Poland implements water retention and wetland restoration projects

Poland is implementing large-scale water retention and wetland restoration projects to combat climate change and enhance national security. The Ministry of Climate and Environment, through the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (NFOŚiGW), has launched funding initiatives totaling hundreds of millions of PLN for local governments, NGOs, and State Forests to increase natural water retention.

In the Podlaskie region, projects will utilize the ‘beaver method’ to mimic natural processes, damming water to save drying peatlands. These efforts are part of the ‘Green Shield East’ concept, where renaturalized rivers, wetlands, and forests are intended to serve as natural barriers to complement military fortifications.

Additionally, forest management practices are evolving to protect soil moisture and biodiversity. In the Józefów Forest District, which is a major beneficiary of EU funding, measures include building small retention reservoirs, abandoning drainage melioration in favor of peatland renaturalization, and transitioning from monocultures to multi-layered, drought-resistant tree species. Fire protection is also being strengthened through thermal imaging cameras and expanded fire-fighting water networks.