Gestión Académica

10.2.1. General information

In the framework of HABIT-CHANGE Project, Biebrza National Park undertook the target-oriented communication in order to enhance the social perception of climate change in the Biebrza Valley. So far, the problems of climate-related impacts on management (especially in reference to agriculture) and environmental conservation was rather poor and the climate change was considered by local stakeholders as a global process, with a negligible influence on local management conditions. Years of the HABIT-CHANGE project implementation (2010-2013) were rich in meteorological variability that prerequisited some insights into the possible consequences of projected climatic change, especially related to the increased frequency of extremely high sums of precipitation in summer (ref. summer 2010 & 2011), decent variability in winter temperatures (relatively mild December 2011 and extremely cold February 2012; long-lasting winter 2013). This phenomena have made the stakeholder communication as to the possible consequences of climatic change much more fruitful and efficient. The general assumption of stakeholder communication undertaken in the Biebrza National Park was to adjust the communication methods to selected target groups. According to the classification given on the Fig. 54, the most important groups of stakeholders of a high interest in environmental management in the Biebrza Valley were addressed, which were among the “Key players”: local farmers, land owners, land managers and the Biebrza National Park staff; and among the “Subjects”: children and the BNP-related NGO’s. Among the groups of the high influence on management implementation addressed, there were the representatives of “Context setters”: Local and national authorities and local and national politicians.

10.2.2. Communication with key players

In order to deal with the key players among the BNP stakeholders, the three-step approach was applied in stakeholder communication. First – the initial stakeholder meeting was organized in January 2011. The main purpose of the meeting was to establish a contact platform with the group of stakeholders representing different groups of farmers, land owners, land managers. Then the questionnaire was prepared which was queried in the area of the BNP (in cooperation with the IOŚ- PIB – Project Partner of the HABIT-CHANGE consortium). Along to this activity the series of three information brochures was prepared and issued (in cooperation with IOŚ-PIB) (Fig. 55). The brochures contain concise information on environmental values of Biebrza National Park and threats that come along to them with the prospective climatic changes, management activities in the BNP and some observed and prospective climate change scenarios along with prospective climate-related impacts. Along with the occurring extreme meteorological phenomena (which are likely to reflect the prognosed climatic changes) local stakeholders kept to be informed about the hydrological and meteorological conditions occurring in the Biebrza Valley. The information on climatic change was additionally interpreted and referred to observed extreme impacts of meteorological phenomena to flooding (Fig. 56). Main goal of the publication (which is advised to be continued, presenting various climate-change related impacts to local conditions in different seasons of the year) was to inform that the encountered summer flood phenomena do not result from any management activities of neither BNP nor any other third party but reflect natural meteorological processes (extreme rainfalls in summer).

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Then, the given problems that occur at the interface of habitat management, agriculture and land use in regard with EU-supported environmental schemes, were discussed on two meetings of the scientific council of the Biebrza National Park and later on presented on the stakeholder forum 2012 (Fig. 57). The communication with key players was also related to the other-than-climate- related activities of the BNP (such as certain wetland restoration projects) (Fig. 58).

Figure 55. Title pages of folders dedicated to various stakeholders; each of the folders addresses different aspects of the climate-related issues (management, impacts and climate changes observed and projected for future).

(Source: ©Biebrza National Park & ©Institute of Environmental Conservation IOŚ-PIB).

Since the climate-related stakeholder dialogue has started, we conclude that the general knowledge on climate change has increased among the local inhabitants. In the individual discussions they consider climate change as a challenge for them. However, as observed, the only problems anticipated by the locals and related to the climate have a strong economic origin.

The fact, that the NE Poland region remains one of the poorest in Poland implies the climate- adapted management problems: people normally follow the short-term plans (season, week, year) and strongly combine them to their economic situation. This is not the case once the climate adaptation has to be considered, which is normally a long-term approach. Therefore it is a challenging task to convince people (who react not only to the changing climate but – in principle – to the changing economic conditions such as agro-environmental schemes, prices of farm goods...). Another lesson from the stakeholder dialogue implemented in the Biebrza Valley in regard with the HABIT-CHANGE project was that there is a gap between the scientific outputs of this and any other projects and the perception of the stakeholders. Therefore, scientific achievements has to be communicated with regard to the experience and the profile of stakeholders. Otherwise, the sceptical attitudes can influence the subconscious rejection of the achievements and policies prepared. We also observed, that the broad discussion about the possible interactions of the climate change and environmental management has to be implemented in the day-to-day practice of the Biebrza National Park.

Figure 56. Title page of the “Biebrzańskie Wieści” quarterly journal for local stakeholders – a headline of the first page article – “Under the roof or under the umbrella?” consists of meteorological and hydrological observations done with regard to communicate the climate change and hydrological consequences of extreme meteorological conditions.

(Source: © Biebrza National Park)

Figure 57. Stakeholder Forum 28.11.2012, Biebrza National Park Headquarters

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Figure 58. Personal stakeholder communication in the village of Karpowicze – meadow flooding conflicts,

(Source: Artur Wiatr)

As even within the regions (pol. Powiaty) adjacent to the BNP there are numerous initiatives aimed at communication and impact assessment of the possible climate change to local conditions (e.g. the programme named Good Climate for Powiat – pol. Dobry Klimat dla Powiatów), it is compulsory to implement climate-related topics in the strategic management of the BNP. We wish this CAMP to be an initial step to be referred to in any future activities of BNP regarding management of habitats and conflicts in the Biebrza Valley. We observed that there is still a broad field to be taken by climate- related awareness rising discussions among the employees and scientific advisory bodies of the Park. We state, that regardless Biebrza National Park also the Natura 2000 management plans of the Biebrza Valley should anticipate potential impacts of the climatic change and habitat resilience in order to comprehensively face potential environmental variability.

The main conclusions and future recommendations as to the stakeholder communication, awareness rising in the context of stakeholders of the group “key players” are as follow:

- to refer to the historical conditions – it is much more efficient to communicate climate change impacts (e.g. the increased flooding frequency) on the basis of the experience of recent years (communicating that “the floods like the one of year 2010 will occur more often”) rather than stating, that the flood frequency will increase of x % and the flood extent will expand with another y%,

- to provide an economy-based messages on possible consequences of climate impacts to environment and management,

- to continue the regular means of stakeholder communication, so the climate-adjustment is present in the communication canals of the environmental management authorities,

- to provide clear and simple evidence showing the consequences of meteorological phenomena in either case,

- to underline, that the climate change despite of being the global process, has a strong local context, - to enhance the research on consequences of climate impacts, referring to the precise and science- based information on efficiency of management measures (like the drainage and mowing)

- to communicate, that the management of wetlands in the Biebrza Valley remain dependent on climate; one has to state that if certain trends in meteorological conditions will follow the same direction as now, there will be no scientific and habitat-conservation-oriented reason to continue certain measures; it is likely that e.g. mowing will not be required in order to sustain open landscapes (increased groundwater levels will prevent further succession of trees and shrubs). This conclusion will also be discussed in the stakeholder dialogue in the group of context setters, as it can be followed by certain political decisions.

10.2.3. Communication with subjects

In the group of „subject” stakeholders, local NGOs and children were addressed. As the local NGO’s have constantly been invited to join the discussion events, stakeholder forums and scientific councils of the BNP and no special means of communication were ought to be implemented in regard with them, the special attention was paid to the communication with children.

It was observed, that the communication with children from local schools has already brought measurable positive effects as to the consciousness on the environment. Contradictory to the attitudes of certain adults living in the Biebrza Valley, who still recall the former times prior to the establishment of the BNP (and consider most of environment-related problems occurring just since the BNP was established stating that in the past there were no problems), for children taught in local schools after the 1993 the BNP remains an undoubted status-quo. Hence, children which are being reached by the education activities of BNP for the last 20 years are well acquainted with the requirements of environmental conservation and the value of near-natural ecosystems of the Biebrza Valley.

As the communication with children and environmental education has successfully been applied by the Biebrza National Park since the BNP establishment in 1993, the main goal of climate-related awareness rising among children was aimed at the increase of children’s interest in abiotic components of the environment, such as the weather, hydrology and geology. Lessons from the other protected sites as well as from within the HABIT-CHANGE cooperation and beyond it, shown that in general the canals of communication with youth are based at the biotic components (birds, mammals, plants) and only a little attention is paid to the physics of the environment.

The main challenge taken by the BNP in communication with children undertaken in the framework of HABIT-CHANGE was to present the physical environmental processes and to increase children’s interest in basic aspects of the meteorology and hydrology. These two sciences were considered as the most important and influent for the biotic components of the valley.

First publications about the interrelation of climate and hydrology were later on followed by the contest announced in “Nasza Biebrza” journal for youth (Fig. 59). Children were requested to measure the air temperature outside their windows in order to record the lowest temperature in February 2013. On the basis of these measurements reported to the BNP we intended to find the coldest day and the coldest place in the valley of Biebrza in the examined month. Children’s and school’s interest in the contest was much higher than expected and BNP got high numbers of observations done by the children (frequently with the reasonable assistance of their relatives and parents).

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Figure 59. Title page of the “Nasza Biebrza” quarterly journal for children from the area of Biebrza National Park (Number 35) and the results of the contest for measuring the lowest temperature in February 2012 (Number 36). An example of awareness rising among the youngest inhabitants of the CAMP area.

(Source: © Biebrza National Park)

The measurements done by children were later on processed and prepared in the form of map and along with the precise description of the processes measured and observations done with use of meteorological station of BNP located in Budne – distributed to all the schools that subscribe “Nasza Biebrza” Journal. Lessons learned from the experience with children let to suspect, that similar to the “Key players” – the climate change and the climate itself is not considered as a local issue. Therefore much more emphasis should be consider in order to refer present and known phenomena (like flooding) with the climate change. It is advised to highlight the impacts of climate to biota, such as birds and their migrations, fish and spawning, which makes the climate-related messages more emphatic to children. Either way, it is compulsory to establish the weather, climate and climatic change on the firm position in the local consciousness, as so far only the short-term management- related environmental impacts (driven by the agriculture or environmental conservation actions) are considered as important by children and their parents.

Surprisingly, as reported by numerous people involved in communication strategies of the BNP, the materials which are addressed to the youth and children (such as the “Nasza Biebrza” journal) are also frequently browsed by adults as well. Moreover, most of the environmental knowledge in certain areas and groups of people are gained from these children-addressed materials (Fig. 58). Thus we state, that all the materials, which are originally prepared for children, should provide the contents which are to be received by their parents and families. It is henceforth required to provide a high-quality information in this communication canal, which should be followed by the easy but comprehensive interpretation to avoid misunderstanding of the presented information. We consider the “Nasza Biebrza” quarterly paper as one of the main means of environmental education (for both youth and adults) in general, and especially as the communication canal of climate change awareness rising.

Figure 6o. Poster sent to local schools with the analysis of children’s measurements of the lowest air temperature in February 2012.

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10.2.4. Communication with context setters

Although the particular group of context setters has rather low interest in direct management of the environment in the Biebrza Valley, the decision they make and the legislative context they provide entail entire set of direct influences on decision making supervised by the BNP and by the remaining stakeholders of the Key Players’ group. As observed, the most important interface between the context setters and the management in the Biebrza Valley remains in the implementation of the joint EU agricultural policy reflected to as the agro-environmental schemes. Observed trends of the land use and intensity of agricultural practices directly reflect the availability of agriculture-oriented EU subsidies. Implementation of the agro-environmental schemes that support mowing of valuable wetland meadows does not include the flood risk, which has decently reduced mowing possibilities in the last years (2010-2012). Direct impacts of meteorological conditions to floodplain ecosystems The most problematic indirect influences of the changing climate expressed as the increased frequency of summer floods is not reflected by any adaptation opportunities in the general country- wide scale. Therefore, the agro-environmental schemes implemented to majority of the Biebrza valley’s meadows require the land users to mow their sites, regardless climatic conditions. Only the mown meadows are granted by the subsidies. If the undesirable conditions occur (e.g. flood that makes the mowing impossible) then land users have to report it so they will neither be granted nor fined for their activities. If the negative conditions occur so the meadow was not mown, but the land user did not report this fact to the subsidizing authority (ARiMR), then once the subsidizing authority detected this fact the land user is fined and the subsidy is cancelled. Henceforth, it is only profitable, if regardless environmental conditions the meadow was mown. In this regard it is observed, that the valuable wetlands, in order to be mown regardless hydrological conditions, are continuously drained. This process, considered herein as the indirect influence of the climate change in the Biebrza Valley with the strong legislative and management context prerequisites the serious threat for the biodiversity. Main message communicated to context setters of the Biebrza Valley was to put the political pressure to change the contents of environmental schemes by granting wetland meadows which should be mown, but in result of undesirable flood conditions the mowing in particular season is impossible. This message corresponds to the environmental evolution of floodplain habitats as well as to possible proposed adaptation requirements (Ref. Tab. 12) as it is likely that the conservation of open landscapes of floodplain and mire meadow will not require that intensive mowing and shrub removal as initially assumed. Similar to the groups of key players and subjects, among context setters one can also observe that the changing climatic conditions were initially not considered as a local problem, but mostly as a global challenge to be dealt with on the level of intergovernmental institutions of a continental range. So far, during the meetings in January 2011 and November 2012 some general discussions took place and seemingly the term “climate change” and the requirement of adaptation measures on the level of local and national legislation appeared as an important issue to be dealt with. In this regard, the “water storage subsidies” for users of regularly flooded areas was proposed and will hopefully be included in the agro-environmental schemes’ system for the years 2014-2020.The main experience coming out of the lessons with context setters is that seldom the status of particular systems and processes is related to the long term dynamics and variability of natural processes such as the ongoing climate change. They seem to be convinced, that only the management measures and policies implemented in the short (and thus – visible and “easy-to-be- reported”) term are the most influential aspects of the system’s evolution. Therefore, more emphasis

should be put on continuation of common dialogue with the context setters, as in the long term their attitudes will result in new (hopefully climate-adapted) legislation.

Figure 61. Participants of the Stakeholder Forum 2011 – representatives of national and regional authorities, politicians and managers.

(Source: Artur Wiatr, Andrzej Grygoruk)

Vice-Chancellor of the Podlasie Region BNP Director and the Meyer of Trzcianne Farmer – Trzcianne commune President of the Local Water Council

Regional Director of the Environmental Conservation Vice Minister of Economy

of the Republic of Poland

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11. Summary

With no regard to the uncertainty of the GCM-RCM-emission scenarios-based climate change projections, impacts and the assessed habitat’s vulnerability presented in this CAMP the management of the BNP should implement climate-adapted management strategies which consider the range of various prospective climate impact projections. Strategies should anticipate the

potential increase in summer flooding frequency, temporal and quantitative changes in spring flooding as well as indirect, climate-induced pressures on ecosystems, herein defined as the potential escalation of drainage in the valley and also as the secondary succession of trees and

shrubs in mire meadows, which – however – can rely on variable hydrological and climatic

conditions. Since following the reports of Kossowska-Cezak (1984) and Kossowska-Cezak et al.