Jata Reserve – threats

Jata Reserve is the longest established and one of the six strict nature reserves in the province of Lublin and one of the oldest nature reserves in Poland.

“Jata” nature reserve covering 1,116.94 ha, established in 1933 to preserve a multi-species forest of  natural character with firs (Albies alba) that occur here on the north-eastern boundary of the range of these species. The biggest peculiarities of Jata are magnificent fir forests with admixture of spruces and pines. They cover the mild slopes of the valley of the Krzna Południowa River that starts here.

The natural environment of forests in the Jata Reserve is exposed to harmful factors related to weather events and human activities.

The weather events that can have a negative impact on forest ecosystems include: extremely high or low temperatures, winds, deficiency or excess rainfall, lightning. These factors may cause adverse effects in the forests, leading to lower their biological resistance

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For many years there has been a reduction in total annual precipitation, as well as the shift of the rainy season in spring and late autumn to late summer. This phenomenon affects plant growth because the growing season is often characterized by a deficiency of moisture. The low value of precipitation, coupled with the presence of extremely high temperatures may lead to physiological drought. Excess rainfall can also adversely affect the state forests. This applies mainly to the snow, which lay thick on the branches of trees, can lead to breakage.

In the last few years have seen the adverse event occurring in the spring, which is the rapid rise in temperature in early spring, leading to excessive plant growth, and May's strong cooling, which causes a sudden stop growing. For this reason, considerable damage to the forest because they are shock young buds and leaves, especially oak and ash.
Another threat is rapidly winds that cause the breaking of trees.

Economic development and human activities are the most recent threat to the sustainability of forest ecosystems. The main source of air pollution in the Jata Reserve are industrial plants: plants fertilizers in Puławy and the companies that produce thermal energy.

In addition to the issue of industrial significant impact on air quality have pollution from transport. Threat to forests in the region is related to the issue of harmful substances emitted by the combustion of fuels with the greatest impact of SO2, NO2 and CO. The highest concentration of SO2 present in the cold season.

Dust pollution getting into the atmosphere from various natural sources, and as a result of human activity. The natural sources of dust in the atmosphere include forest fires. Dust related to human activity are formed during combustion, mechanical and chemical processes. The largest amount of particulate matter is formed during the combustion of coal in furnaces during the winter.