The government approved the creation of the Lower Oder Valley National Park

It’s now certain – after more than 20 years, Poland will establish a new national park. The Council of Ministers has approved the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment on the creation of the Lower Oder Valley National Park. The area, covering nearly 4,000 hectares, is expected to be established later this year.

A long road and the final stretch

The adoption of the draft law is only the beginning of the process to establish the 24th Polish national park. For this to happen, the law must be passed by the Sejm and then reviewed by the Senate. After possible amendments, it should be adopted again by the Sejm. The final step is the signature of the President of Poland and its publication in the Journal of Laws.

Currently, other ministries and institutions have the opportunity to submit their comments. This has already been done by, among others, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The applicants must address serious issues, such as the Ministry of Finance and Economy’s statement that funding for the park cannot be included in the 2026 budget plan, or the Ministry of National Defense’s request to allow defense and security tasks to be carried out in the park area.

Another issue raising concerns is the competence of State Water Holding (Wody Polskie) in the protected area. The Ministry of Infrastructure wants inland waters excluded from protection so that navigation and flood protection can continue.

Submissions and responses to the concerns raised can be followed on the Government Legislation Center’s website.

Lower Oder Valley National Park – what do we already know?

The approved draft law prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment includes details about the size of the new protected area. It will cover 3,856 hectares along the border with Germany. This is more than 2,000 hectares less than originally planned – the national park boundaries were initially supposed to match those of the current landscape park.

The Lower Oder Valley National Park will cover parts of the municipalities of Kołbaskowo, Widuchowa, Szczecin, and Gryfino. The park headquarters is to be located in Gryfino. Within the protected area, 237 bird species have been recorded (including 129 breeding species) and more than 460 plant species, many of them rare and endangered, such as water caltrop, floating fern, and waterwheel plant.

The preliminary date for establishing the Lower Oder Valley National Park, according to the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, is November 1, 2025. The draft law also specifies the method and level of its financing. The funds will come entirely from the state budget. According to PAP, more than 19 million PLN will be allocated for this purpose already in 2026.

Nature conservation and the interests of residents and entrepreneurs. How to reconcile different perspectives?

The decision to establish the Lower Oder Valley National Park may naturally raise concerns among residents or those involved in navigation, fishing, or fish farming. Questions arise about how the new protected area will affect their activities: whether navigation and use of natural resources will still be possible, and whether the creation of the park will hinder economic and tourism development.

The authors of the draft law aim to balance the different positions and needs. The Ministry of Climate and Environment declares that the park’s boundaries were drawn to best protect nature while still allowing sustainable use of its resources. The new protected area is also expected to contribute to tourism development and the creation of additional jobs.

The Ministry emphasizes that navigation around the park will remain unrestricted, including on the Oder’s tributaries: the Regalica and the Western Oder. Within the park, amateur fishing and so-called cultural fishery and fishing (using traditional methods for the needs of local residents) will be permitted.

To minimize the risk of conflicts with residents and businesses, the Ministry of Climate and Environment agreed on the park’s boundaries with the city council of Szczecin, the municipal councils of Widuchowa and Kołbaskowo, the county councils of Police and Gryfino, as well as with the regional assembly of West Pomerania. A letter of intent was also signed with representatives of the “Regalica” Fishing Cooperative and the Polish Angling Association in Szczecin. According to the Ministry, this document is meant to safeguard the interests of anglers and fishermen.