Poland is gearing up to establish its first national park in more than 20 years, according to Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Mikołaj Dorożała. In an interview with gazeta.pl,

Dorożała disclosed the ministry's plans to inaugurate the new national park in 2024, with specific details yet to be revealed. "I hope to create a new national park in Poland in 2024," stated Dorożała, indicating that further information will be disclosed in the upcoming months.

Paulina Hennig-Kloska, the head of the Ministry of the Environment, mentioned during a recent conference that Turnicki National Park is under consideration for potential inclusion in the list of new parks. However, she clarified that the decision-making stage had not been reached, emphasizing the importance of involving various stakeholders in the decision-making process.

Poland presently boasts 23 national parks, with the most recent addition being Warta Mouth National Park in 2001. The establishment of a new national park is viewed as a crucial measure in safeguarding Poland's natural heritage and biodiversity.

Dorożała also discussed the forthcoming "round table" discussions on the future of Poland's forests, scheduled for late February or early March. These discussions, initiated by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, aim to engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including foresters, timber industry representatives, local governments, residents, NGOs, and environmental activists. Photo by Jan Jerszyński, Wikimedia commons.