How can urban nature be protected? One way is to submit candidates for nature monuments to city and provincial officials - such submission is called for by Sopot.
How to establish a nature monument?
A nature monument is one of the forms of nature protection in Poland. This formulation is possible for animate and inanimate forms of nature, but also for non-natural features, resulting from the historical or landscape value of greenery.
Nature monuments are established by a resolution of the municipal council, and regulations are set forth in the 2017 Regulation of the Minister of the Environment. In the case of trees, they must be measured at a height of 130 centimeters. The regulation defines the minimum trunk circumference of a tree that can be established as a natural monument. In the case of lilacs or junipers, a trunk circumference of 50 centimeters is already sufficient. In the case of poplars, it is as much as 350 centimeters. Trees are not automatically subject to protection as a natural monument - it is necessary to take the appropriate initiative, which Sopot suggests.
grassroots initiative
The idea to expand the number of nature monuments in the form of Sopot trees came from the local magistrate. Sopot City Hall encourages residents, as well as tourists, to submit their proposals for trees that can be protected as a natural monument. As the Sopot City Hall points out - there are currently 43 nature monuments in the city, but the city wants to significantly increase this number, which it encourages visitors and residents to do.
How can you contribute your three cents to the preservation of Sopot's greenery? Just fill out the form provided by the Sopot municipality in the public information bulletin. In the application, we fill in data about the monument, the owner of the plot, and also, we propose the name of the nature monument, which may be the greatest incentive to establish new monuments. Such an application does not require any additional fees.
derivative of experience
The Sopot initiative is as noteworthy, although it is difficult not to draw attention to the problems that such actions will raise. Between the submission of an application for the establishment of a natural monument and its enactment there is a period of unknowns that could jeopardize the possible declaration of a monument. Many a municipal office in Poland will literally go the other way from the information about the possible enactment of a natural monument, finding a disease or rebuilding so as to get rid of the possible tree. Residents of Tarnów's Piaskovka district are familiar with this casus , having paid for a nature survey and learned of several healthy trees eligible to be established as nature monuments - they were then cut down.
Such behavior could affect the popularity of submitting applications throughout Poland. Sopot's step forward will perhaps become a model course of action for local governments that really care about nature conservation.
