The region’s natural environment, though it has been reshaped by human activities for centuries, retained much of its quality. The lay of the land has not been significantly altered, the industrial pollution has never been a serious threat and its levels have been diminishing recently.
The fauna of the region is more modest and less diverse than in other regions, though even here one may come upon a habitat of some rare species or a hunting ground, attractive to those practicing this sport. Worth mentioning are the rebuilt beaver habitats on the lakes and rivers of Wielkopolska.
The authorities of the Wielkopolska Region put much effort into the protection of valuable wildlife sites. In the region you may visit 2 National Parks, 12 scenic parks, about 100 wildlife reserves and see over 3,000 nature monuments, such as the famous Rogalin Oaks. Large wooded areas and their surroundings act as ideal recreational sites. The Wielkopolska National Park is a protected territory with an area of 7.584 ha, located 15 km south of Poznań in the vicinity of Luboń, Mosina and Stęszew. It includes various forms of postglacial landscape features, such as finger lakes, the most beautiful of which is said to be the Góreckie Lake with its Castle Island. The park is crossed by 2 didactic trails, 5 hiking trails (81 km) and 22 km of biking trails. It is also worthwhile to visit the Museum-Didactic Centre of the Wielkopolska National Park in Jeziory, which houses the Park’s headquarters. On the borderline between the Lubuskie, Zachodniopomorskie and Wielkopolska regions, there is the Drawieński National Park. It was established to protect the river valleys and lakes in the centre of a large woodland complex. The Park’s most valuable elements are its natural rivers with clear waters, spawning grounds of trout, bull trout and grayling, and habitats of beavers and otters. The park is crossed by the fortifications of the Pomorski Bulwark and an attractive canoeing trail on the river Drawa.
Scenic parks are areas protected for their natural, cultural and historical value. Some of the Wielkopolska region’s scenic parks encompass scenic riverside terrains and lake districts. In the Sierakowski Scenic Park, visitors may enjoy a well-developed network of marked hiking trails, numerous holiday centres and park-and-manor complexes. Other similar areas in Wielkopolska, worth recommendation, include the Powidzki, Nadwarciański, Rogaliński and the Dezydery Chłapowski Scenic Parks, as well as the Zielonka Primeval Forest.
