„ Lasy Oliwsko - Darżlubskie ” Promotional Forest Complex

1. „Lasy Oliwsko - Darżlubskie” Promotional Forest Complex

2. „Lasy Oliwsko-Darżlubskie” PFC Established in 1996. It consists of two State Forest Districts: Gdańsk and Wejherowo Total area: 40743ha.

3. PFC is a larger, preferably heavily-wooded area, within one or more Forest Districts, which has been established for promotion of pro-ecological forest policy of the state. • PFC are thus functional units, having no separate administration, since they are administrated by the Forest Districts included within them (under the supervision of Regional Directoriate of the State Forest) The term „Promotional Forest Complex” was officially used in 1994, concerning the protection and management of Białowieża Primeval Forest. PFCs in Poland

4. The goals of Promotional Forest Complexes: • the comprehensive identification of the state of forest biocenoses and the ongoing changes • the permanent preservation or reconstruction of valuable features applying rational forest management methods • integration of the goals of sustainable forest management and nature conservation • promotion of multifunctional forest concept • support to the research programs • ecological education of the society, based on educational centres, trails and organization of training courses for the Forest Service as well.

5. PFC is situated in the direct neighborhood of over 1 million citizens agglomeration of the cities Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia and Wejherowo. It is a source of many problems. Fragmentation of the forest Wild visitors

7. Identification of the state of biocenoses In 2007 we completed the identification of Natura2000 habitats and species Nature2000 habitats inDistrict Wejherowo

8. „Lasy Oliwsko – Darżlubskie” is a very interesting area for scientific research. About a dozen of master’s thesis and PhD dissertations was writtenhere. Buxbaumia viridis has been found in District Gdańsk by Mr. Bartłomiej Hajek, PhD student from The University of Gdańsk.

9. Sustainable forest economy based on ecological rules Wide use of the natural regeneration is one of our priorities, especially in case of beech but also of more difficult species like oak, pine and sycamore. Forest at the Hel Peninsula Natural regeneration in a beech forest Special approach to the Hel Peninsula – preserving seaside pine forest (Empetro nigri-Pinetum), interests of localities, development of the touristic infrastructure.

10. System of the protected areas Preserved areas Natural Reserves (17) 570ha Landscape Parks 19638ha Nature 2000 areas 10508ha Protective forest 34992ha Nature2000 areas (project) PLH220016 Mawra-Bagno Biała PLH220020 Pełcznica PLB220004 Ujście Wisły PLH220019 Orle PLB220032 Zatoka Pucka i Półwysep PLH220021 Piaśnickie Łąki PLH220029 Trzy Młyny PLC220002 Bielawskie Błota PLB220007 Puszcza Darżlubska PLH220044 Ostoja w Ujściu Wisły PLH220020 „Pełcznica” Nature2000 habitat area

11. Dead wood Desisting of cuttings is a way of protection for exceptionally valuable ecosystems. Symphytocarpus confluens extremly rare fungi, found by Mr. Marcin Wilga, NGO’s activist.

12. Water retention programs Programs of improving water retention abilities were carried out in the districts of PFC. It is also a way of increasing a variety of wetland biotopes.Over a hundred of objects were built with a financial help of several funds.

13. Bird’s asylum In Sobieńczyce, District Wejherowo, with a help of Regional Foundation for Environment Protection we created a place where injured or sick birds are able to recover in peace. In both of the districts there are special pens forrecovering of game animals.

14. Ecological education of the society - we do it for free. Education center „Muza” in District Wejherowo. Beside the indoor exhibitions there are trails in the forest that show many aspects of our economy and teach about the functioning of the ecosystem.

15. „Target” groups • Children • Students • Teachers • Local authorities • Forms of education • Classes • Lectures • Trails • Competitions 8000 participants per year

16. Tourist development – means of promotion • Rooms and camping houses to rent • Horse and bicycle trails • Forest parking places • Hunter’s lodgings • Bird watching towers • Festivals for society • Organization of hunts • Support for the sports events • Publication of the guidebooks and leaflets

18. “Lasy Oliwsko-Darżlubskie” Promotional Forest Complex PFC “Lasy Oliwsko-Darżlubskie” is a functional unit, that consists of two State Forest Districts: Gdańsk and Wejherowo. It is situated at the seaside of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Gdańsk , in the direct neighborhood of over 1 million citizens agglomeration of the cities Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia and Wejherowo. PFC was established to promote a modern view at the silviculture and forest management. It emphasizes the ecological aspects of the forestry. A very important goal is also the ecological education introduced to the different groups of the society (students, teachers, forest service). Both of the Districts has its educational center with adequate equipment, various exhibitions and specially designed classrooms. There are also several educational trails. We organize classes for children and students. Since 2003 to 2006 we took a part in a series of lectures for the students of the University of Gdańsk, introducing the forest economy. School teachers are also a group which we are trying to make familiar to the concept of multifunctional forestry.

19. Every year since 2004 we have taken a part in the Baltic Festival of Science, the event that shows to the society the latest achievements of science and technology. Since 2001 to 2005 District Wejherowo successfully carried out the project of improving the abilities of water retention, receiving money from the “Ekofundusz” (foundation for ecology). A similar project in District Gdańsk was financed in 2004 by National Foundation for Environment Protection. In 2007 a new educational center has been opened in the District Gdańsk. For this object we won a financial help in a competition announced by the Regional Foundation for Environment Protection (WFOŚiGW). In the Southern Baltic Program we are finding a chance to develop our tourist and educational infrastructure, especially by creating, with a help of a partner, a technical project of spatial distribution of various objects, based on the same, coherent rules for the whole Promotional Forest Complex (topic 4: New topics in forestry education, topic 7: Tourism by coastal areas). We believe this idea refers also to the issues of nature conservation and the management of the protected areas (topics 5 and 6), because of the fact that most of the natural attractions are situated there. Additionally we are interested in establishing a platform for the experience exchange not only for people directly involved in forestry and ecological education, but also for other branches of forest economy. It could be helpful in improving professional skills and would be a chance to get know to the different points of view.

20. Designed by: Izabela Kashyna-Pleskot and Michał Piwosz Foto: W. Kończak J.Mikoś, P. Młodkowski, I.Pleskot, W. Ciechanowicz