Poland constructs jute‑bag dams in forests to curb drought

State Forests (Lasy Państwowe) in Poland have begun installing jute‑bag dams on forest ditches in the Wielkopolska region. The project, called “Budowa przetamowań z worków jutowych”, will create 81 small barriers across eight forest districts (Antonin, Karczma Borowa, Krotoszyn, Przedborów, Taczanów, Turek, Czerniejewo and Włoszakowice) to slow water runoff, improve soil moisture and support forest habitats. The total cost is estimated at 162 000 zł, with 60 % (97 200 zł) funded by the Regional Fund for Environment and Water Management (Wojewódzki Fundusz Ochrony Środowiska i Gospodarki Wodnej) and the remainder covered by the State Forests' own budget. Work is scheduled for completion by 20 November 2026.

Poland faces a growing water shortage, with renewable freshwater resources falling to about 40 billion m³ during drought periods, well below the UN‑recommended 1.7 × 10³ m³ per person per year. Experts such as Dr. Kinga Krauze of the European Regional Center for Ecohydrology (PAN) argue that existing drainage systems should be repurposed to retain water, a shift that may require compensation for farmers whose fields retain more water. The broader discussion highlights the need for integrated water‑management strategies across agriculture and forestry to mitigate the impacts of increasingly frequent droughts.