The traditions of protection of this area are several dozens years old. I, personally, have been engaged in that for the last 30 years. I cannot help a personal reflection here, because I am anxious about the next years of the Park’s functioning. The source of the anxiety is the growing urbanization pressure on open, unique landscapes of ground moraine and sandr, which have been preserved in the areas farmed within the Park. This pressure is a manifestation of a desire of individuals to take possession of these unique natural resources, the resources which are so valuable nowadays because they have been successfully protected from man’s destructive activities for many years. I only hope that people’s wisdom will allow these exceptional values of the land to be preserved for future generations. The only way to achieve this goal is to accept limitations which would stop carefree taking possession of nature, today, now, immediately.

Czarna Hańcza River. Phot. P. Malczewski

The 15-year existence of the WNP falls in the year in which Poland became a member of the European Union. The membership will make it easier for local people to obtain assistance in solving difficult problems of balanced development, it may encourage people to create their local, high quality tourist product, consisting of unique natural resources and cultural values of Wigry lake surroundings. It is worth quoting here the words of Andrzej Strumillo, an inhabitant of this land: “We owe thanks to the nature of this region (…) for moraine hills over river and lake valleys, for juicy green of the forests, moss and grass, for hospitality of the sky and people”.

The materials which are included in this book sum up only a small part of the 15-year activities of the WNP, indicate our direction in activities for the benefit of protection of the most valuable resources of international signifi-cance, and describe attempt to create an exemplary area in which balanced development is being carried out.

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