Opłacalność zalesień gruntów rolnych w ramach Programu Rozwoju Obszarów Wiejskich

Sustainable development and afforestation measures aiming to preserve the leading role of the forests are important elements of spatial, environmental and economic policies. The economic efficiency of afforestation schemes covering arable and other types of land was evaluated in view of the policies aiming to increase the afforestation rate and improve the land−use structure in the rural areas. The evaluated afforestation measures were introduced in Poland in 2004 as part of the Rural Development Programme (RDP). The principles and criteria applicable to every RDP framework, i.e. 2004−2006, 2007−2013 and 2014−2020, were taken into account. Special attention was paid to processes that significantly influenced afforestation practices in the analysed periods. Economic efficiency was evaluated for two exemplary plots of arable land. The results of the profitability analysis indicate that current legislation discourages farmers from embarking on afforestation projects. The above can be attributed to the maximum permitted area of afforestation per beneficiary (no limitations in the previous RDPs, 20 ha in the present one), shorter validity of afforestation premiums (12 instead of 20 years) and the introduction of more rigorous afforestation criteria in 2015. The afforestation principles under RDP 2004−2006 were the most favourable for farmers, and the highest afforestation rates were reported during that period. Individual farmers could play an important role in the afforestation process. However, farmers' attachment to arable land, the availability of more profitable measures under the RDP, direct subsidies and the overestimation of the prices of arable land relative to forests discouraged afforestation, even in areas characterized by poor soils. On 1 May 2016, the Polish government introduced additional restrictions on trade in agricultural land, which would additionally decrease the popularity of afforestation measures among individual farmers.