FORESTS IN POLAND AND EUROPE Characteristics and management

FORESTS IN THE WORLD The total forest area is about thousand ha. The average forest area in countries around the world (in relation to the land area) is approximately 31%, and per one person on the Earth there is about 0.60 hectare of forest. There are two kinds of forests in the world: Tropical rainforests are of 440 mln ha ( 10,6 % general) Boreal coniferous forests are of 605 mln ha ( 14,6 % general)

The countries with the largest forest area (as a percentage of total forest area of the world) :  Russia (20%)  Brazil (13%)  Canada (8%)  USA (7%)  China (5%)  UE countries (4%) Forest cover (in relation to land area) :  Europe ( without Russia ) ( 32.2 % )  Europe (with Russia) ( 45 % )  Poland ( 29.4 % )  North America ( 33 % )  South America ( 49 % )  Central America ( 38 % )  Africa ( 23 % )  Asia ( 19%)  Oceania ( 23 % )

POLISH CONTRIBUTION TO EUROPEAN FORESTS: EUROPE  In Europe forests cover 158,4 mln ha.  The greatest wooded areas in Europe are in Sweden and Finlanad, the smallest ones in Holand, Denmark, Great Britain and Ukraine  In Western and Central Europe the wooded land constitutes about 80% of the whole surface when in the Eastern part only 44-46%  In the European forests the most efficient coniferous trees such as pine, spruce, fir and larch grow. Coniferous forests constitute 67% of all forests POLAND  In Poland forests cover 9177,2 thousand ha. There are three kinds of forests :  public forests ( owned by the State and municipal authorities )  private forests  National Parks  In Poland, as a consequence of cold, continental climate, there are many coniferous forests  In the south of Poland – in the Tatra Mountains - there are ’Plant floors’ (mixed and coniferous forests)  Since World War II, forest cover in the country has increased from 20.8 % to 29.4 % of the country Summing up, forests cover Poland (in relation to the total land area) similarly to the average forest cover in the world (31%). In terms of ‘forest’ cover Poland ranks as 16th in Europe.

As we can see, Malopolska region in Poland is located in the middle of a national ranking. Here, province forests cover an area of thousand ha or 28.6% of its area. Due to many risks connected with mechanical damage and pests various measures are taken to protect forests. MALOPOLSKA AGAINST POLAND

BOCHNIA AGAINST MALOPOLSKA Bochnia County is the third one in terms of forest land area in Malopolska. It stands for about 18.8 thousand ha. Mainly thanks to the forest near Bochnia- Niepołomicka Wilderness. It is a valuable forest complex of Małopolska, because it is the only remaining piece of the enormous complex extending over several hundred years ago to the east of Krakow. Other forests, near the city are: Las Kolanowski, Rajbrocki, Lipnicki and Wiśnicki.

LANDSCAPE PARK There is the Wiśnicko-lipnicki Scenic Park near Bochnia, which is located in north- east part of Malopolska and covers mainly a fragment of Wiśnickie Foothills.

MAINLY INFORMATION ABOUT PARK Park area is ha, and its boundaries extend along the administrative borders of Nowy Wisnicz and Lipnica Murowana. According to the Nature Conservation Act, the area has been isolated and protected because of the distinctive landscape areas with different types of ecosystems and the unique cultural landscape.

BLUE TRAIL Bike tracks extands from Bochnia, situated on Podkarpacki Foothills, to Wiśnicki Foothills. Through the whole route we can admire picturesqe surrounding of the Wiśnicko-lipnicki Scenic Park.

THROUGH WIŚNICKI FOOTHILLS Inanimate nature reserve " Kamień Grzyb" is located in Połom Duży on the north - eastern shoulder of the Bukowiec Hill. The main attraction of this place is a stone with a height of approx. 7 m, mushroom-shaped. Going further along the blue trail we come across a beautiful view. Rocks called " Kamienie Brodzińskiego " are an interesting, natural tourist attraction.

BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE Sightseeing Wiśnicko- Lipnicki Scenic Park is a great opportunity to spend time with the family or friends in the place, which is surrounded by breathtaking views. If you are kind of romantic person, you will be definitely delighted by beautiful sunset. The nature park is suitable not only for a rest, but also for reinvigorating our body. Because of the high quality of air, it is a good place for asthmatics.

Landscape park is the place where not only are species of plants and animals and their habitat protected, but also cultural landscape. Thanks to such parks nature has guaranteed protection and can still fascinate us. BENEFITS FOR NATURE

NATURAL ENVIRONMENT IN OUR TOWN We don’t have to take long journeys to admire the beauty of Polish forests because in Bochnia there are many green areas which offer the possibility to relax in the wildlife. One of them is "Uzbornia Park” located on a small hill. The dwellers frequently come there with whole families in order to wind down in the fresh air.

BIBLIOGRAPHY krajobrazowy.html krajobrazowy.html Lipnicki_Park_Krajobrazowy Lipnicki_Park_Krajobrazowy

Presentation was made by: Izabela Statek 1B Monika Pietras 1B Aleksandra Augustyn 1B 1 Liceum Ogólnokształcące w Bochni im. Króla Kazimierza Wielkiego Nr zgłoszenia 109