Rural Environmental Project

The global objective of the project is to improve the quality of the water of the Baltic Sea by decreasing non-point sources of nutrient pollution from agriculture. The Baltic Sea Strategic Action Plan estimates that 30-40% of the nitrogen and 10% of the phosphorous entering the Sea come from agriculture, and the eutrophic conditions they cause represent the Baltic Sea’s top priority transboundary water problem. The project will help Polish small farmers to adopt innovative waste management techniques and land use practices to reduce pollution releases. GEF funds will be used to buy down the cost of adopting these technical innovations in agricultural practices and waste management and help overcome barriers to moving from demonstration level activities to operations projects for agricultural non-point source pollution. Participating farmers will be expected to pay approximately one-third of the cost.