How much nature do we have left in the Silesian Voivodeship?

Abstract

Nature is our greatest treasure, our life support system, our great ally in the era of climate change. The Silesian Voivodeship has experienced exceptional pressure from man; human economic activity has resulted in the degradation of the natural environment. Despite the above, the region remains diverse in terms of nature and landscape, rich in natural values ​​that are unique on a national and European scale. 9 out of 10 forms of nature protection are represented in the Silesian Voivodeship. Nature, especially wild nature, is essential to us to preserve the world as we know it and to survive. On a planetary scale, only 14.7% of the land surface and 7.5% of the ocean surface are protected. The world and the European Union intend to protect 30% of land and sea areas by 2030. A good indicator of nature protection in a given country is the percentage of national parks in its area. National Parks in Poland cover only 1.05% of the country's area, while the average for European Union countries is 3.4%. The list of national parks waiting to be created in our country is long. Among the proposals to create 25 new national parks, only one proposal (Jurassic National Park) concerns the Silesian Voivodeship. In the Silesian Voivodeship, 33% of the area is protected, but nature reserves (which reflect the natural diversity of the Silesian Voivodeship and usually apply strict protection) comprise only 66 objects. This is only 0.3% of the voivodeship's area. Meanwhile, the area of ​​reserves in Poland is 0.54%. The lack of national parks in the region and the small area of ​​reserves show how much this region has lost and how much it has paid for the ruthless industrialization of the past.