Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment Mikołaj Dorożała told a PAP interview that plans to create a new national park will start this year. He noted that one possible site is in the Western Pomeranian Voivodeship, highlighting the idea of protecting the so‑called lower Oder. This concept has attracted attention from ecological groups funded with German money, such as Czas na Odrą, though the ministry’s State Secretary did not mention these ties explicitly.
Poland currently has 23 national parks. The most recent one, Ujście Warty, was established in 2001, and the largest is Biebrza National Park.
The deputy head of the Ministry of Climate and Environment affirmed in the PAP interview that the ministry aims to establish not just one park, but several during the current term.
“We want to realize the first park this year. This would have happened twenty years ago, since the last one was created,” he added.
The discussion around protected areas continues as officials consider future projects and the role of national parks in the country’s conservation strategy.
“The concept of protection of the so‑called Lower Oder”
When asked about possible locations for the new national park, the deputy head of the ministry pointed to the Western Pomeranian Voivodeship as a key area for consideration.
There are places where local authorities actively want to create a national park, which is a strong signal. The Western Pomeranian Voivodeship stands out in this project as a leading candidate. There were also signals about a potential Jurassic National Park in the northern part of the Silesian Voivodeship, discussed as another future possibility.
The deputy emphasized that the creation of new national parks should emerge from broad social dialogue.
Another focus is to develop financial instruments so municipalities can see that having a national park in their area can be economically viable.
The ministry does not seek to impose new parks. Instead, it aims to build them on the consensus of many stakeholders, including local governments, communities, naturalists, scientists, and foresters.
Appeal against forest management plans
A representative from the Ministry of Environmental Protection stated that the ministry is working to enable non‑governmental organizations to challenge forest management plans in court. The European Court of Justice highlighted inconsistencies between Polish regulations and EU rules in this area in 2023. A few years ago, environmental groups unsuccessfully challenged changes to the forest districts’ forest management plans in administrative courts in the Białowieża Forest, where more trees were cut.
The CJEU judgment remains under consideration. Changes to the law are being discussed with the General Directorate of Forestry Management and will be consulted. It should be possible to appeal the forest management plan, though the exact scope is still to be determined.
A forest management plan is a primary document for forest districts. It describes the forest’s condition and outlines objectives, tasks, and methods for management. It is prepared roughly every ten years under the Forest Act.
As discussions continue about the Oder project, some observers note that opponents in neighboring countries may have different views. The debate about protecting the river and its surroundings continues to be a point of public interest, with various groups weighing in on the potential benefits and consequences of designating new protected areas.