"Green Spirit of Activity. Hajnówka – A New Era of Development"
On June 15th, the Academy of Nature hosted a conference inaugurating the historic development project for the city of Hajnówka, titled “Green Spirit of Activity. Hajnówka – A New Era of Development,” implemented under the Polish-Swiss Urban Development Program. On that day, we hosted representatives of key institutions involved in the project from the financial and substantive perspectives, who have been involved in the project from its early stages:
- the donor country was represented by the Ambassador of Switzerland to Poland, H.E. Fabrice Filliez, together with the Embassy employees responsible for cooperation between Hajnówka and Switzerland,
- the Programme operator – the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy – was represented by: Katarzyna Zbrojkiewicz-Zamęcka, head of department in the Department of Aid Programmes, and Karolina Centomirska – chief specialist,
- The Association of Polish Cities, which serves as an advisory body for cities, was represented by Agnieszka Dawydzik, advisor to Hajnówka in the implementation of the project,
- The national partner of the project – Hajnówka County – was represented by the Mayor of Hajnówka, Andrzej Skiepko.
Also present were: Deputy Voivode of Podlasie Michał Gąsowski; councillors of the Hajnówka City Council, representatives of the Hajnówka Forest District – Marek Mackiewicz, deputy forester, Białowieża National Park – Katarzyna Daleszczyk, deputy director for Nature Conservation; scientific institutions: Dr. hab. Tomasz Borowik, director of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Dr. hab. Tomasz Samojlik from the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences; public institutions, social organisations and residents interested in the future of our city.
The event marked the beginning of an important stage in Hajnówka’s development – one based on harnessing the city’s natural, social, and economic potential, while simultaneously addressing the significant problems and challenges it faces – as Mayor Ireneusz Roman Kiendyś emphasized in his speech. Later, he presented key assumptions and goals, planned activities, and expected outcomes for residents and the entire local community. A modern, green, safe, and socially active city, offering residents better conditions for learning, working, doing business, and living – this is the conclusion of the speech, as well as the vision for Hajnówka after the project’s completion.
The Swiss Ambassador also spoke, highlighting the importance of Swiss Funds financing development projects in Polish cities. He emphasized that these funds provide local governments with support in addressing socio-economic problems and improving the attractiveness of cities. He believes that cooperation between Poland and Switzerland brings tangible benefits to both parties.
Katarzyna Zbrojkiewicz-Zamęcka, Head of Department at the Department of Aid Programs, briefly outlined the application evaluation process, noting that the Hajnówka project stood out from others for its authenticity and its structure represented a strategic response to the city’s real needs and challenges. Agnieszka Dawydzik, an advisor to the Association of Polish Cities, who has been associated with Hajnówka for several years (from the preparation through implementation of the “Hajnówka OdNowa – Zielona Transformacja” project financed by the Norway Grants), echoed this sentiment.
The Hajnówka County Mayor, representing the project’s national partner, recalled that this was not the first time Swiss Funds had been provided to the Białowieża Forest region. Thanks to these funds (over 10 years ago), the border crossing in Połowce was modernized. Hajnówka County will implement activities in the field of post-primary education, including the development of vocational education tailored to the needs of the labor market and support for people with disabilities in acquiring the skills necessary for independent living.
After a series of presentations, it was time for the substantive portion, during which participants listened to two lectures relating to the main objectives of the project. The first, titled “A City from the Forest: How the Białowieża Forest Shaped the History and Identity of Hajnówka,” focused on Hajnówka’s connection with the Białowieża Forest – a place that has shaped the history, culture, and identity of our city for generations. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Tomasz Samojlik from the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża.
Dr. Anna Nikitiuk, acting director of the Academy of Nature, presented a presentation demonstrating how natural resources can support the development of education, tourism, and the local economy. The presentation was titled “Academy of Nature in Hajnówka – Nature, Education, and Local Product as a Direction for City Development.”
Both presentations are available below the article.
A key point of the conference was the panel discussion entitled “Forest, Education, Development – How to Wisely Utilize Hajnówka’s Potential?”, moderated by Agnieszka Dawydzik from the Association of Polish Youth Members. Participants included Mayor Ireneusz Roman Kiendyś, Eugeniusz Sidoruk, CEO of RUNO sp. z o.o., Cliff Hammer from the Swiss Embassy in Poland, Dr. hab. Tomasz Borowik, Director of the Institute of Białowieża Research at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Białowieża, and Kamil Hłasko and Arkadiusz Kędzięrski, representatives of the Hajnówka Youth City Council. The moderator began the meeting by presenting the main thesis of the discussion, emphasizing Hajnówka’s unique position as a city situated between a rich cultural and natural heritage and the challenges of contemporary development. She highlighted the potential of the Białowieża Forest, education, entrepreneurship, and local culture as foundations for building a modern, green, and resilient city. She then introduced the panelists, representing various groups: local government, science, business, culture, education, youth, and international partners. The panel was divided into several thematic rounds:
I. History and Identity as the Foundation of the Future – “What in Hajnówka’s History Is Most Important for Thinking About Its Future?”
The first part of the discussion was devoted to the importance of Hajnówka’s history for planning its future. Mayor of Hajnówka, Ireneusz Roman Kiendyś, highlighted the city’s multicultural heritage, borderland tradition, and the historical role of the timber industry. He emphasized that contemporary Hajnówka is gradually transitioning from an industrial city to a city developing based on natural assets, quality of life, and the well-being of its residents. Cliff Hammer, a representative of the Swiss Embassy in Poland, presented an international perspective, presenting examples of how local cultural and natural heritage can be used in the development of Swiss regions. He emphasized the importance of skillfully combining tradition with modern economic and social solutions.
II. The Forest as a Development Stimulus – “How Can the Białowieża Forest Be Not Only Heritage, But Also a Development Stimulus Today?”
The next part of the panel focused on the possibilities of harnessing the potential of the Białowieża Forest as a driver of the city’s socio-economic development. Dr. Tomasz Borowik, Director of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences, emphasized the unique nature of the Białowieża Forest on a European scale and its importance for scientific research, education, and tourism. He also pointed out that the “Białowieża Forest” brand is not yet fully utilized in promoting the region. Cliff Hammer then presented experiences with managing protected areas in Switzerland, citing the example of the Entlebuch Biosphere Reserve in the canton of Lucerne, where residents initiated the process of establishing a reserve in the area where they live and work.
III. Nature Education – A Goal in Its Own or a Tool for City Competitiveness – “How to Combine Science, Education, and Local Identity?”
The most extensive thematic block was devoted to nature education. Dr. Tomasz Borowik highlighted the role of science as a tool for promoting the city and the region. He discussed opportunities for collaboration with universities and research institutes, as well as the importance of educational programs aimed at children, youth, and adults. Representatives of the Youth City Council presented the perspective of the younger generation. They pointed to the need to develop environmental education, create spaces for social activity, and engage young people in activities related to the “Green Spirit of Activity. Hajnówka – A New Era of Development” project. They emphasized the importance of the Nature Academy’s offerings to young people, including the opportunity to engage them in volunteer activities.
IV. Nature-Based Economy and Entrepreneurship – “Can You Make Money from the Potential of Nature?”
This section of the panel discussed the possibilities of building a local economy based on the region’s natural resources. Eugeniusz Sidoruk, representing Runo Sp. z o.o., presented his experiences with running a business using local natural resources. Mayor Ireneusz Roman Kiendyś presented the city’s initiatives supporting the development of local entrepreneurship, including initiatives aimed at entrepreneurs planned as part of the project.
V. Youth Perspectives – “How do young people see their impact on the city’s development?”
The final substantive section was given to representatives of the Youth City Council. Young residents of Hajnówka presented their expectations for the city’s future. They highlighted the need to expand educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities and create attractive meeting places. Methods for retaining young people in the city and encouraging them to return after completing their education were also discussed. The importance of active youth participation in the planning and implementation of urban projects was emphasized.
In the concluding section, all panelists answered the question: “What should remain of the project in Hajnówka for years to come?” Their statements primarily emphasized the need to create sustainable educational and cultural institutions offering a rich program that encourages young people to be socially active, develops residents’ skills, creates new jobs, and strengthens the city’s brand based on its exceptional natural and cultural assets. The importance of cooperation between local government, academia, businesses, and residents was repeatedly emphasized as a condition for effectively utilizing Hajnówka’s potential.
The moderator thanked the participants for their participation in the discussion and for the opinions and recommendations they presented. She emphasized that the panel provided many valuable insights into the city’s development directions. The meeting concluded with a group photo of the panelists and participants.
The words spoken during the conference demonstrate that Hajnówka possesses exceptional potential – based on nature, education, resident engagement, and collaboration among many groups. “Green Spirit of Activity: Hajnówka – A New Era of Development” is a huge challenge not only for City Hall employees. The project is not an official undertaking, but a citywide initiative, with its people at its heart. Only trust, mutual support, and shared commitment can bring success to the entire local community.
The inaugural conference was held as part of the “Green Spirit of Activity. Hajnówka – A New Era of Development” project, implemented under the Polish-Swiss Urban Development Program, financed by the Second Edition of Swiss Financial Aid for selected European Union member states and the state budget.