In Polish Carpathians villages have no sewerage systems, sewage treatment plants and reliable drinking water supplies. From one side it causes stream degradation, from other is limiting the only chance for sustainable development of this region; eco- and agro-tourism. In the near future there is no funds to build conventional, industrial wastewater treatment system, it is also not economically justified because of hard local landscape conditions, and significant fluctuations in wastewater delivery. Constructed wetlands seem to be a perfect solution for this region. They are cheap and it is possible to build them with own funds and work.
Within this project two display systems have been built: 1) Research Station of Jagiellonian University in Krempna, Magurski National Park) 2) Lutowiska Community, Bieszczady Biophere Reserve. Visitors can see how wastewater gardens looks, that there is no unpleasant odour, etc. Wastewater gardens are also excellent to teaching ecological education of schoolboys and students and further dissemination of the idea.
For more information see http://www.carpathians.pl/gardens/index.html
Degradation of aquatic habitats in the region around £ód¼ poses a number of challenges to its sustainable development. In the short term, pollution and over-development of rivers and lakes have severely damaged ecological processes that maintain water quality. In the long term, it is unlikely that investment or talented professionals would be attracted to a region troubled by a combination of declining aesthetics and the failure to reliably deliver sufficient water quality to industry and civilians. The Foundation currently supports eco-hydrological research into the renovation of rivers and a reservoir in the region. In addition, in partnership with the PEPF the Foundation supports two civic programs: a restoration initiative for the Soko³ówka river that links civilians with scientists, and an educational program run by the local Green schools.
In the upper Narew Valley the prospects for sustainable development are severely hampered by over-development of the river floodplain and economic collapse associated with flight of youth to large cities outside the region. The Foundation supports several initiatives that address research and educational needs. In partnership with the PTOP, the Foundation supports a project to examine the potential to re-introduce ancient breeds of cattle and horses to the floodplain. A research project will examine whether the grazing patterns of these animals are superior to modern hybrid breeds in that they do not lower the biodiversity of the plant community. Such a project explores the possibility that new ecological agriculture may offer jobs for farmers as well as the chance to boost biodiversity and, ultimately, tourism. In partnership with the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences and Narew National Park, the Foundation is pursuing an initiative to examine the effects of water pollution on the park through a modeling exercise that will link scientists with lay civilians. The Foundation's ultimate goal is that the long term chances of regional sustainable development will be increased as these smaller projects mature and produce results.
This annual three week course entitled: Challenges of Sustainable Development in Poland introduces the participants to all major issues concerning the implementation of sustainable development into our society.
Some of the issues addressed during the course are:
Dr. Charles Kibert, Center for Construction and Environment at the University of Florida and Gisela Bosch, Sendzimir Foundation are the main instructors. In addition a number of polish guest speakers from various universities and NGO's such as the University of Mining and Metallurgy, Cracow, University of Gdansk, Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation and Polish Ecological Society cover a variety of subjects.
The course is open to students, lecturers and researchers from any academic institution in Poland. They come from the following disciplines: Urban and Regional Planning * Architecture and Construction * Environmental Science * Public Sector Policy * Education * Law * Art * Engineering * Business Administration * Agriculture * Health Science * Journalism
For further details see the "ChoSD" course Web Site
See also our previous projects
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