ROLE AND MEANING OF AFFORESTATION POLICY IN PROCESS OF RURAL AREAS CREATION

The study characterized the new action of afforestation of agricultural land in RDP 2014-2020, which are depicted in the background of previous programming periods. It is a long-term activity because afforestation of agricultural land was implemented in the RDP 2004-2006 and RDP 2007-2013. The RDP 2004-2006 afforestation action was foreseen to cover 47.0 thousand. ha, in fact, it was made on 39.7 thousand. ha (84.5%), which represented 0.22% of agricultural land. On the afforestation of agricultural land there was provided financial support of ? 91.7 million, including an EU contribution at 73.3 million euro (80%). In fact financial assistance was made in the amount of 384.5 million zł (96 million euro), realizing the proposals submitted by 28.5 thousand. beneficiaries. On average, per application it accounted for 13.5 thous. zł. In the next financial perspective 2007-2013 RDP for action related to afforestation there was planned to spend more than 2.0 billion zł (513.5 million euros), while payment execution was at the level of 553.6 million zł (26.9%). In the RDP 2014-2020 the rate of payments related to afforestation has been set at 300.9 million euros, including 191.4 million (63.63%) from the EAFRD and 108.7 million euros (36.37%) from the state budget. Comparing to the total amount of support that is provided on the RDP for 2014-2020 of EUR 13 513.3 million, financial instruments for afforestation and the creation of green areas represent 2.2%.