Jacek Bozek

Jacek Bozek is building a citizen's movement to preserve Poland's rivers and to stop ecologically irresponsible development projects. His project thus far has focused mainly on Poland's largest river, the Vistula, which is one of Europe's last great "untamed" rivers. However, Jacek is expanding his work to other rivers in Poland and is working to export his model to the remaining natural river eco-systems throughout the continent.

Jacek is fighting to preserve the ecological richness and diversity of Poland's rivers, particularly the Vistula River, the largest in Poland. His approach is based on his insight that the most important ingredient of a successful environmental campaign is local commitment, and he has discovered that by generating a sense of civic pride in a river and its ecosystem, he can begin to create such a commitment to save it. However, Jacek also realizes that cultural appreciation is not enough; he must also present viable alternatives to current development plans that provide the much-needed economic boost to many depressed small communities in the river basin. By doing so, Jacek believes that he will be able to guarantee the survival of Poland's rivers well into the twenty-first century.
He is achieving his goal though a multi-pronged approach, which is designed to educate and engage the general public, counteract the aggressive lobbying tactics of pro-development interest in Poland, build coalitions between various Polish citizens' organizations and river communities, and present alternative forms of development that will not harm fragile eco-systems. This project is one of the first times in Poland that such a comprehensive campaign to preserve the country's natural heritage has ever been undertaken.

The Wisla is an important symbol for Poles. For much of its history, Poland was a country divided and ruled by foreign powers. Its rivers served as a critical axis for trade, cultural exchange, and commerce and helped solidify Polish cultural unity throughout 200 years of foreign rule. Because the Vistula transverses much of Poland and travels through several major cities including Warsaw and Krakow, it has over the years become a symbol of Poland itself in much the same way the Danube is for Hungary or the Mississippi is for the United States.

Yet the importance of the Vistula and other Polish rivers is much more than symbolic. For example, the Vistula supports a critical eco-system that, if damaged, would have continent-wide consequences. Poland is an important migratory stop for many of Europe's rarest birds that rely on the rivers and surrounding forests for breeding grounds. Sixty-two percent of all European birds can be found in the forests surrounding the Vistula. In the Vistula river basin, which covers approximately 55 percent of Poland, there are more than 220 different species of birds; 183 species breed and nest in the region. Many of these birds are endangered and a few species are down to less than 60 breeding pairs. Moreover, the region is also critical for other animal species. According to Jacek, approximately 50 percent of vertebrates found in the Vistula region are on the endangered species list. Thus the Vistula river basin is ecologically critical for all of Europe, not just Poland.

The Vistula river basin has been in serious jeopardy since the early 1970's when the Communist regime began developing grandiose water development projects that included plans to build eight dams. Many environmentalists felt that such plans put the already fragile eco-system in the river basin area in grave danger. Attempts to modify the course of the river or to change the amount of water flowing into a particular area could be detrimental to the many animal and plant species that rely upon the river for their survival. Fortunately, the regime fell before the plan could be realized. However, plans to "develop" the river have recently come back into vogue due mainly to the constant pressure of construction lobbyist groups. They argue that developing the river will help control flooding and will also provide the necessary water associated with more advanced economic development. Yet many experts on water/flood management have now concluded that the risk of damage from a flood is much greater after a river's flow patterns have been altered by concrete banks and dams as such development interferes with the river's natural ability to accomodate rising water levels. Such plans once again place the flora and fauna of the region in jeopardy and also promise to spoil one of the few remaining opportunities in Europe to see a river run its natural course without any interference from civilization.

Since 1994, Jacek and his organization, Gaia, have sought to engage the general public through a comprehensive public education and outreach program. As part of this campaign, Jacek has developed a training program for volunteers who are interested in becoming more involved in the conservation efforts. He relies mainly upon young people to educate their neighbors in local communities about why it is critical to preserve the river. To date, the program has recruited over 400 volunteers for the project and at any given time, there are at least 60 people involved in the public education campaigns. To support his growing volunteer network, Jacek has established a network of Gaia chapters in more than 19 Polish communities. These chapters serve as a focal point for all activities concerning the preservation of the river. Jacek publishes a regular newsletter called Vistula Fax that provides up-to-date information on the efforts to save the Vistula River and helps to unite the chapters of volunteers into a cohesive national movement.

Jacek has received considerable media attention for his efforts. Over 100 newspaper articles have been written and several television programs have been produced on Jacek's work. One of his most heavily publicized events has been the national Wisla Feast, which is held every June 19th-21st. This festival celebrates the river and its importance in Polish history and life and can be found in over 50 different communities every year.

Currently, Jacek is developing a comprehensive plan for eco-tourism in the Vistula river basin as an alternative to the more traditional forms of economic development supported by large Polish business interests. Recognizing that such a plan will not succeed without the help of many different segments of Polish society, Jacek is soliciting the help of local governments, business leaders, and other citizen's organizations. His hope is to develop a series of tourist activities around the river that include hiking, biking, canoeing and camping. He believes–quite rightly–that the local community will benefit from such activities because there will be an increase in demand for service-oriented businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and souvenir shops.

Jacek is also lobbying the national government to declare several areas along the Vistula as protected national parks and to do away with the development plans. He has been attempting to do so mainly through personal meetings between himself and members of Parliament.

As part of his efforts to spread his ideas at the national and regional level, Jacek has produced a book entitled How to Save a River. This book offers detailed instructions and advice on how to establish a national conservation campaign based upon Jacek's own experiences. He has also become quite active in the Central European River Network, which works in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, and Romania. This organization, which is concerned with the protection of the region's rivers, offers a perfect forum through which Jacek has been able to share his ideas with other environmentalists throughout the region.

Jacek attributes his social activism to his parents who taught him the importance and value of helping others and standing up for what you believe. When asked about his inspiration for innovation, Jacek is fond of telling the story of an innovative ancestor who according to family legend invented the steam engine at around the same time as did James Watt.

At the age of thirteen, Jacek started a street theater troupe that helped raise money for his favorite soccer team. When Jacek was in his 20's, he established the Society for Polish-India Relations and edited an independent "Free Tibet" newsletter. This particular task was very difficult under the previous regime. In addition to these social and political activities, Jacek also started his own small business that produced toys.