1. Importance of the Nidziańska Park concerning the protection of regional flora.

Małgorzata Olesińska

Małgorzata Olesińska had acquainted the attendees with the project implementation region. The speaker focused on the vegetation of the region, dividing it into halophiles, termophiles and xerothermic plants.

Helena Trzcińska-Tacik, professor, Ph.D.

Helena Trzcińska-Tacik, professor, Ph.D., began her presentation by explaining how the climate (meaning precipitation amounts and temperatures) is a deciding factor to the development of vegetation and flora of a given region. Mutual relationships between the soil and vegetation were also discussed.

The terrains of Ponidzie are contained within a “Precipitation shadow”. Thus, this area is very dry, and as a result, characteristic Ponidzie xerothermic vegetation can be found there. The presence of mixed gypsum/limestone and chalk/limestone soils is directly related to the properties of flora growing in this area. During the later parts of the lecture, the professor shared her experience of discovering that to achieve propagation, the given weed species must produce more seeds than were originally planted. At the end of the lecture, the participants were presented with information concerning endangered weed species. For every species, the professor discussed: the type of soil, on which the particular species grows, as well as its flowering period.

Denise Fu Dostatny, Ph.D.  

The project coordinator began her presentation by explaining the reasons, for which the project covers the Ponidzie region. This region is one of the richest terrains in Poland, as far as the existence of rare weed species on limestone soils in concerned. The coordinator presented the tasks to be performed by the farmers, as well as described the main objectives of the project, namely: preservation of vegetation in its place of origin, which would then allow for its protection from extinction. These tasks not only aim to protect the rare species of weeds, but also to provide protection for traditional crops and relict crops, which were cultivated in this region years ago, such as Latvian wheat. The main objective of this project is to create spaces, in which the complete agrocenosis (relict crops and weeds) characteristic for that region may be secured.

Wiesław Podyma, Ph.D.

Dr Wiesław Podyna had acquainted the participants of the meeting with agricultural and environment protection programs for the years 2007 - 2013. Furthermore, he provided details on the subsidy eligibility conditions for the PROW program, i.e. the Development of Rural Areas and the Operational Program (Restructuring and modernization of the food sector, which also covers terrains incorporated in the Natura 2000 program).

This program aims to protect the diversity of green arable lands, agricultural infrastructure, including crop plants and rare species of weeds – as well as birds and insects, which constitute a part of the whole agroecosystem. The program promotes balanced development of rural areas, and aims to preserve the biological diversity of those areas through the restoration of their qualities, as well as through maintenance and preservation of valuable agricultural habitats. The agricultural and environment protection program promotes a balanced management system, proper use of soils, protection of waters, as well as protection of local endangered species of domestic animals and local species of agricultural vegetation. Further on, W. Podyma Ph.D. discussed 9 packages and 41 variants of the program.

Mieczysław Babalski, engineer

The subject of the next lecture concerned the cultivation of relict crops as part of ecological agriculture. Mr. Mieczysław Babalski presented the participants with the idea of biological crop protection. Examples of such protection measures were also presented. For example, spelt crops could be sown alongside centaurea flowers, which will attract the insects. These insect will, in turn, prey on any pests the crops may suffer from. During his speech, Mr. Babalski had also promoted organic fertilization using manure in the winter, and planting of trees and shrubs, which would attract pollinating insects.

The final parts of the lecture covered problems related to submission of applications concerning crop subsidies

Training summary:

Each presentation was followed up by a discussion session.

Denise Fu Dostatny, project coordinator of the “Nidziańska Basin – the model enclave of agricultural biodiversity” thanked all attendees for their arrival, and proposed a second meeting to be held in a year’s time, in the Pińczów Agricultural Advisory Centre.