BayWa r.e. Polska has joined the rewilding project, restoration of biodiversity, and the reconstruction of natural ecosystems in areas transformed by human activity.
BayWa r.e. Polska has recently become partners with the Kwietna Foundation, Polish organization dedicated to restoring valuable meadow ecosystems. Meadows are semi-natural systems whose functioning requires properly managed grazing, proper mowing, and the exclusion of using chemicals. Well-managed meadows are rich in numerous species of flora and fauna, with an average of nearly 60 species of vascular plants found in a rural hay meadow and up to 180 species in the variegated meadows of national and landscape parks.
By joining the 'Adopt a Meadow' project, we are supporting the key plant and animal population restoration, including unique butterfly species in the chosen area, located in the neighborhood of the Nieborów Nature and Landscape Complex.
In a time of climate crisis, species decline, and loss of biodiversity in many areas, rewilding is an answer to the question of what we can do right now to stop or even try to reverse the negative processes we are witnessing.
At our solar and wind farms, we prioritize sustainability by preserving natural conditions and restoring biodiversity in degraded areas. Between the rows of photovoltaic panels, lush green spaces provide a refuge for pollinators and small mammals, reptiles, or nesting birds. Additionally, we implement natural mowing practices, such as practices associated with sheep grazing, to maintain the land. Long-term land leasing for renewable energy projects offers besides electricity production, the use of land extensively, increasing species diversity.
Artur Marchewka, Managing Director of BayWa r.e. Polska commented: “At BayWa r.e., we are accelerating the energy transition, and sustainability is an integral part of every project we undertake. We hope the cooperation we have established with the Kwietna Foundation will bring us many valuable insights regarding restoring natural ecosystems on the degraded post-agriculture lands, to increase biodiversity on our photovoltaic and wind farms. By working in an international group, we also want to get other countries interested in the research results and the idea of rewilding.”
President of the Kwietna Foundation, Karolina Nawrot adds: - "By implementing the Meadow Adoption Project in cooperation with BayWa r.e., we have the chance to restore valuable meadow ecosystems and conduct scientific research in an environment similar to the PV investment sites. Converting arable land into species-rich grassland is not only an opportunity for native nature but also a way to combat climate change. Scientific studies show that properly managed meadows can build a soil carbon bank. The photovoltaic industry is particularly close to our hearts, as it is a rare case where a business during investment development can easily support nature conservation. Our common goal is to study this impact and shape standards for environmentally friendly management of PV farms."
