How to be a successful activist |

 Malgorzata Górska | Environment | guardian.co.uk

An aerial view of the Rospuda valley. Photograph: Peter Andrews/Reuters

I got involved in Via Baltica campaign in 2002. Little did I know that today, eight years on, it would result in me winning the European category in the Goldman prize, a global environmental award.

The goal was to influence the Polish government to change the route of planned international motorway called Via Baltica between Warsaw and Helsinki, as it would have cut through areas of significant natural value in north-east Poland. Those sites were already protected as national and landscape parks and, after Poland joint European Union in 2004, were included in the European ecological network Natura 2000.

After eight years of campaigning, we achieved success. The government recognised the the legal protection of these nature-rich areas, and decided to change the entire Polish section of Via Baltica route to one that was much less harmful to biodiversity.

But such succsess was not easy or quick. It involved long, hard teamwork.

So what should today's prospective conservation activists consider before they start campaigning?

First, you need to collect good evidence about the importance of the site under threat, the habitats and flora and fauna species to be affected. You need to study the potential threat to them, and you need clear evidence that legislation is being infringed. Then you develop a strategy.

Be aware of potential problems and think clearly about your objectives. Assess all possible ways of achieving these. Be realistic about your resources (personal, technical, financial) and about the time this case may take (some procedures can take years).

Choose your allies strategically and carefully, from other NGOsand scientists to celebrities, journalists and others.

Perhaps above all, be persistent and patient.

The Via Baltica campaign used many different tools of advocacy and communication, and tried to stick to the advice above.

It was carried by a coalition of Polish NGOs - the Polish Society for the Protected of Birds, Polish Green Network and WWF Poland (backed by international partners) - and supported by experts from NGOs and universities. We developed a way of sharing knowledge and experience, sharing workload, agreeing strategy and communicating our message - all with just a core team of 5 people.

Our first achievement came in 2003 when the Bern Convention adopted a strong recommendation that a Strategic Environmental Assessment should be carried out to inform the decision on the motorway's route.

In early 2006, we submitted a complaint to the European commission about very serious concerns that the planned road did not comply with the requirements of EU nature laws. The commission investigated the case and in December 2006 opened legal proceedings against Poland.

When Poland failed to provide a satisfactory response and in February 2007 gave contractors the green light for forest clearance work for two road sections the commission sent Poland a "final written warning". When Poland remained unmoved and construction work continued, the commission referred the case to the European court of justice and asked for an urgent order to stop the damage. An order was made in April 2007 – the first time such an order was made to protect a Natura 2000 site from imminent damage by development. We set a new precedent.

The year of 2007 was, throughout, significant for wide and active support for saving the Rospuda valley, with efforts from society, scientists, media, artists, celebrities and others. Over 150,000 signatures were collected for a petition to the Polish president asking to change the route of the motorway to avoid damage to this unique site.