Ponds and wetlands around the Tatra Educational Park, why they matter

Ponds and wetlands around us

The ponds located next to, and soon within the grounds of our Tatra Educational Park, are an example of a marshy area, a wetland ecosystem, of exceptional natural value.

Wetlands in Poland and the world

Wetlands in our country cover about 4% of the territory, with most of them located in northern and eastern Poland. Is that a lot? Not really. The world leader in wetland coverage is Finland, where wetlands occupy over 26% of the country’s area.

In Poland we are above the global average, which is just over 3%, but below the European average (over 5%).

Why are wetlands so important?

All kinds of marshes, bogs and peatlands are gigantic water reservoirs. In Poland, peatlands alone store more water than all reservoirs combined!

Bogs and peatlands absorb water like a sponge and release it during droughts, which unfortunately are becoming increasingly common in Poland. Retaining water in peatlands also plays a major role in flood protection, as they act as natural retention basins.

As you can see, marshes are a remedy for all kinds of extreme weather phenomena associated with climate change. What is more, the flora living in marshes contributes to purifying surface waters.

Wetlands as a treasure trove of biodiversity

But marshes are not only a hydrological blessing, they are also a natural treasure. They are habitats for plants and animals with extraordinary biodiversity. It is in wetlands that we find the most rare and protected species, as well as those unique ones, found only in wetland areas.

Caring for wetlands is therefore crucial, and unfortunately the modern world is not kind to them.

Threats to wetlands, past and present

In the past, the main threat was agriculture, commercial forestry, drainage, and the extraction of peat itself, mainly for fuel purposes. Peat is a relatively easy fuel to obtain.

Today, what most threatens wetlands are climate change and changing water conditions, along with agriculture, and here in Podhale increasing development pressure. To build new investments, naturally wetland areas are drained.

Wetlands in our Park

That is why at our Park we take great care of our ponds. Soon, when we build new installations for you, we will lead pathways above the wetlands, so that without harming them, we can make them available for you to admire.