Selected Aspects of the Protection of Biotopes on the Example of the Ojców National Park (Southern Poland)

Abstract

The paper contains a discussion of one of the forms of protection – the biotope protection on the example of Ojców National Park (ONP). In ONP all species occurring within its boundaries are protected as in other national parks. The biggest threat to nature in this park are changes in habitat conditions entailing the changes of the species composition of fauna and flora. Non-forest biotopes are most threatened with extinction and the main factor threatening their values is forest and scrub succession. Active protection of single endangered species conducted in some cases has not brought the expected results. Very positive results were obtained only after the entire biotopes were protected. In case of non-forest communities (mainly xerothermic grasslands and grasslands on rocks) the best form of protection proved to be active protection of biotopes and in case of forests – passive protection, conservation.