Pustynia Błędowska: A paradigm shift in environmental protection amidst the sands of Poland

10 min readJun 6, 2024

Pustynia Błędowska Realm exemplifies the power of community collaboration and innovative environmental practices to foster ecological imagination and cultivate regenerative approaches to environmental stewardship through artistic practices.

Introduction to the Realms to Watch Program:

The ‘Realms to Watch’ program by Guardians of Earth is a ground-breaking initiative designed to support community-led regenerative projects delivering science based approaches integrated with local/traditional knowledge systems.

Pustynia Błędowska is one of the seven exceptional Nature Realms chosen for this program, exemplifying the power of community-led conservation and restoration. You can learn more about the ‘Realms to Watch’ program in our original post.

Introduction to the Pustynia Błędowska Realm

Błędowska Desert is a unique sandy ecosystem in southern Poland. The desert is a testament to a medieval ecological disaster. It was created by the deforestation of a primeval pine forest that occurred between the 9th and 13th centuries due to lead and silver mining in the area. When the trees were cut down, the water table dropped, uncovering sand deposits that had accumulated during the melting of glaciers and the moraine movement at the end of the last ice age.

Below, Jo Vávra, co-founder of LIOS Labs, shares the special connection their community has with Pustynia Błędowska and the impact the ‘Realms to Watch’ program can help them deliver.

What makes Pustynia Błędowska special?

In medieval times, the desert was five times larger than today’s area of 33 km². In the 1970s, the desert started to shrink due to the planting of pine trees by local farmers who were annoyed by the scattering sands. In pictures from the 2010s, you couldn’t see any sand; the desert was fully overgrown with pine trees. Then the local municipality undertook efforts to remove all the trees using funding and support from the Natura 2000 European programme. The desert reappeared in the local landscape in 2014.

The Desert Realm is not just sandy dunes. It is a rich space hosting habitats for birds, small mammals, insects, and numerous grasses and shrubs. The pine forest constantly tries to grow back. The realm includes the surrounding Błędowskie Forest, two ponds created by mining (Green Pond and Red Pond), and the Przemsza River, which divides the southern part of the desert (our realm) from the northern part (a military zone).

The realm is rich in biodiversity as well as conflicts and contradictions. It borders the nearby village of Klucze, which administers the land, as well as the largest toilet paper factory in Central Europe, which poses a constant threat to the local species’ livelihoods. Sound pollution increases each year, and plans to remove old parts of the forest around the ponds and the factory are looming.

In this ecosystem, LIOS Last have nested their home since 2020.

What is the community’s relationship with Pustynia Błędowska and the life it holds?

The community of Błędowska Desert consists of numerous interconnected groups: local inhabitants of Klucze, Chechło, and surrounding desert villages; the local administration; the national forestry department; and entrepreneurs who are connected with the land through services and events, tourists, and us — the LIOS Labs community of cultural ecologists, researchers, and environmental activists. Because of this diversity, it’s hard to speak about one single relationship, as it varies greatly depending on the group. Here we share how LIOS Labs came to be, and the relationships we have been cultivating together.

Our collective began because of a profound encounter with the desert. The connection between a few original members and the land started in 2019 during our first site visit. As we walked into the surrounding desert forest, it felt as though the trees were speaking to us. All of nature seemed alive, welcoming us warmly and asking for permission to collaborate with the land — or at least that’s how it felt to us. The desert mesmerized us with its rich heritage of many epochs, events, and traces of human and non-human influence. It made us question the role of humans in terraforming ecosystems and seek answers on how to shift towards more harmonious relations.

The desert became our teacher and playground for experimenting with language, games, and structures for future coexistence. Each time we return to the desert, a new story unfolds, bringing both challenges and opportunities. For example, this year, five years after our initial dialogue with the old pines, we realized they are under threat of being cut down by the forest department. These 200-year-old trees are the heart of the forest, and now we must act to find ways to protect them.

Our relationship with the Real is rooted in love and respect for the land that taught us so much about resilience and constant transformation.

What do you plan to fund with investment in your Realm?

Investments into the Pustynia Błędowska Realm will initially fund:

our work as researchers and developers currently engaged in designing five experiential trails around the Eagle’s Nest Landscape Park, where the Błędowska Desert is located. These trails will be educational paths featuring real-life markers in the form of organic sculptures, creating a land art gallery. They will also include educational materials and virtual reality immersive experiences, allowing users to connect with and learn about the species inhabiting the trails.

If we are to achieve our fundraising goal to support our priority project above, our stretch goals include funding for:

establishing a permanent bioregion research center around the desert. This center will serve as a hub for local community gatherings and as a laboratory for biodiversity researchers and other groups interested in the topics present in the desert. Beyond its educational value for the global and local community, we hope that this permanent facility will help us advocate for nature rights in the region. As mentioned earlier, the Realm is under constant threat from the nearby factory and the forest administration.
running our annual educational programs, inviting specialists and organizing workshops for local youth.

How will these projects benefit the land and community of the Realm?

By creating the experiential trails and establishing the bioregion research center, we will actively contribute to the conservation and restoration of the Błędowska Desert and its surrounding ecosystems. These projects will help protect endangered species, preserve native flora and fauna, and maintain ecological balance.

The educational trails and immersive experiences will raise awareness about the unique biodiversity of the desert and the importance of environmental protection. Visitors and local residents will gain a deeper understanding of the area’s ecological significance, fostering a sense of stewardship and responsibility towards the land.

With a dedicated research center, we can better advocate for the rights of nature in the region. By conducting and disseminating research, we can influence policy and decision-making processes, ensuring that the natural environment is given priority in regional planning and development.

The bioregion research center will serve as a gathering place for the local community, offering educational programs, workshops, and events. This will empower residents with knowledge and skills, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in their natural heritage.

Increased tourism driven by the trails and educational programs will boost the local economy. Local businesses, artisans, and service providers will benefit from the influx of visitors, creating jobs and supporting economic growth.

By organizing workshops and inviting specialists to work with local youth, we will inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. These programs will provide valuable educational opportunities, encouraging young people to pursue careers in environmental science, conservation, and sustainable development.

Further, the Realms to Watch program is also about aligning the incentives for capital and community to create a truly regenerative culture. The program’s innovative approach treats contributing communities as co-investors, with their own shares, so that they are motivated to enhance ecological value for everyone’s benefit. Additionally, the land itself is also treated as a co-investor, always holding 51% of the Realm’s shares. This symbolises the intrinsic value of the land and its crucial role in sustaining life and prosperity. The land, in effect, is an investor in us.

Should the equity of the Realm increase in value, with our contributing community sharing in this wealth, it would have profound implications for our community:

Increased financial resources would allow us to further invest in sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and eco-friendly practices. This would enhance the overall sustainability of the region, reducing its ecological footprint.
A wealthier and more empowered community would be better positioned to safeguard the desert and its ecosystems for future generations. The community’s enhanced financial stability would enable ongoing conservation efforts and ensure that the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Realm are preserved.
Sharing in the increased wealth would promote equity and inclusivity, ensuring that all members of the community benefit from the region’s prosperity. This would help address social disparities and build a more resilient and cohesive community.

What’s your vision?

LIOS Labs’ primary long-term goal is to protect Pustynia Błędowska and implement policy changes to address significant obstacles such as old forest clearings and massive sound pollution, which disrupts all habitats, including human settlements in the surrounding villages. By achieving this goal, we aim to create a healthier and more harmonious environment for both wildlife and local residents.

Steps to achieve this goal:

Establishment of the Bioregion Research Center: The next stage involves establishing the Bioregion Research Center after securing funding and developing the experiential trails. This center will serve as a hub for research, education, and community engagement focused on biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
Research and data collection: The research center will conduct extensive studies on the impact of sound pollution and other environmental stressors on the local ecosystem. This data will be crucial in advocating for policy changes and demonstrating the need for stricter environmental regulations.
Community involvement and advocacy: By involving the local community in research and educational activities, we will raise awareness about the detrimental effects of sound pollution. Empowered with knowledge, community members can become strong advocates for policy change, working alongside us to push for legislative action.
Collaborations and partnerships: We want to collaborate with environmental organizations, policy makers, and academic institutions to build a coalition advocating for the protection of the Błędowska Desert. These partnerships will amplify our efforts and provide additional expertise and resources.

The long-term goal extends beyond immediate environmental protection to fostering a broader paradigm shift in how nature is valued and managed:

We aim to shift the understanding of nature from being merely a resource for human exploitation to being valued for its intrinsic worth as a foundation of life.
We advocate for a move away from human-centered management of nature towards embracing our role as custodians of the Earth. This involves recognizing our responsibility to maintain and restore natural ecosystems, ensuring their health and vitality for future generations.
Through the Bioregion Research Center, we will develop educational programs and outreach activities highlighting the importance of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and sustainable living. These initiatives will help inculcate a sense of stewardship and respect for nature among the local community and visitors.

In conclusion, our long-term goals involve not only addressing the immediate environmental challenges of the Desert Realm but also driving a fundamental shift in how nature is valued and managed. By establishing the Bioregion Research Center and advocating for policy changes, we aim to protect the Błędowska Desert and promote a regenerative approach to environmental stewardship.

You Can Get Involved:

Guardians of Earth is sharing this exclusive investment opportunity with our network of influential and values-driven impact investors. There are many ways that you too can be a part of this transformative movement to regenerate our planet and empower communities.

Follow the Journey: Explore the remarkable stories of each Realm in our “Realms to Watch” series and witness the profound impact of community-led regenerative projects. Follow this blog, or visit our socials (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram).
Apply for the Next Round: The 7 Realms to Watch are the first of many to come. Are you a leader of a regenerative community that deserves to be in the next round?
Stay Connected: Sign up for our Guardians of Earth (GoE) newsletter to receive the latest updates on the “Realms to Watch” program and other pioneering regenerative initiatives.
Join the Community: Introduce yourself on the GoE Discord and actively contribute to the discussions that shape this journey.
Contact Us Directly: Reach out if you have any questions or want to discuss an opportunity.
Visit Our Website: Visit the Guardians of Earth (GoE) website to learn about the platform that makes this possible.

Act now to support community-led efforts that are revitalising our planet and its communities. Your involvement can drive significant change. Together, we can create a thriving future for all.

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