Poland - Overview

Status and trends of biodiversity, including benefits from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Poland’s biodiversity is one of the richest in Europe, determined by favorable natural conditions – a central geographic location in the continent without natural barriers to the East and West, a transitional climate influenced by oceanic and continental air masses, diverse land relief and hydrography and variable soil substratum... More »

Main pressures on and drivers of change to biodiversity (direct and indirect)

In Poland, the main threat to biodiversity is anthropocentric, but with indirect threats such as habitat transformation and habitat loss causing more pressure on biodiversity than direct threats. Very rare habitats, such as salt marshes, and their biodiversity, are under pressure from being overgrown by plants of rush association or eliminated by economic development, while most endangered are those species living in small, often relic populations near large cities and industrial sites... More »

Implementation of the NBSAP

An updated version of the NBSAP was adopted in 2007, with an action plan for the 2007-2013 period. Aside from an overarching goal to preserve biodiversity in conjunction with Poland’s socio-economic needs and 8 strategic goals, the updated NBSAP also includes 77 operational objectives spread out between the country’s different sectors... More »

Actions taken to achieve the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The most significant progress has been in air protection in Poland. Emissions of the main pollutants have been in decline. Particulate matter emission has been successfully reduced by about three-quarters, due to commercial power engineering that decreased the burden by more than eightfold between 1990 and 2008. Following a voluntary agreement, Poland reduced SO2 emission to half of the limit granted by the Second Sulphur Protocol by developing and implementing domestic technologies and techniques and purchasing licenses for complimentary solutions... More »

Support mechanisms for national implementation (legislation, funding, capacity-building, coordination, mainstreaming, etc.)

Various legislative acts have been adopted in Poland for the conservation of biodiversity. These include the Acts on Nature Conservation, Water Law, Environmental Protection Law, Genetically Modified Organisms, Plant and Animal Protection, Farmland and Forestland, Forests, Hunting Law, Inland Fisheries, and on Sea Areas... More »

Mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing implementation

Supervision over implementation of the National Strategy is entrusted to the Steering Committee, consisting of the representatives of all stakeholders. Additionally, the effectiveness of the implementation of the NBSAP will be subjected to periodic assessments and cyclical meetings with the participation of stakeholders... More »