The Pomeranian Voivodeship consists of 33% protected areas. These include:

• 2 National Parks (Słowiński National Park and the Tuchola Forest, being one of the largest pine forest regions in Poland),
• 9 landscape parks,
• More than 100 nature reserves,
• Several dozens of protected landscape areas,
• Many monuments of nature.

The Natura 2000 region embraces territories of the utmost importance for preserving endangered or providing protection for very rare plant and animal species and natural habitats of particular natural value for the whole of Europe. It is only in the Pomeranian Voivodeship that we can spot e.g., Kentish plover, Sandwich Tern or Arctic Tern.

There are also other attractions awaiting visitors of this region. Żuławy (the Vistula fens) tempts with a narrow-gauge railroad and a rotating railway bridge in Rybina. The picturesque Żuławy Loop deserves special attention as well.

Water is a true wealth here.

Seekers of natural treasures will not be disappointed. In this region they will easily discover the so-called pearls of Pomerania, i.e. unique lobelia lakes in the Pomeranian and Kashubian Lake District as well as the Tuchola Forest. Their total number exceeds 18 thousand lakes, and as many as 10 of which can boast an area of over 500 ha.

High-quality groundwaters are water-bearing systems with a large extent of distribution and not requiring any complex treatment. They allow the supply of water necessary for municipal and industrial purposes.

Clean Air - Pomerania is ON YES!

Authorities of the Pomeranian Voivodeship are making every effort to ensure that clean air can be breathed in its territory. The results are "visible with the naked eye", and surely felt. And they literally are!

According to CSO data from 2018, the Pomeranian Voivodeship ranked 12th in terms of gaseous pollution and 13th in terms of dust pollution. These results are improving year by year, which is possible, among other things, thanks to the reduction of emissions attributable to industrial energy and the construction of flue gas desulphurization installations, guaranteeing a decrease in the volume of sulphur dioxide emissions.

It is also worth mentioning that in 2018, the plants considered particularly onerous located in the Pomeranian region emitted a total of 18.4 thousand tons of particulate and gaseous pollutants (excluding carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere, i.e., 15.5%, less than in 2017.

The main source of air pollution in the Pomeranian Voivodeship is anthropogenic emissions, mostly related to fuel combustion processes for energy purposes and technological processes.

The air quality is also adversely impacted by road, rail, water, and air transport and the municipal and household sector. Even though it was listed in last place, it occupies a place on the podium in this infamous discipline. This sector is to a large extent responsible for the excessive concentrations of PM10 and PM 2.5 particulate matter and benzo(a)pyrene recorded within the province. According to the official website https://www.pomorskie.eu/, at least 48 percent of the residents of Pomerania are exposed to breathing air with high concentrations of the latter.

Smog? Here they say STOP

Within the voivodeship, a number of initiatives are being taken to improve environmental conditions. These are both subsidies and an implementation of systemic solutions. One of them is the so-called anti-smog resolution (uchwały antysmogowe), in force in Pomerania.

They assume that city residents, who are able to connect to the district heating or gas network, are not allowed to use solid fuel boilers. Since the beginning of 2020, the use of the worst quality fuels, i.e., coal sludge, has been prohibited, and by 2026 further heating sources will have been phased out.  

Loans to finance the thermomodernization of buildings.

The replacement of outdated and inefficient heating sources is just the beginning. In order to combat noxious emissions into the atmosphere and prevent heat loss, special emphasis is laid on the proper thermomodernization of buildings. The target is not only properties owned by private owners, but also public buildings.

The local government of the voivodship offers preferential loans to inhabitants of the region for the purpose of thermomodernization of multi-family residential buildings.

- This may involve replacement of window and door frames in common parts of buildings, heating installation conversions or fitting of water meters and heat cost allocators. It may also be the installation of a completely new RES system, solar collectors and photovoltaic panels, a new lighting control and energy management system - enumerates Mieczysław Struk, Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.

Already 75 entities are benefitting from the support, and the amount of the loans totals nearly 29 million PLN.  

Pomerania supports entrepreneurs committed to protecting the environment.

Not only residents can count on financial help to implement ecological initiatives. The local council of the province is offering a system of support to companies eager to act in harmony with nature. With them in mind two programs have been launched:

• Loan for innovation - it is granted for research and development work in the field of technologies that contribute to saving raw materials and energy. The loans have already been used by 10 Pomeranian companies, and their total value is nearly 26.7 million PLN.
• Profiled loan - it is directed to small and medium-sized enterprises that implement energy and other resource-saving solutions in their activities. Such support, with a total value of over PLN 20 million, has so far been granted to 38 companies.

Summary

The Pomeranian region is characterized by a wide variety of nature and landscape. The area under protection constitutes 33% of the land and next to gems of Pomerania (the unique Lobelia lakes) it is one of the greatest riches of the region.

According to the CSO data from 2018, the Pomeranian Voivodeship ranked 12th in terms of gaseous pollution and 13th in terms of dust pollution, both of which are steadily improving. However, this does not imply that the authorities and residents can rest on their laurels. The municipal and household sector is the largest emitter of PM10 particulate matter and benzo(a)pyrene in the region. At least 48 percent of Pomeranian residents are exposed to detrimental effects of breathing air with high concentrations of the latter.

Anti-smog resolutions and loans allocated for thermal modernization of private and public buildings and innovative and ecological solutions are intended to help improve the quality of air.

Author: TOGETAIR Editors