Geomorphological Heritage of Poland—Diversity, Conservation and Promotion

Geomorphological heritage of Poland includes landforms and landscapes of various origin and age, but also of varying clarity of expression. This variability arises from various geological and climatic controls, as well as from dissimilar timescales of relief evolution in different parts of the country. In the south, where mountains and uplands are located, significant landforms are those reflecting lithological and structural control, including karst, mass movementsMass movement and fluvialFluvial processes. In the most elevated parts of the mountains, an impressive legacy of glacial and periglacialPeriglacial conditions occurs. In the lowland part of Poland, geomorphological heritage is mostly associated with the history of continental glaciation, with subsequent modifications by periglacialPeriglacial, erosional and aeolianAeolian processes. The legal framework for the protection of elements of abiotic nature is defined in the Nature Conservation Law. Protection categories most applicable to geomorphological heritage include national parks, landscape parks, nature reserves, nature monuments and sites of scientific interest. Two UNESCO Global GeoparksUNESCO Global Geopark exist in Poland, with another one aspiring for this designation. A national geopark network, however, is yet to be built and receive solid organizational foundation.