RETFOR Study Visit to Poznań Strengthens Climate Resilience and Forest Ecosystem Management Cooperation
Within the framework of the RETFOR project – “Strengthening Climate Change Resilience Measures for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems in the Spačva–Bosut Basin”, implemented under the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia–Serbia 2021–2027, a study visit to Poznań was conducted from 18 to 21 May 2026 in cooperation with the State Forests of Poland (Lasy Państwowe).
The RETFOR project aims to enhance biodiversity conservation, improve water regime management, and strengthen the resilience of forest ecosystems to climate change through activities focused on the protection of wetland habitats, forest restoration, and the implementation of sustainable natural resource management practices.
Representatives of Fund for European Affairs and Development of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina took 15 representatives of relevant stakeholders from Serbia on the study visit, with the aim of strengthening cooperation, knowledge exchange, and networking among institutions active in the fields of forestry, environmental protection, water management, and regional development.
Throughout the visit, participants were introduced to good practice examples in sustainable forest management, wetland conservation, and water retention measures implemented in Poland. The program also provided opportunities to establish new professional contacts and exchange experiences with partner organizations and representatives of Polish institutions.
Participants of the study visit included representatives of Megra d.o.o., Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, water management company “Galovica” d.o.o. Belgrade, the City Administration for Budget, Property and Investments of Sremska Mitrovica, the public utility company “Komunalije” Sremska Mitrovica, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Vojvodina, Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad – Institute for Regional Development, as well as representatives of the Provincial Secretariat for Urban Planning and Environmental Protection and Provincial Secretariat for Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry.
As part of the field activities, visits were organized to the forest districts of Oborniki and Krucz, where practical examples of forest ecosystem management and measures aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change were presented. The hosts presented approaches to natural resource conservation, wetland restoration, and water regime management in forest ecosystems. The visit also included discussions on the challenges faced by partners in their respective countries, as well as on opportunities to apply similar solutions in different local contexts.
As part of the working program, a roundtable was held at the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Poznań, during which the partner organizations, their roles in the project, and the activities implemented so far under the RETFOR project were presented. Special focus was placed on the exchange of experiences in water retention and wetland conservation, as well as on planning future activities and identifying opportunities to apply good practices in the partners’ local environments.
The intervention area of the RETFOR project focuses on cooperation aimed at fostering a more environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient program area. The project is implemented in the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia over the period from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2027, with the objective of strengthening climate change resilience and preserving the biodiversity of the Spačva–Bosut Basin ecosystem.
The total value of the RETFOR project is EUR 2,808,128.24, of which 85%, or EUR 2,386,908.99, is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia–Serbia 2021–2027.
