Nature in Poland
18 April 2013 | News story
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Poland’s biodiversity is among the richest in Europe. Its transitional climate which is influenced by oceanic and continental air masses, its favourable geographical position at the centre of the continent with no natural barriers to the east or the west, its varied geological structure, land and hydrographic make-up and soil types make it a good habitat for many plant and animal species. Read the Country Focus on Poland to learn about Polish nature and conservation action.
There is a very good level of knowledge about the biodiversity of Poland. It is estimated that the number of species in the country totals around 63,000, of which 28,000 species are plants and fungi and 35,000 animals (of which around 700 species are vertebrates). There are 485 communities of plants (using the Braun-Blanquet method), which characterizes the entire biodiversity of land, freshwater and marine communities. Around 12 % of them are endemic communities.
Nature in Poland has been negatively affected by human development at varying levels within the country: unevenly spread industrialisation and urbanization coexist with large areas characterised by traditional agriculture and extensive ancient forests (the Białowieza Forest is the best preserved area of primeval forest in Europe).
The Country Focus on Poland presents projects by IUCN Members which aim to protect nature and its diversity. You can read about:
- Creation of a new national park in a beautiful and naturally rich area of Poland at the border with the Ukraine – supported by the Natural Heritage Foundation
- Collection and distribution of data on Invasive Alien Species spreading in Poland by the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences
- Publication of a handbook on how to protect the white storks which often visit the houses of Polish people by the Wildlife Society “Bocian”.
Read the Country Focus here.
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Turnicki National Park
Photo: Radoslaw Michalski
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