Woliński Park Narodowy: A Protected Coastal Landscape of Moraine Hills and River Deltas

The idea of protecting the natural values of Wolin Island took serious shape after the Second World War through the work of Mieczysław Tarchalski, a forester and former partisan commander. Tarchalski prepared the conceptual foundations, the documentation, and the draft regulation for creating a national park, and was expected to become its first director. However, political circumstances following the war prevented him from taking that role.

The park was officially established on 15 March 1960 and initially covered 4,844 hectares of primarily terrestrial terrain. Its first director, Leon Niedzielski, led the park through its formative years until 1972. The original footprint protected the inland moraine landscape and its forests, but the surrounding waters were recognized early on as integral to the area's ecological value.

A defining moment in the park's history came in 1996. By extending its boundaries to include Baltic Sea waters, waters of the Szczecin Lagoon, and the offshore archipelago of small islands, Woliński National Park became the first national park in Poland to formally include marine territory. This expansion transformed it into a protected area combining forest, lake, lagoon, and sea environments under a single management framework, and cemented its recognition as a national park of European importance for bird conservation.

Woliński National Park protects an unusually concentrated mosaic of habitats for an area of its size. Forest covers the great majority of the terrestrial surface, with pine as the dominant species occupying roughly 68 percent of the park's land area, followed by beech and oak. Several of the beech stands, particularly those with closed-canopy structures and rich undergrowth, are among the best-preserved in the region and resemble natural, near-primeval forests.

Along the coast, the slopes of the steep cliffs are draped with dense thickets of sea buckthorn, an emblem of these harsh maritime environments. The beaches themselves support specialized sand-loving plants, while the saline habitats of the Swina delta host a community of approximately 30 halophytic species. The Baltic seabed within the park is home to communities of green, brown, and red macroalgae, while the dunes and outwash plains harbor rare pine-associated flora and isolated populations of protected plants such as the royal fern and several orchid species.

Beyond forests and beaches, the park contains inland lakes, marshy meadows, islands of the Swina delta, and open expanses of the shallow Szczecin Lagoon and Pomeranian Bay. These varying conditions, from dry sand to freshwater lake edges, brackish lagoon shallows, and marine seabed, allow many distinct ecological communities to coexist within walking distance of one another.

The wildlife profile of Woliński National Park is shaped strongly by its position along a major migratory corridor. The park has documented more than 230 bird species, including breeding populations of the white-tailed eagle, the aquatic warbler, the dunlin, and the red-breasted flycatcher. Its wetlands and shallow coastal waters serve as a critical resting and feeding area for waterbirds during both spring and autumn migrations, and the Swina delta is recognized as a bird refuge of European importance.

Among the park's larger and more charismatic fauna, the white-tailed eagle holds an iconic role and is featured in the park's own logo. A reintroduction program for the Eurasian eagle-owl is also underway. The surrounding Baltic waters are inhabited by grey seals and, although rarely seen, harbour porpoises, while the lagoon and rivers support diverse fish communities.

The park is also notable for its invertebrate fauna. Among insects, populations of the stag beetle and the great capricorn beetle are among the most significant, and scientists have described beetle and springtail species new to science from within the park's borders. Together, the birdlife, mammals, and invertebrates give the park a fauna that is unusually rich for such a compact protected area.

Woliński National Park plays a disproportionate role in Polish and European conservation. As the country's first marine national park, established with the 1996 inclusion of Baltic and Szczecin Lagoon waters, it set a precedent that has shaped subsequent coastal protection in Poland. Its wetland and coastal habitats host bird populations whose importance extends well beyond the national level, and the Swina delta is formally designated as a bird refuge of European significance.

Within the park, conservation is organized through a layered system. Seven strict protection areas safeguard the most sensitive zones, including six forest reserves named in honor of distinguished botanists and ecologists, and the Drożkowe Meadows reserve, which protects grassland and meadow habitats. The surrounding buffer zone reinforces protection across a broader landscape and incorporates complementary areas such as the Luniewo nature reserve near Warnowo.

The park is also integrated into the European Natura 2000 network, including both a special area of conservation covering the Oder estuary and Szczecin Lagoon, and a special protection area for birds covering Wolin and the neighboring island of Uznam. Active conservation projects within the park include ongoing efforts to restore the Eurasian eagle-owl as a breeding species in the area.

Woliński National Park is rich in cultural and historical layers that complement its natural value. The most prominent is the early medieval stronghold at Lubin, on the highest point above the Szczecin Lagoon. The site dates from roughly the 10th to 12th centuries and contains the foundations of what is believed to be one of the oldest churches in Pomerania. Active archaeological work is carried out there in summer, and visitors can view exhibitions of early medieval ceramics. A remarkable find from the site was a hoard of more than a hundred Arabic dirhams from 951 AD, a small coin from which can be struck at the site as a souvenir.

The park also preserves a striking piece of 20th-century history. Near Zalesie, the remains of a wartime German V-3 launch bunker and its associated firing positions are preserved as the only such site in Poland, giving visitors a tangible glimpse of the military technology developed during the Second World War.

The cultural landscape of the park is further shaped by the surrounding towns and villages, including Międzyzdroje, which hosts the park's directorate and educational center, and small coastal communities such as Wapnica and Wisełka, where the rhythms of forest work, fishing, and seasonal tourism still influence daily life.

Woliński National Park stands out for combining cliffs, moraine forests, post-glacial lakes, and a dynamic river delta within a single protected boundary. The white-tailed eagle, an emblem of the park since its founding, is also one of its strongest conservation symbols. Among European national parks, it holds a unique place as Poland's first marine national park and a recognized bird refuge.

Woliński National Park has a distinctly seasonal character. Late spring and early summer are favorable for birdwatching, when migratory species return to breed and the delta habitats are most active. The warmer months also offer the best conditions for reaching coastal viewpoints and lake areas, though the cliffs and beaches draw larger numbers of visitors in mid-summer.

Autumn is traditionally a strong season for observing migration, when the Swina delta and the shallow waters of the Pomeranian Bay and Szczecin Lagoon host large numbers of waterbirds. Winter brings quieter conditions and a starkly beautiful dune and cliff landscape, though some inland trails and viewpoints may be less accessible due to weather.

Overall, late spring through early autumn offers the richest combination of landscape, wildlife, and accessibility, while quieter shoulder seasons reward visitors interested primarily in bird migration and natural scenery.