TPN warns Poles: “There are serious consequences for such behavior”
Tourists in Tatra National Park are crossing yet another border. This time, Poles were caught destroying natural rocks.
The Tatra National Park employees are noticing more and more cases of vandalism on the trails. It seems that Poles have not stopped at hanging “love locks” on mountain ranges. Leaving mementos in the form of inscriptions and graffiti on natural rocks is equally popular. The park authorities are warning tourists of the punishment that may befall them for destroying mountain nature.
Poles destroy trails in TPN
Not all tourists care about protecting nature. Some commit acts of vandalism even in the most beautiful places in Poland, or in areas that are closely monitored. The TPN authorities intervened out of concern for the future of mountain trails after they discovered the growing popularity of leaving inscriptions and graffiti on mountain trails. The damage that has occurred is very difficult to repair and requires additional time and resources. “Removing it is a process that requires taking tools to the mountains and laborious, manual rubbing off of the paint. Often, it is no longer removable. Moreover, by working in this way, we unfortunately irreversibly destroy the vegetation on the rocks, and the use of chemicals is excluded due to the risk of environmental pollution,” we read in the appeal published on Facebook.
Harsh penalties for graffiti in the mountains
What are the consequences for leaving signs on mountain trails? According to the Tatra National Park, violators can face fines of up to PLN 500, or even a court case. Although detecting the perpetrators may be difficult, it is not impossible. “There is always a risk that such actions will be noticed by the watchful eye of a forester, a camera trap or other tourists,” the park authorities inform. “We come to the mountains to admire their natural beauty, not traces of paint and markers. We appeal, do not sign on the rocks!” the guards add.