The country of thirty primeval forests

Tourists coming to Poland can enjoy a rest in beautiful and clean forests. Poland has less large forest expanses than, for example, the Scandinavian countries, but it is proud of its natural Białowieska Forest as well as of the well-managed Piska, Knyszyńska and Bory Tucholskie Forests. Polish foresters were busy planting trees on wastelands and introducing deciduous trees into poor pine stands. At present, Poland can boast thirty vast sylvan expanses known as primeval forests. Our forests are dominated by pine stands, and spruce stands prevail in the foothill area. Thanks to the introduction of other species, we have quite a number of picturesque mixed forests. Other tree species include birch, oak, lime, hornbeam, and beech in some regions. Wetlands are overgrown with alder or wet leafy forest with admixture of ash and birch; flooded in spring, such forests are difficult to penetrate and constitute comfortable wildlife habitat.

Forests are the haven for red-deer, roe-deer and wildboar, especially in the regions of Masuria, Pomeranian, and the Carpathian foothills. The carnivore mammals are represented by fox, raccoon dog, pine marten, and such rare species as lynx and wolf. The biggest population of wolf (20 individuals) roam through the Bieszczady Mountains. Many naturalists want to put wolf under total protection. Rare forest bird species are represented by western capercaillie and hazel grouse, and by birds of prey which nest in forest but hunt elsewhere.

More and more of Poland's territory is protected in nature reserves as well as in national and landscape parks. More than half of those parks' area is covered by forests which are rich in undergrowth berries - blueberry, wild strawberry, red bilberry, cranberry - and mushrooms.