In 1995, important steps included the establishment of a cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy, and the Minister of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry. The programme later developed into a comprehensive strategy to reconstruct small retention facilities, planting forests and midfield woods, damming lakes in order to retain water for agriculture and other activities, and retain spring water, snowmelt and precipitation in ponds. The projects are of very diverse nature, due to the broad scope of water retention measures, the information provided, and the costs associated with the different projects.
Financing of small retention measures is secured from diverse funds – the national environmental fund, the soil protection fund, county (voivodship) budgets and municipal budgets. The investments were able to be mobilized due to consultation processes, coordination and full participation of many stakeholders.
Partners grouped in GWP Poland provided an important facilitation and communication role ranging from technical support to national, county and municipal governments; public education among farmers, fishermen, tourist groups, ecologists and public administration; and organization of workshops and dissemination of results of the national program. GWP Poland also contributed to the regional programme on Integrated Drought Management in Central Europe. The Guidelines for small retention measures have also been published.