Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programms

The Association for the Development of Siedliska 'Our Siedliska' was established by the village inhabitants on 7 March 2004. The mission of the Association is e.g. to support social initiatives affecting the economy, tourism, protection of cultural property as well as to support any activities to promote the village.

The Association took organizational actions in order to protect fragments of fossilized tree, which are unique in the world. These actions will be implemented under the project: 'Fossilized Trees as an Opportunity for the Development of Siedliska and the Region'.

The project is supposed e.g. to protect Tertiary fossils by developing the museum (expansion of the building and new equipment), and thereby inhibit plundering (ban on collection of exhibits, expansion of the 'Jalinka' reserve and preparation of a protection plan for the reserve). This project has been approved by the global environment fund - GEF/SGP, which has been present in Poland since 1994. The fund supports local initiatives related to environmental protection. The fund operates on the basis of UN funds, subsidizing ideas promoted by people fascinated by protection of local qualities and natural resources.

The fund sponsored the plan with ca. 120,000 PLN. The fossilized tree protection project is an opportunity for the development of Siedliska, promotion of this region, and in consequence improvement in the local people's living standard. The example of Siedliska confirms that the commitment of people united by a common goal, in combination with assistance provided by the GEF/SGP fund, has proved successful and brought tangible benefits.