Forms of nature protection occurring on artificial water reservoirs in Poland

In Europe, alongside the preservation of cultural heritage, environmental protection is becoming increasingly important, especially in the context of the growing climate crisis and the progressive degradation of ecosystems.Nature is a common national and international good that requires effective protective measures.One example of a systemic solution for nature conservation is the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, established on the basis of European Union directives.The network aims to preserve valuable and endangered natural habitats and species of flora and fauna that are crucial for the preservation of biodiversity on a continental scale.Despite the widespread belief that civilisation's development generates pressure on the natural environment and disrupts the ecological balance, the potential for positive human intervention is also increasingly being emphasised.Technological progress and economic changes can enable the revitalisation of degraded areas and the creation of new habitats conducive to the restoration of functioning ecosystems.In light of the above, the aim of this article is to analyse Polish areas included in the Natura 2000 network that have been designated on artificial water reservoirs or in their immediate vicinity.