The first meeting of the Polish SELINA Community of Practice took place on 12 January 2024, in Poznań. Hosted by the Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) Department of Integrated Geography, which is involved in the SELINA project, the meeting was attended by 16 invited guests representing public institutions, governmental organisations, NGOs, and the SME sector.

The meeting in Poznań was held in two parts. The first part began with participant introductions to foster better acquaintance. The Polish SELINA team then introduced the project, presenting its main goals and directions of activities, and familiarising the audience with the ideas for establishing the CoP.

The second part of the meeting was more of a workshop. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to identify “Seeds of Change.” Based on the results, a discussion was held on the limitations and possibilities of implementing activities and programmes that affect biodiversity and the quality of ecosystems. During the discussion, participants identified the main barriers and problems, such as restrictions resulting from financial regulations, formal procedures, and the siloed operation of state offices and institutions. Additionally, participants explored what could be the seeds of change that would trigger transformative change in the implementation of biodiversity, ecosystem condition, and ecosystem services issues into public and private policies.

The participants' involvement and lively discussion demonstrated the need to develop the CoP as a valuable platform for further cooperation and the exchange of ideas and experiences.