3 Development and Protection of Water …
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Fig. 3.3 Nature 2000 areas in Poland [own study]
National parks (Fig. 3.4) are defined as protected areas with a surface area no
smaller than 1,000 hectares and characterized by a significant environmental, scientific, social, cultural, and educational value. The importance of national parks and
nature reserves is underscored by the legal framework created to manage these natural
areas. When a national park or nature reserve is created or expanded, this is done
on the basis of the Resolution dated August 21, 1997, which articulates the public
interest in the real estate market [13, with changes]. The reason for creating national
parks is to protect the whole of nature as well as specific landscape characteristics
in a given area. It is also feared that areas surrounding a national park will yield a
strong negative impact upon it. This is why laws are passed to help national parks
by designating a near-park zone around each national park in order to isolate it from
negative impacts in adjacent areas. National parks in Poland cover a total area of
3,167 km
2 .