Hundreds of Polish scientists have signed a letter opposing proposed amendments to the nature protection act, warning of the end of new nature reserves.
Scientists Protest Proposed Changes to Nature Protection Law
Hundreds of scientists are protesting changes to Poland’s nature protection laws, stating the amendments will effectively end the creation of new nature reserves. A letter signed by 404 scientists was sent to the Marshal of the Sejm, Włodzimierz Czarzasty, expressing opposition to the proposed changes.
The scientists argue that the changes, proposed by Polska 2050 and PSL, will create significant administrative barriers to establishing new reserves.
Local Veto Power Over Expert Decisions?
The proposed amendment, submitted to the Sejm in mid-April by PSL-TD and Polska 2050 parliamentary clubs, modifies the procedure for creating and changing the boundaries of nature reserves, increasing the involvement of local communities and enhancing transparency.
A key provision requires agreement from the municipal council before a nature reserve can be established, meaning the regional director of environmental protection cannot independently establish a reserve without the formal consent of the local community’s representative body. The justification states this will give municipalities “real influence over decisions regarding nature protection in their area.”
Risk of Paralysis for Nature Protection
The authors of the letter emphasize that current regulations have very strict criteria for designating an area as a nature reserve, with only a small portion of the country meeting those requirements.
They argue that requiring agreement from local government units would fundamentally transform the decision-making model for nature protection, creating a risk of a de facto veto mechanism that could be exploited by narrow interest groups.
Limited Competence of Expert Bodies
The proposed regulation would also significantly limit the competence of specialized nature protection bodies, particularly Regional Directors of Environmental Protection, who operate based on scientific knowledge and legally defined substantive premises.
Scientists believe the agreement mechanism would subordinate scientific decisions to non-substantive factors.
Concerns Over Fast-Tracked Procedure
The letter also expresses concern over the rapid processing of the bill through a parliamentary initiative, without a full impact assessment or in-depth consultations. The scientists appealed to Marshal Czarzasty to abandon work on the project.
“Silent Consent” Mechanism Included
The Polska 2050 and PSL initiative stipulates that the municipal council’s agreement process will be in the form of a resolution, which the body must adopt within 30 days. If the resolution is not adopted, the agreement will be granted through “silent consent,” which proponents say will simplify the decision-making process.
The Voivode (regional governor) will be able to overturn a resolution refusing consent within 30 days of the municipal council’s decision.