“Protection of biotic and abiotic values in the area of Drawno as a chance for development of tourism” is the theme of the fifth conference co-organized under the LIFEDrawaPL project between 17-19 March 2017 by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Szczecin, in partnership with the main organizer, the Local Tourist Organisation Around the Drawa.
The conference, similarly as last year, took place at Gościniec resort in Zatom in Drawieński National Park. It was primarily aimed at promoting the middle and lower catchment areas of the Drawa (along with the Korytnica), in particular living and non-living natural values, which are the driving forces for the development of various forms of tourism, including the adventure one in this area. The opening of the conference and the presentation of the co-organizers was made by the President of LOT “Wokół Drawy”, Mr Andrzej Górski.
Around 65 people participated in the conference, including (except for the organizers mentioned above) representatives of the following entities: Ministry of the Environment (Department of Geology and Geological Concessions), National Geological Institute and National Research Institute, Drawieński National Park, Głusko Forest District, Drawno Forest District, District Office and District Council of Choszczno, Municipal Office of Drawno, Regional Board of Water Management in Poznań, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, University of Szczecin, Primary School in Drawno, Municipality of Recz, District Labor Office in Choszczno, Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce, West Pomeranian Regional Tourist Organization, Marshal’s Office of West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Social Economy Support Center, Złocieniec Municipal Office, West Pomeranian Agency for Tourism Development, School Complex No.1 in Choszczno and Friends of the Drawieński Area Society. The conference was also attended by the Deputy of the eighth term office of the Sejm Mr Stanisław Gawłowski and the Deputy Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodship Mr Jarosław Rzepa.
From the point of view of the LIFEDrawaPL project the most important day of the conference was the first one, during which papers and discussions concerning the project’s activities took place. Mr Artur Furdyna was the moderator of this part. At the beginning of the session current progress of the LIFEDrawaPL project was presented after two years of its implementation (Project Coordinator Ms Beata Gąsiorowska). Also a paper was presented: “Variety of natural and landscape values of the Drawa valley in the Drawno area and the lower Korytnica valley outside the area of DNP in the aspect of tourism development” (Piotr Waloch – RDEP Szczecin) closely related to C.8 action in the LIFE project which concerns channelling of tourist flows in the Drawa basin in order to relieve the area of Drawieński National Park. In the following part of the session other interesting papers were presented, for instance:
- conditions for the development of tourism in the area Drawno – Kalisz Pomorski – Recz in the light of selected georesources (Maria Górska-Zabielska – Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce),
- bioclimatic conditions of the Drawa basin influencing the possibilities of tourism development (Czesław Koźmiński, Bożena Michalska – West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin),
- the need for protection of a river ecosystem from the source to the estuary (Artur Furdyna – Society of Friends of the Rivers Ina and Gowienica).
On the second day of the conference a tour along the region’s geotourist values took place (guides: Ryszard Dobracki, Marek Leda). Among the visited places were: Oz in Karpino, the market and the church in Recz, settlement in Jaźwiny, rocks in Nowa Studnica and churches in Barnim and Dominikowo.
On the last day of the conference summaries were held.
