The methods used for evaluating the state of the environment can be divided into two groups. The first group consists of methods requiring the use of precise and modern measurement equipment. The use of such equipment gives results comparable with those obtained in other European countries which meet the standards of the European Communities. The number of measurements which should be done is limited due to the lack of domestic funds for purchasing equipment and the lack of qualified people to operate it. These limitations are now being quickly eliminated. Better equipment is used to measure pollution in rivers, lakes, air and soils, as well as the content of harmful chemical substances in the bodies of organisms.
These environmental monitoring methods include the evaluation of changes taking place in nature on the basis of satellite images and aerial photographs. In spite of their high costs, such photographs and images are now becoming more easily available in Poland. In many cases, methods are not yet available which allow us to analyze the images and photographs and find on them the information about changes occurring in nature which is so varied and reacts so differently to the activities of man in particular geographical regions.
The second group of methods for monitoring nature are employed in situations where special professional equipment cannot be used and one must evaluate with "one’s own eyes". One cannot use any devices to evaluate how many bears, marmots or hares live in Poland. Somebody has to count them, using the appropriate methods, and then answer the question if the number of animals in each species is changing. Only using such direct methods can we describe the changes of biodiversity on a species level.
There are many new methods of evaluating the changes occurring in nature. Evaluations are done automatically by machines or semi-automatically if the equipment is operated by people. However, it appears that in cases where very complicated devices can be used for monitoring the environment, collecting information is relatively simple. On the other hand, where information must be gathered by man (often highly qualified specialists), the data necessary for evaluating nature is lacking.
While looking through the pages of this publication the reader realizes how true the above mentioned statements are. We know much about the cleanliness (pollution) of our waters and air, degradation of soils and even the state of our forests (forest services carry out relatively simple but large scale observations). On the other hand, we know little or nothing about live resources in nature. We lack information about population sizes of most plant and animal species listed as protected and especially about those which are rare and endangered by extinction. We do not know how many species are endangered by extinction in Poland, it is estimated that there are about 1000. Neither do we know how many species will become extinct before we ever make note of their existence in our country. We do not have enough relevant information about the changes in nature on farmland and meadows. It is difficult to say briefly and precisely how nature in Poland is changing. Particularly, it concerns the changes in biodiversity, that is the feature which is widely discussed by people involved in protection of nature throughout the world.
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