Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity in Poland Matt Altman-Suchocki

The biodiversity of life is intrinsically valuable. From an evolutionary standpoint, diversification of organisms and ecosystems allows life to strive onwards no matter what natural or man-made problems may arise. For humans, biodiversity has inevitably led a prominent role in shaping our cultural diversity. Every nation, every culture, every society, has been influenced by the overall realm of biodiversity in some way. In many instances, a loss in biodiversity can lead to a loss of cultural diversity. However, sometimes cultural diversity is lost prior to the loss of biodiversity. One primary example of this is the European nation of Poland. Both Polands biodiversity and cultural diversity have been in a downward trend over the last century or so. As mentioned above, Polands decline in cultural diversity has occurred before its decline in biodiversity. Typically, this trend happens in reverse; a loss of cultural diversity usually follows a loss in biodiversity. However, Poland bucks this trend. The primary cause for Polands loss of cultural diversity can be linked to World War II. According to nationsencyclopedia.com, Before World War II, over 30% of the people living within the boundaries of Poland were non-Poles. As a result of World War II, and of the boundary changes and population transfers that followed, Poland today is a predominantly homogenous state Today, almost 98% of Polands population is made up of Poles. Germans, Ukrainians, and Belarussians make up the the majority of the final 2%, in what is an obvious minority. Ethnic migration into various states after World War II segregated many ethnic groups into closedboxes confined by political boundaries. Poland was a primary victim of this process. Additionally, Poland is approximately 89% Roman Catholic. This statistic also conveys the

realities behind Polands loss of cultural variation. Thus, Poland has lost much of its cultural diversity, although its own unique, Polish traditions have remained strong and ever-present. Not only has Poland suffered many casualties to its cultural diversity over the last century, it has also been a constant victim of the loss of biodiversity. Similar to many Western, industrialized nations, Polands technological evolution over the past few decades, including processes of industrialization and globalization, have not been beneficial to Polands natural biodiversity. Like many other nations attempting to go green, Poland has attempted to save its biodiversity. For example, an article on clientearth.org claims that Polands political policies on national parks are preventing any real progress from happening. The article states, ...current rules giving effective veto to each local authority over the creation and expansion of such parks are stagnating the process. No new national parks have been created in Poland for ten years and the last park expanded was in 2004. Additionally, Poland made worldwide news in 2012 for failing to fulfill its obligations to protect biodiversity and conserve old vegetable seed varieties, (europolitics.info, 2012). Poland was sanctioned by the European Commission to appear before the EU Court of Justice for this offense. All in all, Poland has been a country stricken by negative trends in both cultural diversity and biodiversity. Unlike many places, Polands path down these trends has been unique; Poland began to lose its cultural diversity before it began to lose its biodiversity. World War II was primarily responsible for Poland becoming a homogenous state, (nationsencyclopedia.com). Forces of industrialization and globalization have caused a loss in biodiversity as well. Recent events have shown that Poland is not currently handling its loss of biodiversity in an effective manner. Political action is needed to cure the stagnant trends in both cultural diversity and biodiversity in Poland.

References

1) Biodiversity: Poland referred to court. http://www.europolitics.info/sectorialpolicies/biodiversity-poland-referred-to-court-art324407-11.htmlPublished: Jan. 26th, 2012. Retrieved: Nov. 12th, 2013.

2) Case Study on Environmental Auditing of Biodiversity (Poland). http://www.environmentalauditing.org.cn/english/EN/articleshow_ArtID_1088.htm. Retrieved: Nov. 13th, 2013.

3) National Park Policies failing to protect Polands biodiversity. http://www.clientearth.org/news/press-releases/national-park-policies-1179. Published: Jan. 21st, 2011. Retrieved: Nov. 12th, 2013.

4) Poland- Ethnic Groups. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Europe/Poland-ETHNICGROUPS.html. Retrieved: Nov.13th, 2013.

5) Poland: Overview. http://www.cbd.int/countries/?country=pl. Retrieved: Nov. 13th, 2013.