Roztocze National Park was created on May 10, 1974.
Roztocze National Park is located in the central-eastern part of Poland, in Lublin province, covering the most valuable natural areas of Roztocze Tomaszów. Park itself ranges to the area of 8.483 ha, of which forests cover 8.102 ha (95.5%). Strict protection zone covers 1,029.22 ha (12.1%), active protection zone 7,241.13 ha (85.4%), while 212.48 ha stays under landscape protection (2.5%).
Forest ecosystems are the dominant type of ecosystem here. They include beech, fir and hornbeam woodland communities – so to say – preserved best in Roztocze. The diversity of biocenosis is complemented with non-forest land ecosystems along with aquatic ecosystems, especially rivers and bogs.
The world of plants has more than 1,100 species, among which vascular plants come with the approx. 950 species., bryophytes - approx. 200 species, and algae - approx. 50 species. Among the vascular plants are taxa representing seven geographical elements, including typical Central European species (livestock onion and Corydalis empty), boreal species (bearberry, midfielder umbelliferous and twinflower), including peat (sedge, white sedge, scheuchzeria and all species of sundew). The most characteristic elements of RNP’s flora are mountain plants, e.g. .: cardamine glanduligera, aconitum variegatum, wild garlic, blechnum spicant, cystopteris ringlet and polystichum braunii. It is worthy mentioning steppe plant as well (dwarf cherry, Siberian bellflower, ground virginsbower) and the Mediterranean (Teucrium chamaedrys,).
Fauna RNP is rich with over 3630 species (3300 invertebrates and approx. 340 vertebrates). The park is a particular refuge (unique to both region and the whole country)to many species of snails – e.g. Cochlodina, but also to leeches, beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, as well as European mantis.
Among most peculiarities vertebrates of the RNP we distinguish Ukrainian brook lamprey, European bullhead, northern crested newt, agile frog, smooth snake, smooth, European pond turtle, black stork, honey buzzard, lesser spotted eagle, Ural owl, boreal owl, pygmy owl, woodpecker, white-backed woodpecker, firecrest, red-breasted flycatcher, collared flycatcher, Barbastelle, greater mouse-eared bat, Bechstein's bat, ddible dormouse, forest dormouse, lynx and wolf.
Roztocze National Park’s heraldic animal is a Polish pony, whose ancestor was the tarpan - an extinct species of a forest horse. Polish pony is consequently breed within the Park’s breeding program.
One of main threats to the natural environment of RNP is anthropopressure (Human impact on the environment): the development of a distributed architecture and energy infrastructure in the areas of important ecological corridors linking RNP with other ecologically valuable areas. Another threat is also an increasing traffic of vehicles and intensification of agriculture (including land consolidation and the cultivation of industrial plants). The main protective measures in the context of human pressure, is the legal sanctioning the existence of ecological corridors and protect them from investment planning.
Hiking and cycling routes are most common in the RNP. Visitors can make use of over 64.5 kilometers of hiking trails, educational paths, and cycling routes. Roztocze National Park is visited by approx. 120 thousand people each year. Both Education and Museum Centre is located in the historic part of Zwierzyniec. "In the land of fir, beech and tarpan" is a permanent multimedia exhibition of that very facility. RNP Education and Museum Centre conduct a variety of classes, providing with a knowledge on natural environment of a national park. Classes are being conducted not only inside the very facility, but also on the educational paths - as a field classes. The possibility of having contact with the beauty of the nature itself, gives one more than just a mere knowledge. It is a deep - both emotional and spiritual experience that can shape the one’s very approach and understanding of the world we live in.
The terrain base of educational tourism consists of the Chamber of Forest in Florianka and Gajówka Krzywe, which is by the way the headquarter of Roztoczańska Nature’s Security Horse Squad.
Find out more on:
www.roztoczanskipn.pl
