Poland - Country Profile

Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Poland’s biodiversity is among the richest in Europe. This is a reflection of both favorable natural conditions (location at the centre of the continent, lack of natural barriers to the east and west, transitional climate, diverse geological structure and relief), and an influence of human activity that has taken a different route to that seen in other European countries (uneven industrialization and urbanization, retention of traditional extensive agriculture over large areas and the extent and historical persistence of forests)... More »

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

The national protected area network of Poland includes 8711 sites covering a total area of 10,175.9 thousand hectares, or 32.5% of the country’s surface area. The network is as follows: 23 national parks on 317,400 ha (1% of Poland); 1395 nature reserves on 165,200 ha (0.5% of Poland); 120 landscape parks on 2,516,900 ha (8% of Poland); 449 protected landscape areas on 7,044,500 ha (22... More »

Percentage of Forest Cover

Forest cover: 9,000,000 hectares or 28.8% of Poland.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Poland’s overriding objective states that all actions taken should preserve the full native wealth of its natural resources and the safeguarding of the continuity and possibilities for development at all levels at which it is organized (within the species, between species, and above the level of species). The four fundamental strategic activities are: the recognition and monitoring of the status of biological diversity and the existing or potential threats; the removal or limitation of current and potential threats to biodiversity; the preservation and/or enhancement of existing elements of biodiversity, and the reinstatement of those that are disappearing; and the integration of actions for biodiversity conservation with emphasis on those of importance in the sectors of economy, public administration and society in general... More »

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Poland states that several national strategies and sectoral plans comprise targets related to the conservation of specific species and sustainable use of biodiversity. For example, there are provisions concerning the necessity for preserving old, traditional varieties of crop plants and livestock animal breeds and extensive forms of farming in a number of documents... More »

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The objective of covering one third of the Polish territory with legal protection has been achieved. However, the national parks and nature reserves (meant specifically for biodiversity conservation) only cover 1.5% of the territory. The protected landscape areas, a rather non-restrictive form of protection, cover 22.5% of the country... More »

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The State supports development of indigenous communities by transferring power to the community, district, and provincial levels which makes it possible for locals to participate directly in making local laws, development and implementation of plans and strategies pertaining to their place of residence. Regional public initiatives are more and more involved in the protection of natural and cultural values of the region and in the search for solutions for making such protection possible... More »

National Contacts

Full details of national contacts »

Convention on Biological Diversity

Dr. Bozena Haczek	CBD Primary NFP, SBSTTA NFP, ICNP ABS NFP
Mr. Zygmunt Krzeminski	GTI NFP
Prof. Dr. Wieslaw Bogdanowicz	GTI NFP
Ms. Ewa Pisarczyk	GSPC NFP
Ms. Malgorzata Jankowska-Rozynska	CHM NFP
Mr. Marek Kajs	Protected Areas NFP

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Agnieszka Dalbiak	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP
Ms. Joanna Rybak	BCH NFP
Michał Giziński	Cartagena Protocol Primary NFP