Polish Natura 2000 network consists of 987 sites. The key authorities responsible for the network management are the General Directorate for Environmental Protection and regional directorates for environmental protection. Other important authorities are directors of national parks, maritime offices and forest district offices.

The General Directorate for Environmental Protection supervises the functioning of Natura 2000 sites by keeping the register of data necessary to provide measures for the sites protection. The supervision involves issuing recommendations and guidelines on the protection and functioning of Natura 2000 sites, demanding and determining the range of information on protection and functioning of Natura 2000 sites and controlling the implementation of management plans and conservation measures plans for Natura 2000 sites.

Regional directors for environmental protection coordinate the functioning of Natura 2000 sites within their areas of responsibility and are supervisors for most of the sites.

Moreover, for particular areas the supervision is provided by national park's directors (on the sites which partially or completely cover areas National Park area within their borders) and Maritime Offices directors on sea areas which overlap with Natura 2000 sites.

The division of competences and responsibilities is aimed at taking effective measures and preserving the appropriate status of habitats as well as re-establishing the favourable conservation status of habitats and species within Natura 2000 sites.

 

The key instruments of Natura 2000 sites management are the system of environmental impact assessment and protection planning. Each Natura 2000 site has to have a planning document in the form of a conservation measures plan or a management plan. They are drawn up by the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection, National Park or Maritime Office. Conservation measures plans are issued in the form of regulations prepared by regional directors for environmental protection while management plans are developed by the regulation of the Minister of the Environment.