Gift Tree Planting Project – Poland

Project Description

The Gifted Tree’s planting project is in the Lipusz forest in the Pomeranian region of Poland. This area in northern and western Poland was devastated by storms in 2017 and nearly 200,000 acres of forest was destroyed by high winds. Now comes the calm after the storm. After years of hard work to clear the trees felled by the storm, the phase of reconstitution and replanting of the devastated forests can finally begin. These forests were mainly composed of pines, but also of deciduous stands. As the soils are naturally quite poor, a good part of the pine stands will be restored. Other species include beech, birch and oak and a mixture of forest fruit trees such as cherry or wild apple. Experience and numerous research studies show that the productivity of forest species increases with the diversity of species. Species “educate” each other and compete for access to light. Diversity optimizes the reception of biodiversity because each species has its own specific fauna and flora, ultimately increasing the richness of the soil. Finally, it increases the resistance of stands to diseases and biological attacks.