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National Parks in Poland constitute the biggest form of nature protection.
The area of a national park, may not be smaller than 1,000 ha.
The park protects an area distinctive for its unique scientific, natural, cultural
and educational values. A national park protects the entire nature and specific
landscape features within its borders. The main task of a national park is to study
and preserve the unity of natural systems of the area, as well as to restore the
disturbed or extinct elements of a native nature. The park is open to visitors,
but nature conservation is its main objective and has priority over all other activities.
For each of the national parks, the mandate is defined in the statutes of the park,
issued by the Minister of Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Forestry.
There are 23 national parks in Poland with total area of ca. 315,000 ha, which cover
approximately 1 per cent of the country's area. Polish National Parks are exceptional
in Europe for their range of wildlife, their size and varying geographical interest.
- The nature found in mountain ranges is protected by the following parks:
- Babiogorski NP (MaB),
- Bieszczadzki NP (MaB, CED),
- Gorczanski NP,
- Karkonoski NP (MaB),
- Magurski NP
- Pieninski NP,
- Stolowe Mountains NP,
- Swietokrzyski NP and
- Tatrzanski NP (MaB, CED).
- The nature of highlands is found in parks:
- Ojcowski NP and
- Roztoczanski NP.
- Polish lowlands, forests, lakes, rivers and wetlands have remained in their natural shape in the following parks:
- Bialowieski NP (WH, MaB, CED),
- Biebrzanski NP (RC, CED),
- Borow Tucholskich NP,
- Drawienski NP,
- Kampinoski NP,
- Narwianski NP,
- Poleski NP,
- Ujscie Warty NP (RC),
- Wielkopolski NP and
- Wigierski NP (RC).
- Finally, the parks situated on the Baltic coast are:
- Slowinski NP (MaB, RC, CED) and
- Wolinski NP.
- In the process of preparation there are three national parks in eastern Poland:
- Jurajski NP,
- Mazurski NP and
- Turnicki NP.
The location of all Polish national parks is presented on a clickable map.
You can choose a particular national park from a fact sheet or menu.
Beside implementation of the main goal - nature conservation - the parks carry out scientific,
didactic and tourist activities. The latter enables all interested people to experience the direct contact with
unique nature. This privilege, however, implies the obligation of conforming to every rule in the area of a national
park. There are about 2,000 km of nature trails in the national parks. Apart from the most common activity,
hiking, the areas of national parks are also accessible for skiing, mountain climbing and canoeing. Bicycle roads
have also been delimited recently. Educational and didactic activity is carried out through preparation of "educational
trails". New forms of environmental education and related activities are being developed and tested there as well.
In addition to national parks, Poland also has landscape parks, areas of protected landscape, and natural
reserves. Among them landscape parks deserve a special attention. These areas include examples of
outstanding landscape boasting aesthetic, historical and cultural values.
Today, science and technology give immense opportunities of altering the Polish natural environment, and also
are threatening it with destruction, although, people firmly believe in the bright future. The national parks, which
protect the most precious and invaluable areas of the country with their vast richness of flora and fauna, create
a real chance to preserve this wonderful nature for generations to come. We must believe that people are still
wise enough to let it survive.
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