The water quality of the rivers in the eastern border zone is unsatisfactory. Data from the State Environmental Protection Inspectorate show that in 1991 the quality of water in the larger rivers did not meet the statutory norms for physico-chemical and biological criteria. Waters of Quality Class III were only noted along short sections (3.7% of the Bug river, 3.2% of the Wieprz, 11.7% of the Wislok, 14% of the Elk, and 36% of the Pasleka). The best Class I water was restricted to the Biebrza and some lengths of the Suprasl. The high degree of pollution of the Bug is of particular concern since its drainage basin should meet the requirements of a protected drainage basin.

Familiarity with the flow and boundaries of a drainage basin is necessary in order to recognize the geographical environment, especially for cases involving spatial planning, environmental protection, and ecology. Figure 1 schematically presents the flow of surface water in the eastern border zone. One can see that this zone lies within the drainage basins of two seas: the Baltic Sea (with drainage via the Vistula or Neman Rivers, or the Vistula Lagoon) and the Black Sea (with drainage via the Dnieper, Dniester or Danube).

In order to distinguish transboundary ecological areas, analysis of physico-geographical features of the environment may be combined with an assessment of the ecological situation. In this way, the rank of transboundary ecological areas, dominant categories of protection, and areas of conflict may be identified.

In the zone under analysis, the following major transboundary ecological areas should be included:

• Bieszczady Mountains, the border area between Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine;

• Roztocze area, on the border region between Poland and Ukraine;

• The drainage basin of the Bug River, on the borders of Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus;

• Bialowieza Primeval Forest, on the border between Poland and Belarus;

• Mazurian/Lithuanian Lakeland, by the border between Poland and Lithuania;

• Vistual Lagoon, on the border area between Poland and the Kaliningrad District of the Russian Federation; and

• Romincka Forest, on the border area between Poland and the Kaliningrad District of the Russian Federation.

The spatial aspects of these transboundary ecological areas have been categorized on the supranational, national, regional, and local scales.

• The supranational (international) scale has units which include natural links of European rank. These are:

Front Matter (R1-R6)

Overview (1-12)

1 General Issues of Conservation of Protected Areas (13-54)

2 Biodiversity Conservation in the Participating Countries (55-106)

3 Biosphere Reserves and Natural Conditions in Central European Border Regions (107-164)

4 Wildlife and Tourist Management in Transboundary Protected Areas (165-218)

5 Monitoring and Measuring the Diversity of Life in Border Areas (219-258)

Appendix A: Basic Principles and Research Agenda (259-264)

Appendix B: Workshop Agenda (265-270)

Appendix C: List of Participants (271-279)