The Gdańsk Road and Green Areas Authority has initiated a tender for the 'Forest of Memory,' an innovative ecological burial site where biodegradable urns will be placed under trees instead of traditional tombstones.
Ecological Burial Concept
Deceased will be buried in biodegradable urns under the roots of trees like oaks and pines, with no traditional monuments allowed.
Space Constraints
The project addresses the fact that Łostowicki Cemetery is currently 95% occupied for standard burials.
Tender Timeline
Contractors have until March 30, 2026, to submit bids for the construction and preparation of the wooded site.
The Gdańsk Road and Green Areas Authority launched a public tender on March 13, 2026, for the creation of a Forest of Memory at the Łostowicki Cemetery, offering residents an ecological alternative to traditional burial. The project will designate a separate, green-filled section of the cemetery exclusively for burials using biodegradable urns placed beneath trees. The tender deadline is set for March 30, 2026. The initiative marks a significant shift in burial practice for the city, moving away from conventional grave markers toward a naturalistic, wooded setting.
The Forest of Memory will contain no traditional tombstones, plaques, or crosses. Instead, cremated remains will be interred directly under trees, with species such as oaks, pines, and lindens planned for the site. The concept centers on returning the deceased to the natural environment in the most minimal way possible, with the landscape itself serving as the memorial. The absence of conventional grave infrastructure distinguishes this section sharply from the rest of the cemetery. Families choosing this option will forgo permanent individual markers in favor of a shared, living space.
The Łostowicki Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Gdańsk, covering more than 50 hectares in the southern part of the city, in the Piekliska area spanning the administrative districts of Ujeścisko-Łostowice and Siedlce. It is currently the only cemetery in Gdańsk open for ongoing burials. Ecological burial practices, including the use of biodegradable urns and natural grave sites without permanent markers, have gained traction across Europe in recent decades as an alternative to conventional interment and cremation with traditional memorials.
The tender process will determine which contractor will design and establish the dedicated Forest of Memory zone within the existing cemetery grounds. Once completed, the section is intended to provide Gdańsk residents with a formally recognized option for ecological burial within the city's municipal cemetery infrastructure. The project reflects growing demand for environmentally oriented end-of-life options in urban settings. No confirmed information is available on the projected capacity of the Forest of Memory section or the expected timeline for its opening to the public.