Agroforestry in Poland

Within the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan Policy, financial support is provided for in-field trees outside the forest (field windbreaks) and agroforestry as optional measures for farmers interested in afforestation.

1). establishment of field windbreaks

Establishment of one afforested complex, constituting compact bound surface economically and environmentally, meeting the following rules:

• deliberate area shape for lands planted over 0.5 ha

• width of at least 4 m and not more than 20 m until 0.5 ha area

– only native species of trees or shrubs should be planted, including species significantly improving biodiversity, melliferous species and fruit tres of traditional varieties;

– the species composition of plantings should be dominated by deciduous species, i.e. at least 90%;

– the planting should be carried out with at least 4 different species or types of trees or shrubs, except that the share of trees or shrubs of the least numerous species or genus among the three the most numerous is at least 10%;

– the share of fruit trees shall not exceed 50%;

– the species composition will be adjusted to the habitat, environmental and climatic conditions of the area in question;

– a detailed list of species and types of trees and shrubs for this intervention is defined in national legislation;

– the number of seedlings of trees or shrubs will amount to approx. 1,500-2,500 plants/ha;

– the farmer will be able to consult the planned tree cover with an agricultural advisor, specialized in this regard.

2). establishment of agroforestry systems

The measure is the only official support for agroforestry in Poland, as agroforestry systems are legally qualified as arable land or permanent grassland meeting the conditions defined for Intervention 10.13 “establishment of agroforestry systems”.

Arable land and grassland (excluding grassland in Natura 2000 areas) will be eligible for support, where an agroforestry system will be implemented:

– at least 4 different species or types of trees or shrubs, among which deciduous species predominate, where the share of fruit trees shall not exceed 50%;

– on arable land in alley form (1-3 rows belt within the width 4-10 m at the distance 10-50 m between the rows belts) or on grassland in the silvopastoral form in any arrangement of trees;

– by planting 150 to 250 trees or shrubs per 1 ha;

– trees or shrubs in the agroforestry system shall be protected against damage with shelters or 3 stakes or sheep wool or repellents.

Both measures could receive a 5-year yearly premium in order to compensate for maintenance costs of intervention (Premium for maintenance of forest, of field windbreaks and of agroforestry). Organic farms and land under CAP agri-environmental support (including ecoschemes) shall be excluded from the above support for agroforestry establishment.

Overall, there is still little knowledge about agroforestry among experts and practitioners. Physical conditions are difficult for farming in Poland: in the majority of farms with poor soil quality, low size and high fragmentation of farms/parcels. This restricts agroforestry to marginal areas, and large fields in more agroforestry-friendly farms. Moreover, grazing animals in the forest is prohibited under regulations from the 1940s. Planting non-native trees is prohibited under the Act on aline species of 2021, even though these species are already ubiquitous and it would not affect their spread. Additionally, sanitary regulations make small scale food production very difficult. Despite these barriers, many farmers have embarked on investments in agricultural systems, often outside the official agricultural policy support system. Every year there are more and more field experiments and new initiatives (small-scale plantations, forest gardens, hedgerow plantings), which will provide a good basis for the development of alternative products as well as for the dissemination of agroforestry knowledge itself.