Investments in the Tatra Mountains at risk? New regulations may block them

Municipalities near the Tatra Mountains are afraid that important investments will suffer, from the modernization of the cable railway to Kasprowy Wierch to the road to Morskie Oko – writes “Dziennik Gazeta Prawna” on Monday.

Tatra communes are warning that changes prepared by the Ministry of Climate and Environment may block investments in the Tatra National Park.

This is a draft major amendment to the Nature Protection Act. It assumes stricter investment rules, which – according to local governments – may block not only new projects, but also the modernization of existing infrastructure. They emphasize that the infrastructure requires constant renovation and maintenance, and new regulations may make this more difficult. In the Chochołowska Valley, for example, it is planned to build a bicycle path to separate bicycle traffic from pedestrians, because it is currently dangerous, it is not known whether it will be possible to implement it – says Andrzej Skupień, starosta of the Tatra Mountains, in an interview with “DGP”. As he emphasizes, many actions taken by local governments do not harm nature, but are necessary for the safe operation of tourist traffic.

According to “DGP”, there is currently a ban on the construction and reconstruction of buildings and technical equipment in national parks. This prohibition is general, but derogations may be obtained in specific cases. Such a derogation is granted by the Minister of Climate and Environment, after consulting the director of the national park.

In the case of activities related to education, culture, tourism, recreation or sport, a derogation may be granted provided that it does not result in a negative impact on the nature of the national park. After the amendment, this will probably be impossible.

The Tatra Convention, representing communes from the Tatra district, criticizes the proposed changes. In his opinion, the regulations will prevent the implementation of new investments in national parks related to educational, cultural, tourist, recreational, sports and religious purposes.

It is important to remember about the need to balance various interests: nature protection, the needs of local communities and the expectations of tourists. We cannot forget that tourists come to such places precisely because of their natural values. If infrastructure is excessively developed at the expense of the environment, it may turn out that what attracts people will begin to disappear – we read in “DGP”. (PAP)

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