Rezerwaty biosfery na wschodniej granicy Polski i Unii Europejskiej

The author introduces the UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves, their multifunctional structure and diversified goals they should realize; the same philosophy is proposed by the new PAN-European Ecological Network [PEEN]). Special attention is devoted to Transborder Biosphere Reserves connecting the parts of valuable natural areas divided by state borders. This kind of fragmentation of natural landscapes and ecosystems cause serious disintegration of local populations of plants and animals; different approach to the management of landscapes and ecosystems divided by the frontiers can destroy the natural pattern of waters and chemicals circulation. Polish National MAB Committee builds the chain of Transborder Biosphere Reserves on our eastern frontier which is the EU border since May 2004. Going from the South we have: - the already functioning Trilateral Biosphere Reserve Eastern Carpathians (Poland, Slovakia and Ukraine); - then next will be Roztocze Biosphere Reserve (Poland, Ukraine), - then there are three national Biosphere Reserves of Polesie Region, which meet in the valley of the border River Bug (Polish West Polesie Biosphere Reserve, Bielarussian Pribushskoe Polesie Biosphere Reserve and Ukrainian Shatski Biosphere Reserve). The first meeting of International Steering Committee was already held in Warsaw in November 2004 and merger of all three Reserves is soon expected; - the next are two halves of Białowieża Forest, both have the status of National Parks/Biosphere Reserves/ Sites of World Heritage. In 2004 Application for enlargement of the Polish Biosphere Reserve Bialowieza was submitted to UNESCO, the decision is expected in 2005 and we plan the aggregations of both, Bielarussian and Polish parts into one Transborder Biosphere Reserve; -the last, most northern Trilateral Reserve (Lithuania/Poland/Russia, Kaliningrad Region), is at the early stage of preliminary discussions. The modern management of the boundary areas should mobilise local communities for cooperation in the common care of the reserves.