Threats to nature in Polish National Parks

Abstract

National Parks with their most unaffected nature and strongest biodiversity are the most important links, regardless of the methodology of delineation and prioritisation of such areas. Detailed studies have been completed for the following National Parks: Biebrza, Narew, Świętokrzyski, Ojców, Karkonosze, Bory Tucholskie and Table Mountains, and more are in the pipeline for: Roztocze and Wolin. National Parks are dominated by forests and most are found in former timber production forests. The geodesic parameters of the parks' borders (length and actual shape) as well as the type of neighbouring areas have a major impact on the effectiveness of nature protection in national parks. A lot of examples of good cross-border cooperation could be quoted, eg. between Poland and Czechia (the Karkonosze mountains) or Slovakia and Poland (border national parks in the Carpathians)