Forest and environmental education based on educational paths in Raciborów and Kubłowo. Elaboration : Natalia Strzykowska Aleksandra Zaborowicz Karol Seligowski Class I III Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Marii Konopnickiej we Włocławku

Forestry Commission Kutno

Let’s start the adventure! How do we learn about the forest? We start adventure of nature and forest recognition close to the forest administration office. We learn about the species of plants which can be found in Polish forests in the dendrological park.

Vegetation

Afforestation of arable land. More than 500 million trees, which is 13 saplings per on citizen are planted in Poland each year. 720 thousand of saplings (worth 600 thousand zlotys) are planted into the ground in Forest Administration Kutno each year. We can enjoy healthy and strong woods. In the area of 100 hectares foresters use their own saplings grown from a seed in the nursery situated close to the Forestry Commission building.

How shall we behave in the forest ? Actions prohibited in the forest: Littering Destroying trees and plants Smoking cigarettes Scaring animals Screaming Bonfire Destroying animal habitats Driving cars Destroying educational paths

Forest fires There are 26 roads functioning as fire access of total length nearly 60000 meters in the area of the forest administration in Kutno. 5 forest fires destroying the area of 3,55 hectares were recorded in the Forest Administration Kutno in 2015.

In order to make the spatial imagination in the forest is divided into sections. The sections are parts of the forest approximately 25 hectars large and of the shape resembling a rectangle, the limits of which are specil lines, roads, natural barriers. Each section has its number and is labelled permanently.

Forest is beautiful, impenetrable and teeming with different froms of life. Also, it provides us with numerous natural resources. Forest plays a significant role as a source of oxygen and regulates the water circulation in nature. It prevents the soil from erosion, supports the favourable climate. As Zbigniew Wala said ,,We were not here, yet forest was here, we will not be here, the forest will be here”.

The most popular species of animal and mushrooms which can be found in the area of Kutno Forestry Administration: Animals: Mushrooms: Red deer - Boletus edulis Roe - Leccinum Squirrel - Bolete Boar - Chanterelle European hedgehog Hare Badger Fox Otter Marten

The natural resource of the forest. 44,6 thousand cubic meters of timber is harvested in Kutno Forestry Administration every year. However, both the area and the natural resources are increasing. According to the Polish Statistical Office each person uses 1 cubic metre of timber, which means that the Kutno Rorestry Administration does not satisfy the needs of Kutno citizens. The population of this town is nearly 46 thousand people.

Hunting management The quantity of game animals in the forest should be neither too smal nor too big. We should keep the balance so as to be healthy and there is enough foof for all the animals. For instance, the shortage of exposes the forest to disastrous reproduction of insects. Packs of boars mostly regulate the amount of larvas and pupas. The excessive numer of animal such as deer, roe-deer… causes the damage in the forests and fields, which frequently makes forest restoration impossible. There is an annual comparison of hunted animals:

the current quantity of animals + expected birthrate - desirable quantity of animals = shooting, performed only out of protection periods

Forms of natural forest education carried out by the FORESTRY Commission of Kutno and the attendance in 2015 Form of education Number of activities Number of participants Participation % Kindergarten children (3-6) Primary school (7-12) Lower-secondary school (13-15) Upper secondary school (16-19) Sttudents and adults over 19 Field lesson 32 1012 46,92 97 555 166 - 194 Lessons inthe education room Meetings with the forester at school 19 725 33,61 261 428 36 Meetings with the forester outside the school Forest competitions 2 60 2,78 54 6 Other events 4 360 16,69 130 50 180 Educational exhibitions TOGETHER X 2157 100,0 358 1167 222 230 Others About 5000

Forms of natural forest education carried by the FORESTRY Commission Kutno and the attendance in 2014 Form of education Number of activities Number of participants Participation % Kindergarten children (3-6) Primary school (7-12) Lower-secondary school (13-15) Upper secondary school (16-19) Sttudents and adults over 19 Field lesson 42 966 58,90 434 280 77 50 125 Lessons inthe education room - Meetings with the forester at school 17 346 21,10 250 96 Meetings with the forester outside the school Forest competitions 2 48 2,93 26 22 Other events 4 17,07 150 80 Educational exhibitions TOGETHER X 1640 100,0 684 552 149 130 Others 3 About 3000