2025-11-07 20:05
publication
2025-11-07 20:05
President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the bill on the creation of the Lower Oder Valley National Park, the president's office announced on Friday. The act was to allow for the creation of the first national park in Poland in 24 years in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The vetoed act assumed that the Lower Oder National Park was to cover an area of over 3.8 thousand square meters. ha of naturally valuable areas in the lower reaches of the Oder in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The first national park in 24 years was to be established on November 11 this year.
In the justification for the decision, the President indicated that: the act raises concerns about blocking the region's economic developmentin which the Odra River is a key source of investment potential. He also pointed to the lack of analyzes of the effects on infrastructure investments in the region, even though – according to the president – for some municipalities, the creation of the park may mean real financial losses.
According to Nawrocki, the act was supposed to introduce significant restrictions for residents, but there were no broad consultations, expert debates and a local referendum.
The president's decision was criticized by, among others, Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska, who said on website the ministry, together with local governments, started work on an alternative solution.
“Instead of the state, natural heritage and timeless values, Mr. President today stood for party interests. (…) You have ruined almost two years of work of local communities and local governments, and exposed Miedzyodrze to degradation,” wrote the head of the Ministry of Climate and Environment. She added that she didn't think the bill had “any real downside.”
(PAP)
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