In the face of imminent challenges such as climate change and increasing urban pressures, national parks in Poland play an irreplaceable role in protecting biodiversity and landscapes. However, recent studies conducted by the Supreme Audit Office (SAC) between 2019 and 2023 indicate serious problems in the management of these valuable lands. The biggest of these is the inadequate level of funding from the state budget, which prevents the effective implementation of even basic conservation measures.
Key findings of the NIK audit
The NIK assessed whether biodiversity and the natural and scenic qualities of the parks are effectively protected in the selected 14 national parks. It turned out that the lack of adequate funding prevented the implementation of many planned initiatives. In nine of the fourteen parks inspected, the budget was not even enough to cover salaries, forcing the abandonment of key conservation activities.
The problem of insufficient funds for protection
Funding for national parks comes mainly from the state budget, own revenues and other sources. The dominance of salary expenses, which are not even fully covered, makes conservation efforts dependent on raising additional funds, which are, however, uncertain and subject to complicated procedures. According to the NIK, such a situation significantly hinders implementation and conservation planning, as park directors also confirm.
The director of the Narew National Park explained that. revenues generated annually by the park must be used, among other things. For repairs to tourist infrastructure, ongoing operating costs of the park, performance of conservation tasks. More funding in the park’s budget would allow it to carry out conservation tasks on an ongoing basis without having to apply for funding from external sources, the availability of which varies, at different times.
The problem of missing protection plans
The audit revealed that half of the parks do not have mandatory protection plans, which should have been established by November 15, 2018. Only four of the sixteen national parks that submitted their projects on time met this requirement. Most of the protection measures are based on temporary orders, which is only a makeshift solution and is no substitute for a comprehensive protection strategy.
This state of affairs means that national parks do not have clearly defined goals and activities to systematically protect and preserve natural habitats. Temporary orders cannot replace comprehensive and long-term conservation strategies that take into account the specifics of each national park and its unique needs. In addition, without such plans, it is more difficult to obtain adequate funding and support for conservation efforts.
Discrepancies in data – the problem of boundaries and areas
The NIK also noted inconsistencies between the reported and actual acreage of national parks, which can lead to errors in land use planning and land management. Such inaccuracies hinder effective management and are a source of conflicts of interest, and can also affect the level of park funding, as many conservation programs and funds are allocated based on the size of the protected area. In addition, ambiguities in boundaries can lead to legal disputes with neighboring landowners.
The size of the area indicated in the ordinances for 10 of the 14 parks audited was not correct, as it differed from the data on the actual area of these protected areas. In the case of only two audited units, the data posted in the Central Register of Nature Conservation Forms represented the actual area and boundary of these parks.
The need for immediate legislative and administrative action
In view of the audit’s findings, the NIK is calling for urgent legislative and administrative action. He recommends speeding up the process of establishing new protection plans, improving the maintenance of the park registry, and providing adequate funding to carry out the parks’ statutory tasks.
NIK points out the need for due care in protecting natural resources. It is the duty of public authorities to protect the environment, prevent the negative health effects of its degradation and ensure environmental safety, Art. 68 para. 4 and Art. 74 par. 1 and 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. It will not be possible to fulfill this obligation without guaranteeing sufficient funding for tasks that ensure the preservation of natural resources. This is all the more important because the areas of national parks are the highest form of protection in the Polish system of nature protection and include in their care the most valuable natural areas.
Risk of over-commercialization
The NIK drew attention to the inadequate level of subsidies from the state budget to parks already in a 2013 audit. Managing national parks without adequate funding not only limits conservation opportunities, but also forces parks to seek additional sources of revenue, which can lead to excessive commercialization of these valuable areas. Such a move could undermine the main goals of conservation, turning parks into profit-driven ventures at the expense of ecological values.
In light of the audit’s findings, Poland’s national parks face serious challenges that require immediate attention and action by legislators and the administration. Securing adequate funding and establishing long-term conservation plans are key to preserving these priceless natural areas.