Local governments and universities to work together to protect and restore the Oder ecosystem

The leaders of the Oder-bordering regions are keeping their word and expanding cooperation aimed at determining the condition of the Oder River environment, as well as developing recommendations and proposing the necessary measures for the near future.

The creation of a supra-regional team of scientists, experts, environmentalists and entrepreneurs was proposed last year by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship self-government. The memorandum signed today on this matter continues the agreement of September 2022. It was signed by Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Cezary Przybylski, Marshal of the Lubusz Voivodeship Elżbieta Anna Polak, Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Olgierd Geblewicz, Deputy Marshal of the Silesian Voivodeship Anna Jedynak and Member of the Board of the Opole Voivodeship Antoni Konopka.

– Thanks to the creation of a joint supra-regional team, the research will cover practically the entire Oder, rather than only those sections running through particular voivodeships. We are joining forces and together will be able to better understand the threats and implement real measures so that the situation that occurred on the Oder last year will never happen again. We are seeing a trend toward turning to the Oder both in tourism development and in the economy. This is a process that will continue, but only if we take care of the cleanliness of its waters and biodiversity – says Cezary Przybylski, Marshal of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship.

– Three working groups have been established. The first is tasked with conducting a reliable diagnosis of the entire ecosystem and preparing monitoring. The second group is working on preparing a revitalisation strategy and restoring what was destroyed in this terrible disaster. The third group deals with administration and finances – explains Elżbieta Anna Polak, Marshal of the Lubusz Voivodeship.

The research is financed from the budgets of the local governments working together to save the Oder.

Scope of the research

The research will include, among other things, analyses of water, sediments and fauna, as well as an assessment of human impact on the environment in this area. On this basis, a comprehensive analysis will be conducted and recommendations for measures will be developed; their implementation will improve the quality of the Oder’s aquatic environment. It is also important in this matter to raise residents’ awareness of the value of rivers for the environment as a whole, as well as of possible threats.

Universities from all five Oder-bordering voivodeships will participate in the project. Their activities will be coordinated by the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

– The research will answer the question of the current condition of the Oder, as well as what we can do and when to improve it. This will allow the river, which is valuable to all of us, to continue developing its ecological potential and biodiversity, while we as residents can use it and enjoy its beauty – says dr hab. Krzysztof Lejcuś, professor at the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

The research will continue until the end of March 2024. Its outcome will be a report on the current condition of the Oder’s aquatic environment, on the basis of which a protection strategy will be developed and the necessary measures to improve the environment in this area will be identified.

Previous activities of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship

Immediately after the ecological disaster on the Oder in August 2022, Lower Silesia began taking measures to minimise losses and determine their causes. The first measure, adopted as an emergency, was a ban on fishing along the entire Lower Silesian section of the Oder River. This was done to protect the safety of the region’s residents. In September 2022, the Oder River Team was established and took over coordination of all activities. The voivodeship self-government’s activities were conducted in cooperation with the State Water Holding Polish Waters, the Voivodeship Veterinary Inspector, the Polish Angling Association, the Fire Service, scientists from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences and the marshals of the Oder-bordering voivodeships.

In January 2023, proposals were submitted to Polish Waters and the Polish Angling Association to establish two new protected areas within fishing districts associated with the Oder River. Requests were also sent to the General Director for Environmental Protection, the Dean of the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography at the University of Gdańsk and the Inland Fisheries Institute, asking them to share current information, data and findings from research conducted in connection with the occurrence of an invasive algae species – the so-called “golden algae” – in waters in Lower Silesia.

On 18 April 2023, the Lower Silesian Marshal’s Office, together with the Ekorozwoju Foundation, is organising a civic debate on the Oder. Its aim is to assess the environmental and social challenges and needs concerning the Oder River and its valley in light of the 2022 ecological disaster, in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Lower Silesian Oder Fund

The Oder Fund 2023, established by the Lower Silesian Voivodeship Regional Assembly, will support Lower Silesian municipalities in implementing projects involving the construction or development of small-scale infrastructure along the Oder. In March 2023, two calls for applications for funding for local governments and NGOs were launched from the Fund’s resources. The formal and substantive assessment of the submitted projects is currently under way. The results of these calls will be announced by 20 April. A total of PLN 2 million has been allocated for all tasks. Funding will amount to up to PLN 150,000 per municipality or non-governmental organisation.

As part of the programme, projects are planned involving the construction or development of small-scale infrastructure in municipalities along the Oder, including marinas, campsites, camper-van parking areas, sports and recreation facilities, launching and retrieval points for kayaks and other watercraft, watercraft rental facilities and watercraft.