Abstract:
In the article, the authors present selected examples of protection and access to karst areas, mostly on examples from the Silesian Voivodeship, the area of which is administered by the authority of the Complex of Landscape Parks of the Silesian Voivodeship (CLPSV). The Eagles’ Nests Landscape Park (ENLP) is one of the oldest landscape parks in Poland. The diverse natural, landscape and cultural of environment of the karst area of the Krakow – Częstochowa Upland is protected in this landscape park. In the article the authors will focus on the main internal and external threats to the karst area on the example of ENLP and the methods of their elimination. ENLP has a planning document, a protection plan, which introduces the division of the park area into areas and sub-divisions for protection activities, functional zones and sub-zones. A total of 6 areas with varying degrees of protection and access were determined. Various activities are carried out to protect one of the main karst areas in Poland. In addition to conservation nature protection specified in planning documents, an important element of this protection are activities of active nature protection, as well as preventive, promotional and educational activities. Cooperation between various institutions in Poland and with representatives of other institutions dealing with the protection of karst areas in Europe is also important.