore the possibilities for integrating nature conservation objectives into sectoral policies such as agriculture. This publication presents the agreed recommendations of the seminar, the guest papers and brief national overviews.

In the European Union methods of farm production in accordance with the demands of environmental protection and conservation of landscape are regulated by the European Council. Several Polish regional and national programs are planned, regarding mainly the protection of biodiversity on farmlands, promotion of organic agriculture, soil erosion prevention and counteraction, as well as the depopulation of agricultural regions.

Fishponds represent a rich natural and cultural heritage of tremendous importance and are of great economic value to the regions in which they are found. This is particularly true of the fishponds found in Central and Eastern Europe, some of which were established 5 and 600 years ago. However, the social, cultural, economic and political upheaval that has characterised the recent history of the region has brought in its wake serious implications for their survival.