The environmental situation in the upper vistula basin (southern poland)

摘要

This paper provides general information on the upper Vistula basin and its climate, geology, soil, flora and fauna diversity as well as the diversity of land use patterns and industrialization. The environmental problems of this extensive area are also discussed (air pollution, surface and underground water contamination, soil contamination, changes in the land surface relief and the extent of anthropogenic alterations of the vegetation and fauna). It also presents a few examples of environmental problems in the strongly industrialized region of Krakow (forest catchment, retention reservoir, urban environments). The extent of environmental deterioration in the upper Vistula basin is demonstrated based on biological indication methods (sensitive indicators applied: changes in species composition and abundance of lichens; accumulative indicators: concentrations of heavy metals in mosses, sulphur content in the needles of the pine Pinus sylvestris). Activities aimed at improving the condition environmental of the upper Vistula basin are also discussed.