YVES ROCHER FOUNDATION – restoring mid-field woodlots in Beskid Niski

We plant trees and shrubs to restore mid-field woodlots. We enhance biodiversity, water retention, protect soil and crops.

This spring, as part of the Time for Forest program, we planted 12,500 trees and shrubs in Beskid Niski. And why exactly there?

For several years, our foundation has been working with farmers in Beskid Niski. The plantings are the beginnings of hedgerows and wooded baulks between fields. Their main task is to maintain and increase biodiversity, protection from wind and soil erosion. Such plantings and shrubbery, thanks to the right choice of species, support populations of wild pollinators – creating habitats and a forage base. They also positively affect mammal and bird populations, in addition, they help regulate water relations in the soil by promoting retention.

What trees and shrubs have we planted?

Why do we create mid-field plantings? 

The main objective of the project is to improve the habitat and supplement the food base for wild pollinating insects, birds and mammals. Some bird species explicitly require specific nesting sites for their existence, consisting of medium-height shrubs, places with difficult access for predators.  Other important benefits include the protection of water resources, reducing fertilizer runoff into rivers, protecting the soil from wind erosion, reducing the negative impact of warm drying winds from the Hungarian lowlands, and supporting the adaptation of farms to changing climatic conditions.

Beski Niski – what you should know? 

Beskid Niski is located between Beskid Sadecki and the Bieszczady Mountains. It belongs to the most extensive mountain group in the Polish Carpathians. It is an ideal area for hiking, but also for those who want to admire the sights. Lemko villages, wooden Orthodox churches and many places where wildlife still rules. The eastern border of the Beskid Niski is also the border of the Eastern and Western Carpathians. The main component of the structure of the Low Beskid is sedimentary rocks known as Carpathian flysch. They are characterized by an alternation of conglomerates, sandstones and igneous shales.  There are many caves in the area. The largest of them is Kalinowska Mountain near Lipowica – it is a collection of 70 caves. And Cergowa – 11 caves. 

What grows in Beskid Niski?

The territory of the Beskid Niski is two vegetation floors:

  • foothills, which are remnants of the original oak-hornbeam and alder forests
  • lower regiel are pine, fir and beech forests.  In the Low Beskid, forests occupy more than 70% of the total area. Beech stands are the most numerous, while it is difficult to find spruce in this area. Instead, yew and larch are often found. 

Nature under protection in Beskid Niski

Under protection is the Magurski National Park. It covers more than 19 000 hectares. On its territory we will meet nearly 60 species under strict protection, 11 partial protection and 12 that are on the list of endangered species.   Jasinsky Landscape Park with an area of 29,000 hectares, and 65% of its area is Carpathian beech. It is home to the very rare common lingcod.  Also protected are 14 nature reserves and 12 Natura 2000 sites.

Thanks to whom did we plant trees and shrubs?

Of course, with our long-time partner, Yves Rocher Foundation. Since 2007, the Yves Rocher Foundation has launched tree planting activities. The fruit of these efforts was the recently achieved goal of planting 100 million trees by the end of 2020! The idea of planting around the world continues to be pursued by the company, now under a new initiative called Plant for Life.  We have been cooperating for 12 years and working for nature conservation and a high quality of life in Poland.   

Translated with DeepL

As part of a new initiative called Plant for Life, the Yves Rocher Foundation aims to plant 35 000 000 trees by 2025. We are also supporting this event.

“Views of nature are different in different places, the laws of nature are the same everywhere”

Tadeusz Kotarbiński

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