Urban Agriculture in the city of Warsaw, Poland - COST

Urban Agriculture
in the city of Warsaw, Poland
prepared for WG2 COST ACTION UAE
dr hab. Barbara Szulczewska, prof. SGGW
mgr inż. Katarzyna Bruszewska
SGGW-WULS Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Department of Landscape Architecture
Warsaw, 2013
1. Introduction – Urban Agriculture in Poland
The idea of urban agriculture has not been adopted in any policy, including agricultural policy
and spatial development policy of Polish cities yet. Family allotment gardens can be taken as
the only one type of urban agriculture areas widely spread out in Poland. However, the term
urban agriculture is not being used in the context of their description in Polish publications
and legal regulations.
In Polish publications urban agriculture topic is very rarely described; Polish scientists
present almost only foreign examples of urban agriculture’s activity. Giecewicz (2005) wrote
about farming areas within cities as the factor of natural revitalization of the city. As a
reference region she took the city of Vienna in Austria. Another Polish author – Palej (2010)
sees in the idea of urban agriculture as a chance to improve a natural environment in the
city, as well as the strategy supporting sustainable development of the city. Palej (2010)
describes very concisely some examples from abroad. Other Polish authors recall also
examples of urban agriculture’s activity from other countries, e.g. Szczepańska (2013) writes
about the city of Barcelona in Spain, Zenkteler (2013) about Havana in Cuba, Wybieralski
(2013) about an example from Detroit in the U.S.A. The subject of the potential of agriculture
areas within the biggest Polish cities, and their meaning for supporting the Green
Infrastructure has been taken up by Bruszewska (2013). On some Polish web-sites in
Internet can be found examples of urban agriculture, and informations about new
technologies connected with this activity. Mostly there are information from abroad, Polish
examples are rare. There is still lack of interest about the urban agriculture among Polish
scientists and researchers.
2. Agriculture area in Poland
2.1. Legal definition of agriculture area
The legal definition of agricultural area can be found in the second article of the Act on
protection of agricultural and forest land from 3 February 1995, and according to this act
agricultural areas are not only the arable lands but also lands covered with family gardens. In
accordance with the second article of this act agricultural areas are:
„Agricultural areas (…) are lands: (…):
1) specified in the registration of lands as arable lands;
2) under the fish ponds and other bodies of water, reserved solely for agricultural purposes;
3) forming part of the farm buildings, residential and other buildings and installations used
exclusively for agricultural production (…);
4) under the buildings and installations used directly for agricultural production (…);
5) under rural parks and lands under shelter belts
6) under family allotment gardens and botanical gardens;
7) under the devices such as: drainage systems, anti-flood systems, agriculture supply of
water, sewerage, sewage disposal, waste disposal for agricultural purposes and for
inhabitants of villages;
8) reclaimed for agricultural purposes;
9) under peat bogs and ponds;
10) under the access roads to agricultural land.1"
Family gardens are a special kind of agricultural lands because of their functions, which are
listed in the special act – the Act on family gardens from 8 July 2005. In accordance with the
fourth article of this act:
“family gardens are public utilities serving to satisfy rest, recreational and other social needs
of members of local community by providing them with common access to family gardens’
1
Own translation of the act.
area and plots which give them the ability of gardening for their own needs, and which also
increase the ecological quality of their surrounding” 2.
2.2. Legal regulations which influence maintenance of agricultural areas within cities
in Poland
From the maintenance point of view, protection and / or development of the agriculture areas
within Polish cities the following legal regulation should be taken into account:
The Protection Of Agricultural And Forest Land Act from 1995 and its amendments
from 2008
The Spatial Planning and Development Act from 2003;
The Protection of Agricultural and Forest Land Act sets norms of using lands in agricultural
and forestry way. Accordance to the third article of this law there are three ways of protecting
agricultural lands:
- quantitative protection (limited change of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes)
- qualitative protection (e.g. prevention of land degradation and devastation, damage
prevention, preservation of peat bogs and ponds)
- obligation of land rehabilitation.
Key meaning for the protection (in fact lack of protection) of agricultural lands in cities has the
article 5b, which was added to the law in 2008. In this article it is said that legal rules in this
act don’t concern agricultural lands within the city. It is then no longer needed to get consent
to change agricultural lands for non-agricultural purposes. This regulation can lead in the
future to chaos in a living space in Polish cities, included Warsaw, which would be caused by
not sufficient control over those lands.
The Spatial Planning and Development Act requires to take into account a state of
agricultural and forestry production space while setting municipality spatial policy provisions3.
As the main instrument aimed to maintain (protect) agriculture land the local plan4 may be
considered. This plan should be consistent with spatial policy of a municipality. The problem
is that local plans usually are being elaborated only for chosen parts (areas) of the
municipality. The decision on the area designated for local plan elaboration depends on the
decision of the municipality council. For the area not included into local plan, the decision on
building permission is based on:
- planning permission on location of public investment
- planning permission (for private investments)
From the point of protection agricultural lands within the city it is important, that those
decisions may not match to the study of conditions and directions of spatial development. It
should be emphasized that most decisions about investments and changes of agricultural
land for non-agricultural purposes are taken by decision on area land use. This unfavorable
activity has led to unconsidered urbanization, and building-up valuable natural areas.
2
Own translation of the act
Spatial policy of the municipality is presented in the document entitled: Municipality Study Of Conditions and
Directions of Spatial Development; in accordance with the Act preparation of the municipality study of conditions
and directions of spatial development is obligatory for the whole municipality within its administrative boundaries.
4
Local plan is the only legally binding spatial planning document; on its basis building permission is issued.
3
3. Warsaw (Poland) as reference region
3.1. General information
Area: 51 724 ha (517,24
km2)
Population: 1 711 491
Density: 3,304/km2
Figure 1: Location Poland and Warsaw in Europe.
Climate is humid continental,
with cold winters and warm
summers. The average year
temperature is +7,8°C.
The average temperature is
−3,3 °C in January and 18,0
°C in July. Temperatures
may often reach 30 °C in the
summer. Yearly rainfall
averages 493 millimetres,
wettest month being July.
Growing season lasts about
200 days a year
(Opracowanie
ekofizjograficzne do Studium
Uwarunkowań I Kierunków
Zagospodarowania
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/
Przestrzennego
9/9b/EU-Poland.svg/713px-EU-Poland.svg.png.
M.ST.Warszawy, 2006).
Natural conditions for agriculture
The condition of soils and agro-ecological conditions within the city are rather low. Most of
the soils within the city are classified as fuller's earth (which consist sand, gravel, glacial till).
The water balance in the city is adverse. From an utility point of view the best are alluvial
solis (containing mostly of silt) and poor podzols which can be found in the postglacial plain
in the South-West part of Warsaw. Most of those soils are protected by law, and used for
production of vegetables.
3.2. Agricultural areas in Warsaw - numbers
Table 1: Agricultural lands in the city of Warsaw.
Agricultural lands in the city of Warsaw
Agricultural lands
Total area
of the city
[in ha]
51724
Area
[ha]
6200,0
In percent
compared to
the city area
11,99
Family allotment gardens
Area
[ha]
1700,0
In percent
Number of
compared to allotment
the city area
gardens
3,29
277
Source: Area of agricultural lands in Warsaw determined with the help of study of conditions
and directions of spatial development (2010).
3.3. Agricultural areas in functional-spatial structure of the city
In the city of Warsaw there are big, cohesive complexes of agricultural lands, especially in
the outskirts of the city (Fig.2). In other quarters there are rather small, incohesive complexes
of agricultural lands. In the center of the city there are no agricultural areas.
Complexes of family allotment gardens can be found in all quarters of the city, but most of
them are located on the left bank of the city. There can be a noticed relationship between the
degree of urbanization and the location of family gardens – most family gardens are located
in better urbanized districts, in central quarters as well as in the outskirts.
As mentioned earlier family gardens in the Polish legislation system belong to agricultural
lands. However, analysis of study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the
city of Warsaw shows that the role of family gardens is different in urban planners’ point of
view. Family gardens are included as green areas within the city (as well as green public
spaces in the city, or cemeteries, or forest lands).
Figure 2: Existing agricultural areas in Warsaw.
Source: K.Bruszewska on the basis of the study of conditions and
directions of spatial development from 2010.
3.4. Economic conditions for agriculture
Figure 3: Districts fo Warsaw.
Accordance to the study of conditions and
directions of spatial development of the city
of Warsaw there are 3 394 agricultural
holdings. 3 305 from them are private farms.
The number of agricultural holdings are
various for each of the district, for example
in some outskirt district such as Białołęka
(838 agricultural holdings), Wawer (733) or
Wilanów (505) the number of agricultural
holdings is high, while in the other district
such as Targówek (37), Rembertów (37)
and Ursus (72) it is small.
Source: http://ekurjerwarszawski.pl/img/info/dzielnicewarszawy.png.
The average area of agricultural holding is
2,82 ha.
The percentage covered by agricultural
holdings are also various for each of the
district, e.g. for Targówek it is 60%, for
Wilanów 45%, Włochy 37,3%, Rembertów
2,7%.
In the city of Warsaw 1 800 inhabitants are employed in agriculture, in agricultural holdings
(the total number of working is about 782 000 inhabitants).
4 338,4 ha (57%) of all agricultural areas within the city are fallow lands. The number of
fallow land is still growing during the last few years, which is caused by low profitability of
agricultural production. This trend is especially seen in small agricultural holdings (below
2 ha).
Agricultural activity within the city has no meaning for food production, and small for flower
production and other ornamental plants. Agricultural’s profitability is low.
3.5. Spatial development policy
Spatial development policy of agricultural lands is determined in the study of conditions and
directions of spatial development of the city of Warsaw. Part of this document specifies the
future of agricultural areas within the city gives information about recommended changes in
land designation.
The analysis of the study showed that in spite of natural potential of agricultural lands they
won’t be existing in the future city area. Arable lands will be built-up into housing or service
areas, or they will be used for future development of infrastructure. Family gardens won’t
also stay in their present state because they will be turned into green areas (like for example
parks). Part of them will be used to develop infrastructure system and as service areas.
Figure 4: Change in land designation of agricultural areas
Source: K.Bruszewska on the basis of the study of conditions and
directions of spatial development from 2010.
The analysis of the study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the city of
Warsaw was also focused on answering the question if agricultural areas are seen as
valuable ecological areas, which can support sustainable city development.
Arable lands as well as family gardens are part of the Natural System of Warsaw (the other
areas, such as green areas or forestry lands are also part of this System). This proves that
agricultural lands have meaning in sustaining the ecological network of the city, which can be
a basis allowing them to survive within the city.
3.6. Functions of agricultural lands
Polish publications indicate the following functions of agricultural areas:
- production (mainly food) (e.g. Degórska, 2004; Degórska and Deręgowska, 2008).
- environmental (e.g. Chmielewski, 2001; Degórska, 2002 and 2004; Szulczewska
and Kaliszuk, 2005)
- cultural and linked with quality of life (e.g. Chmielewski, 2001; Degórska, 2004; Giecewicz,
2005)
- structure-forming (e.g. Chmielewski, 2001; Degórska, 2004)
The analysis of the study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the city of
Warsaw reveals a tendency, that besides meaning agricultural lands for food production
(which actually falls in the meaning) they have also very important environmental value.
Meadows and pastures have important role in the urban environmental system, especially
those located near the Vistula river. Also arable lands have a big natural potential for
improving the city’s climate.
Family gardens have a slightly different role in the city. The main role is environmental
function, and the second one is supporting recreation and leisure.
3.7. Threats
The analysis of the study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the city of
Warsaw showed that agricultural lands within the city are mostly threatened by investment
pressure and strong, often chaotic urbanization. For the last few years there can be a noticed
tendency to parcel out agricultural areas which is the reason for lack of spatial order. Many of
the agricultural lands in the city of Warsaw are often degraded and devastated.
Those observations are not optimistic, and if the situation won’t change in the future, it can
lead to loss of natural values.
3.8. Identified examples of urban agriculture activity in Warsaw
There are very few, beside family allotment gardens, examples of urban agriculture’s activity
within the Polish cities. They usually are grass roots initiatives of local inhabitants or activists.
Figure 5: Continuum of urban agriculture in Warsaw.
Source: K.Bruszewska on the basis of COST UAE materials.
Some examples of urban agriculture’s activity are interesting enough to discuss them in this
paper. Besides traditional agriculture activity in the city, such as family gardens, or
greenhouses and farms in the outskirts there are some new symptoms of the need for
developing urban agriculture in Warsaw.
Apiary on the roof of the Hyatt Hotel in Warsaw
The Hyatt Hotel in Warsaw is the only one in Poland with an apiary on the top of it. An
experienced beekeeper supervises the apiary and takes care of producing the eco-honey
called “Łazienki Gold” (the name of the honey was taken from the Łazienki Park situated in
the closest neighbourhood of the Hyatt Hotel. This apiary on the roof is seen as a good
example of protecting bees in the city, and an interesting example of using urban
agriculture’s acitivity in a modern city such as Warsaw (http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/
warszawa/pasieka-na-dachu-warszawskiego-hotelu-tak-walcza-o-pszczoly/kzte1).
Figures 6 & 7: Apiary on the roof of Hyatt Hotel in Warsaw (Halicki, 2013).
“Warzywnik” – community vegetable garden in the district of Praga
The community vegetable garden called “Warzywnik” was created in June 2012 by the group
of activists called Precel, whose members represent different disciplines – e.g. architecture,
art, sociology. The garden is located near the palace (Pałac Konopackiego) from the 19th
century in the ‘Praga Północ’ district of Warsaw. The local authorities of the municipality gave
permission for creating a garden next to the palace, so this garden can be used by the local
community. Many various vegetables and plants are grown by inhabitants. The local
community takes care of the plants. Children who don’t have a playground in the nearest
neighborhood use vegetable garden as the place to spend their leisure time. In the opinion of
the local inhabitans this place unites people living around it (http://warszawa.gazeta.pl/
warszawa/1,34889,12138506,Publiczne_ogrody_warzywne__Posadz_pomidora_lub_poziom
ke.html.).
Figure 8: Children working in garden(Atys, 2012).
Figure 9: Vegetable garden (Romanik, 2012).
Vertical vegetables and herbs garden on the wall of the Centre for Contemporary Art
Ujazdowski Castle
This vegetable and herbs garden was created by the Juliette Delventhal and Pawel Kruk
within the project called ‘We're Like Gardens’. The main point of this project was building the
vertical garden on the wall of the Centre for Contemporary Art of the Ujazdowski Castle. The
aim was to use unused space in a productive way – as a garden producing food for the local
community. Also, other groups and activists were invited to join this project and test the idea
of urban gardening. Artists stress that the garden is one of the possible options of alternative
development of unused city areas. It is the place of social integration among local
inhabitants, and the best place to organize workshops, meetings, discussions or other events
connected with urban agriculture (http://csw.art.pl/index.php?action=aktualnosci&s2=1&id=
592&lang=).
Eko-farm ‘Cztery pory roku’
This is another initiative representing the idea of urban agriculture, the eco-farm is located in
the outskirts of Warsaw. The eko-farm ‘Cztery pory roku’ is a place created for children
attending kindergarten and primary school, and the aim is to lead a nature education for
them. On the farm children can find out how breeding of animals and cultivation of plants
look like. Through play children have the opportunity to get to know in a practical way about
agricultural activity. Pens for animals (e.g. pigs, sheeps, goats, rabbits, chickens, turkeys)
are located on the farm, as well as pond, vegetable garden and fruit trees
(http://www.czterypory.edu.pl).
Figure 10: Eko-farm – view on the garden
(http://www.czterypory.edu.pl).
Figure 11: Eko-farm – pen for animals
(http://www.czterypory.edu.pl).
4. Literature
Study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the city of Warsaw:
• Studium uwarunkowań i kierunków zagospodarowania przestrzennego Miasta
Stołecznego Warszawy, uchwała Rady Miasta Stołecznego Warszawy nr XCII/2689/2010
z dnia 7 października 2010 r.
Environmental Study for Municipality Study of Developent Conditions and Directions
• Opracowanie ekofizjograficzne do Studium Uwarunkowań I Kierunków
Zagospodarowania Przestrzennego M.St.Warszawy, 2006 r.
Polish Acts of Law:
•
•
•
Ustawa z dnia 3 lutego 1995 r. o ochronie gruntów rolnych i leśnych, Dz.U. 2004 Nr 121
poz. 1266 z późń. zm.
Ustawa z dnia 8 lipca 2005 r. o rodzinnych ogrodach działkowych, Dz.U. 2005 Nr 169
poz. 1419 z późń. zm.
Ustawa z dnia 27 marca 2003 r. o planowaniu i zagospodarowaniu przestrzennym, Dz.U.
2003 Nr 80 poz. 717 z późń. zm.
Polish publications:
• Bruszewska, K., 2013. Rolnictwo miejskie i jego znaczenie dla rozwoju zielonej
infrastruktury dużych miast Polski. Praca magisterska napisana pod kierunkiem dr hab.
Barbary Szulczewskiej, prof. SGGW w Katedrze Architektury Krajobrazu na Wydziale
Ogrodnictwa, Biotechnologii i Architektury Krajobrazu Szkoły Głównej Gospodarstwa
Wiejskiego w Warszawie
• Chmielewski, J., 2001. Teoria urbanistyki w projektowaniu i planowaniu miast. Wydanie II
zmienione. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Warszawskiej.
• Degórska, B., 2002. Kształtowanie terenów otwartych na obszarze metropolitalnym
Warszawy – rozpoznanie problemów. W: G. Węcławowicz, red. Warszawa jako
przedmiot badań w geografii społeczno-ekonomicznej: Prace Geograficzne nr 184.
Warszawa: Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN im. Stanisława
Leszczyńkiego, s. 37-54.
• Degórska, B., 2004. Planowanie terenów otwartych w nowej przestrzeni miejskiej (na
przykładzie strefy podmiejskiej Warszawy). W: M. Kistowski, red. Studia ekologicznokrajobrazowe w programowaniu rozwoju zrównoważonego. Przegląd polskich
doświadczeń u progu integracji z Unią Europejską. Gdańsk, s. 141-148.
• Degórska, B., Deręgowska, A., 2008. Atlas Warszawy: zmiany krajobrazowe obszaru
metropolitalnego Warszawy na przełomie XX i XXI wieku. Warszawa: Instytut Geografii i
Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN im. Stanisława Leszczyńkiego.
• Giecewicz, J., 2005. Obszary rolne jako czynnik przyrodniczej rewitalizacji miasta. W: J.
Gliński, red. Teka Komisji Architektury, Urbanistyki i Studiów Krajobrazowych: tom 1.
Lublin: Polska Akademia Nauk Oddział w Lublinie, s. 128-134.
• Palej, A., 2010. Farmy miejskie – przedsięwzięcia wspomagające strategie
zrównoważonego rozwoju miast. Czasopismo Techniczne 6-A, zeszyt 14, s. 39-44.
• Szczepańska, J., 2013. Miasto-ogród – suwerenność żywnościowa XXI wieku [online].
Dostępny w: http://www.foodwewant.org/pol/Aktualnosci/Miasto-ogrod-suwerennosczywnosciowa-XXI-wieku [Dostęp: 5.06.2013].
• Szulczewska, B., Kaliszuk, E., 2005. Koncepcje systemu przyrodniczego miasta: geneza,
ewolucja i znaczenie praktyczne. W: Teka Kom. Arch. Urb. Stud. Krajobr. – OL PAN. s.
7-24.
•
•
Wybieralski, M., 2013. Kurniki, grządki i ule na dachach wieżowców. Rolnictwo w
miastach - od Nowego Jorku do Warszawy [online]. Strona internetowa
Gazetawyborcza.pl. Dostępny w: http://wyborcza.pl/2029020,75477,14017196.html
[Dostęp: 5.06.2013].
Zenkteler, M., 2013. Urban Agriculture, czyli pielenie grządek w centrum miasta [online].
Poznań: Redakcja portalu urbanistyka.info. Dostępny w:
http://www.urbanistyka.info/content/urban-agriculture-czyli-pielenie-grz%C4%85dek-wcentrum-miasta [Dostęp: 1.06.2013].
Internet sources:
•
•
•
•
•
•
http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/warszawa/pasieka-na-dachu-warszawskiego-hotelu-tak-walczao-pszczoly/kzte1
http://csw.art.pl/index.php?action=aktualnosci&s2=1&id= 592&lang=
http://www.czterypory.edu.pl
http://warszawa.gazeta.pl/warszawa/1,34889,12138506,Publiczne_ogrody_warzywne__
Posadz_pomidora_lub_poziomke.html.
Wikipedia.org
http://ekurjerwarszawski.pl/img/info/dzielnice-warszawy.png.