Podkarpackie Natural Grazing II, Podkarpackie region

Podkarpackie's Natural Grazing II programme is unique in Poland in terms of its scale and funding from own resources. Part I of the programme was implemented in 2012-2016 at a cost of almost PLN 10 million and very positively received, by both environmental organisations and by farmers directly involved in the project. The regional government therefore decided to continue the project as part of the 2017-2020 programme, at a cost of almost PLN 11 million. The programme is one of the instruments for investing in conservation of the region's natural assets and ensuring rural development in Podkarpackie.

The positive effects of the programme can be summarised based on the following data.

In 2019 the number of farmers involved in the programme had doubled compared with the first year, the number of grazing animals had increased by over 7 000, and the grazing area under the programme had grown by over 10 000 hectares.

The scope of the programme was consequently expanded, bringing the expected benefits. Over half of the livestock farmers increased the grazing area under the programme. What is being practised is systematic maintenance of pasture, which makes a huge contribution to protecting biodiversity, is an excellent method of preserving the natural landscape of areas of high nature value in the region, as well as providing significant economic and social benefits.