Biological environment in Poland

1. Pieniny National Park
By Group 3

2. Location
It is a protected area located in the
heart of Pieniny Mountains in the
southernmost part of Poland.
Administratively, the Park lies in the
Lesser Poland Voivodeship on the
border with Slovakia. Its head office is
in Krościenko nad Dunajcem.

3. Trzy Korony SUMMIT

4. The Pieniny mountain chain is divided
into three ranges: Pieniny Spiskie, Małe
Pieniny, and the Pieniny Właściwe
range where the Park is located. The
Park’s area is 23.46 square kilometres,
of which 13.11 km² is forested. One-
third (7.5 km²) is strictly protected.
On the Slovak side of the mountains
there is a parallel park called the
Pieninský národný park.

5. Pieniny Spiskie range

6. History
The idea for the creation of the National Park in
Pieniny came from prof. Władysław Szafer, a
member of the National Commission for the
Preservation of Nature in 1921. In the same year
a private preserve on the area of 75,000 m² was
opened by Stanisław Drohojowski around the ruins
of the Czorsztyn castle. In 1928 the Polish
government made first land purchases and on May
23, 1932 the Ministry of Agriculture created a
“National Park in the Pieniny”, on the area of
7.36 km². After the World War II, the decision
was confirmed by the Oct 30, 1954 bill, which
officially created Pieniny National Park.

7. Climate
In terms of climatic conditions, the
Pieniny mountains differ from
neighbouring ranges and are characterized
by mild climate. The distinct differences
in microclimate between particular areas
are related to variations in Pieniny relief.
These climatic conditions also influence
the biodiversity of flora and fauna in the
region. The north-facing slopes and valley
bottoms are markedly colder and more
humid than the warm and arid
microclimate of south-facing hillsides.

9. Flora
The different forest habitats which do not create a homogeneous
system, are the result of varied and diverse land forms. In Pieniny,
almost no upland forests exist. One of the most striking features of
the Pieniny forest cover is its diversity, which depends on the slopes'
exposures. The northern slopes are predominantly covered by Dentario
glandulosae – communities which favour brown soils as topsoils. The
dominant species here are a combination of both Beech Fagus sylvatica
and Fir Abies alba or just one of them mixed with Spruce Picea abies
and deciduous trees: Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus, Wych Elm Ulmus
glabra, Broad-leaved Lime Tilia platyphyllos.
Steep, south-facing slopes are overgrown by xerothermic Fir and Beech
stands, in which the relative percentage of Fir and Beech trees
depends on the location. The dominant species here are mixed with
European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus, Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus,
Broad-leaved and Small-leaved Limes Tilia, European Ash Fraxinus
excelsior and Wych Elm Ulmus glabra. Many rare and protected species
which are found in the undergrowth, occur throughout the Southern
Carpathians but exist in Poland only in the Pieniny mountains where
they are at their northernmost European extreme: Sedge Carex alba,
rare orchids – Broad Helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium.

10. Rare species
Sedge Carex alba Broad Helleborine Cephalanthera damasonium

11. Fauna
In terms of fauna, the Pieniny Mountains
are the best studied area of Poland. The
large number of species which occur here
reflects the great variety of habitats.
Pieniny NP has about 7,100 species, 25
of which were documented here for the
first time. Species known or thought to
occur in the Park amount to 13,000 –
15,000, constituting almost half the
total known throughout the entire
country of Poland.

12. Invertebrates
Pieniny National Park is home to a wonderful
variety of invertebrate life. So far about 6,800
species are found here. While there have been
many studies of park invertebrates, not enough
information is known to indicate exactly how
many species occur here. Grasslands serve as
excellent habitat for many interesting species. The
easiest to spot are butterflies, e.g. Zygaena,
Large Blues Maculinea. The most valuable and rare
is the Apollo Butterfly. Pieniny meadows provide
ideal sites for a wide variety of insects. Some of
them are very rare and in Poland occur only in
the Pieniny Mountains.

13. Apollo Butterfly

14. Fish and amphibians
In the Pieniny area, the Dunajec river provides
habitat for 17 species of fish. The most
common ones are Chondrostoma nasus,
Common Barbel. Unfortunately, nowadays, the
Dunajec river is not good for salmonids.
There are 10 amphibian species in Pieniny.
Reptiles are represented by the Sand Lizard,
Common Lizard, Slow-Worm, Grass-Snake,
Smooth and Adder.
All the species mentioned above are under
protection in Poland.

15. A slow worm
A common barbel

16. Mammals
Mammals are represented by 61 species. The most numerous
are small rodents of which the most noteworthy is the Herb
Field Mouse.
The Pieniny Mountains are home to 17 species of bats.
Although recognized as an endangered species in Poland, Lesser
Horseshoe Bats are rather common in Pieniny and the largest
colony can be observed in Jaworki.
The wide variety of Pieniny animal life also includes large
mammals. The rarest amongst them is the Wild Cat. The Lynx
is also extremely rare - the Pieniny population is estimated at
just a few individuals. Sightings of Badgers, Weasels, and Foxes
have been reported from the whole Pieniny area. The Dunajec
river valley provides ideal nesting sites for Otters. Wolves can
be seen occasionally in Pieniny when they come from the
neighbouring Gorce mountain range. It is particularly exciting
that traces of visiting Brown Bears have been observed in
Pieniny in recent years. The most common large mammals are
Roe-Deer.

17. A brown bear
An otter
A roe-deer