The story of Krakow's Olszanica is a perfect example of what public participation in deciding on urban space should be about. Tomasz Fiszer, one of the founders of the Our Olszanica Association, tells the story of the struggle for Krakow's green spaces.
Dr.Tomasz Fiszer - entrepreneur and social activist, doctor of technical sciences. Expert, coordinator of energy projects based on the principles of sustainable development (renewable energy sources, energy-saving technologies, clean air), lecturer. Founder and long-time President of the Our Olszanica Association. He focuses his social activities on topics related to environmental protection (international, long-term action of cleaning up the Olszanicki stream valley, planting 800 trees in Olszanica), improving the quality of local public space, promoting ethics in public life and the idea of an informed and active civil society. Since 2020, he has been chairman of the Civic Dialogue Commission for the Environment of Krakow.
Wiktor: What is the phenomenon of Olszanica?
Tomasz: This phenomenon is based on the unity and joint actions of residents to take care of this their immediate environment and nature. The uniqueness of Olszanica is mainly greenery and animals - what is beginning to be lacking in Krakow.
Due to the fact that Olszanica is a place at the end of Krakow, where municipalities such as Liszki, Zabierzów, but alsothe industrial and service zone of the Balice airport start further away, there have been ideas to make Olszanica an industrial area. This is the wrong action, because Krakow is starting to run out of areas for residents, especially areas with wildlife, "unmanaged". It is apparent that we need green areas in cities. Olszanica is made up of people who can unite, as the history of the fight for the ecological land showed.
Wiktor: When did the fight for the ecological use and preservation of Olszanica's green space begin?
Tomasz: 2016 was the beginning of the operation of the tendency to make Olszanica an industrial site, in order to capitalize on the ambitions and plans of a small group of people. This was supposed to be a waste management site, which sounds nice and is needed, but when we got into the details of the documents, it turned out that the plan was to make a landfill here, including hazardous waste.
If in a green area, where there is a riparian forest, a beautiful valley of the Olszanicki stream and wet meadows - it is planned to destroy more than five hectares of such an area, cut down trees in order toaccumulate garbage and hazardous waste, then we are dealing with an attempt to destroy wildlife and introduce serious threats to the environment and people living in the area. There was an attempt to do it the easy, fast way - without a detailed analysis and environmental report.
We learned about the plans to create a garbage dump here in May 2016. However, plans for this project with an environmental investigation had already been approved since December 2015. It is telling that decision-makers, including the district council, did not communicate this information to residents. The district council is supposed to represent the residents, and here it turned out to represent the interests of a narrow group, including councilors who sought to fill Olszanica with waste of unknown origin.
Meanwhile, the proceedings over the garbage dump went on. We then formed an informal action, in order to strengthen the power of action. We began taking action in the form of writing letters and informing the media. We also commissioned a natural analysis - in order to have proof that the city wants to destroy a valuable natural area.
Olszanica belongs to the Zwierzyniec district of Krakow
© Our Olszanica Association
Wiktor: What was the reaction to these actions?
Tomasz: I think there was a big surprise. This mobilization must have caused such a reaction, because it was probably expected that it would be a formality, there would be no protests, especially since the activities on the implementation of the garbage dump were carried out "quietly".
We established the Our Olszanica Association on June 15, 2016. This legal form allowed us to act more effectively in these proceedings. This is how it looked at the beginning, which was very exciting. We had certain steps planned, which we carried out.
The green character of Olszanica is built primarily by the forest and agricultural landscape
© Our Olszanica Association
Wiktor: What did they lead to?
Tomasz: After the establishment of the association, we were able to formally raise funds for our activities. We prepared full nature documentation, which we did at our own expense. The nature inventory began in May and lasted about a month. We had the financial means to hire a law firm to legally formalize our activities and become more effective.
We knew that there was a strong opponent on the other side. We got legal support, we had the trump card of a natural analysis that showed why the area was important. This all went to decision-makers, from the neighborhood council to the mayor. We were also helped by residents of the surrounding neighborhoods: Wola Justowska, Zakamycz and Bielany. We also received support from the Citizens' Dialogue Committee for the Environment, of which we were not members at the time.
At the end of August 2016, we received information from the mayor that, due to public protests, the garbage dump would not be built after all. We were also informed that, after analysis, it turned out that an investment at that location was not necessary at that time. A waste incinerator had already been in operation for some time. I think our determination about the potential destruction of the natural area went to the decision-makers.
It was a short fight, but very emotional and intense.
The MPZP for the area was introduced in 2021.
© Our Olszanica Association
Wiktor: What was next?
Tomasz: Having prepared a natural analysis, we decided that it was worth protecting the area - formally and legally. So that no one in the future would get the idea of destroying it. A few months later, we submitted an application to the city council for the establishment of an ecological use.
The situation in our case was easier than in other places where we have attempts to protect green areas by residents or by the city council. This land was entirely owned by the city. There were no additional problems related to the payment of compensation or the redemption of plots of land. Accompanying this application was a natural analysis, which we did in the first stage of the fight to block the garbage dump.
The application was accepted, which started the proceedings for the establishment of the use. We realized that it would take a long time and it did, it took about two years. The ecological use "Valley of Olszanicki Stream - Olszanicki Meadows" was established in May 2018.
Olszanicki stream
© Nasza Olszanica Association
Victor: What happened next with the area? Was the usufruct already the finish of these activities?
Tomasz: No. We knew that there were still initiatives related to bringing contaminated soil to Olszanica, for example. At that time, there was no MPZP in the Olszanica area, which encouraged such potential dangerous investments. We successfully blocked plans to store contaminated soil. When we applied for an ecological use, at the same time we applied to the City Council to make an MPZP for the area, which caused criticism to be heaped on us. This was not to the liking of a narrow group of people who wanted to create harmful investments in Olszanica, in a naturally valuable area.
Olszanica was incorporated as an agricultural area in 1973, which is partly still visible through agricultural crops, among other things. This was our next goal - to pass an MPZP. We managed to pass this plan in 2021. The MPZP secures, among other things, issues of development and protection of green areas.
The green area of Olszanica was included in the ecological use
© Our Olszanica Association
Wiktor: Is the area still threatened in some way?
Tomasz: The old proverb says that the devil does not sleep. We are constantly analyzing and inquiring with the Authority in the form of access to public information whether there are any intentions related to waste management. The MPZP prohibits this type of investment. However, having access to data and pending permits, we are vigilant.
Wiktor: You mentioned the Citizens' Dialogue Committee for theEnvironment, of whichyou as an association are a member today. How can it be useful in protecting green spaces and in guiding discussions?
Thomas: The Civic Dialogue Commission had a very big role in blocking the garbage dump, and its role was also big during the creation of the ecological use. We applied to join the commission as a local association, and thanks to this we are in contact with people who deal extensively with the environment throughout Krakow.
We meet regularly to give our opinions on documents, for example those related to ecological uses, draft Local Development Plans, the city's strategic documents, etc. We are an important consultative body for local authorities - district councils, the city council, the mayor or individual departments of the City Hall. I have had the pleasure of chairing this committee continuously since 2020.
Wiktor: Could you explain to readers what an ecological use is and when it can be applied?
Thomas: An ecological use, is one of the statutory forms of nature protection. Among these forms we have national parks, landscape parks, reserves and ecological uses. An ecological use prevents the destruction of the natural content of an area. These natural values can include both plants and animals that are found there. The important thing is that it does not have to be, as in Olszanica, seventy-five species of birds. It could be, for example, two species that are of natural value.
Within the framework of the regulations, in the area of the ecological use, its natural resources cannot be destroyed. There are, however, provided for and allowed certain activities related to flood protection. Other investment activities are prohibited. There is no prohibition of access to the use. It is a form of access, also to fulfill its educational and social functions.
The history of the fight for Olszanica goes back to 2015
© Our Olszanica Association
Wiktor: How far can interferencego?
Tomasz: The interferences are not large, I would even say they are negligible. It is necessary to place information boards. It is possible to install elements of small infrastructure like piers or walkways. This is defined by the Law on Nature Protection, which regulates prohibited elements and those that are possible.
Victor: How is the implementation of the ecological use carried out? Could you describe the implementation process?
Tomasz: The process is not complicated. It can be done by residents, institutions or district or city councils. The application for the establishment of an ecological use is best accompanied by a confirmation of natural values. An ecological use requires an indication of its boundaries, which is later verified by the office. It is enough to mark on the cadastral map the parcels and boundaries to be considered. Then the city council proceeds with the whole procedure, during which the exact boundaries are determined. The applicant does not have to do this.
In our case, there was an additional natural analysis. As part of the applications to the proceedings for the establishment of use, we again pointed out those values that were eventually recognized. All the time we kept an eye on the proceedings to ensure that this usufruct was created. As is usually the case in such situations, not everyone liked the fact that such a use was to be created. Finally, in May 2018, the case was positively concluded.
Victor: Thank you for the interview.
