The variability of the mean annual air temperature and precipitation totals in three periods: 1848–2010, 1951–2010 and 1981–2010 was investigated in the large Warta River basin, being the area with lowest rainfall in Poland. For the purposes of research, nine meteorological stations with the longest measurement series were selected. Air temperature increase in this river basin was similar than in neighbouring countries. In the last 30 years this trend kept increasing. The precipitation in the whole studied period was slightly increasing in the northern part of the Warta River basin, but decreasing in the southern part. The mean annual precipitation totals in the catchment area did not change visible. In the period 1981–2010, the precipitation totals show a small increase in the winter and spring and a decrease in summer. A negative influence of this climate change was not visible in the Warta River discharge. The main objectives of this study were the collection long-term records of air temperature and precipitation in the Warta River basin, and the statistical analysis of climate variability.

This work presents rules and results of classifications of hydromorphological status of watercourses used presently in Europe. The Water Framework Directive introduced an obligation to monitor hydromorphological elements of rivers, which include hydrological regime, river continuity and bed morphology. European standards require somewhat different quality indicators and the way of their assessment for such investigations. Classification of status and ecological potential shall include categories and types of rivers, however, the methods existing so far do not provide such a distinction. Assessment of much differentiated features and attributes, as well as the requirement of presenting the outcome in EQR form, within limits from zero to one, cause that all the studied parameters, which are very diverse, must be conveyed to numerical form. The MHR method takes into account the above conditions and proposes a classification which includes limit values for five classes of status and four classes of ecological potential. It assumes limit values of classes lowering from natural watercourses through heavily modified to artificial.

This paper presents the key principles of the new Polish methodology for hydromorphological river surveys which is consistent with the provisions of the Water Framework Directive. This method proposes to investigate only the main watercourse of the water body. The assessment is based on cartographic maps, satellite images and the existing databases. Field surveys are limited to selected stretches of the water body. The classification of the river's ecological status and ecological potential is based on a hierarchical system comprising four elements: hydrological regime, river continuity, channel morphology and floodplain. They are evaluated in view of features characterized by selected attributes. The method is the same for natural and heavily modified water bodies, while a simplified methodology is used to investigate artificial water bodies. It does not account for differences in abiotic type, landscape or size of the catchment area. The results are presented in abridged and field protocols. The attributes are evaluated on a five-point grading scale or through a descriptive approach which supports the calculation of ecological quality ratios for quality elements, hierarchical system elements and the water body. The usefulness of the proposed method has been tested on 11 pilot water bodies. The presented approach enables to perform hydromorphological surveys of Polish rivers by 2015, as required under the Water Framework Directive.

The aim of the study was to find out the awareness and readiness of Poznań residents to implement the Zero Waste (ZW) idea in the city. Residents' knowledge of the hazards of municipal waste generation and their familiarity with and degree of adherence to ZW principles were investigated. The research was carried out through a questionnaire survey. The article is a form of answering whether the inhabitants of a large city in Poland are ready to implement the ZW idea. The research presents the level of preparation (readiness) of the inhabitants of Poznań and the conditions enabling the implementation of ZW in the city. The results were statistically analysed. Conclusions indicate a significant readiness of the respondents to implement the ZW idea. A preliminary concept of reducing municipal waste by promoting ZW in the city was indicated. This is important because Poznań is currently rebuilding its municipal waste management.

In the context of five significantly different landscape parks in Wielkopolska (30,413 ha) 243 peatlands have been presented in terms of their characteristics, stratigraphy, change in means of utilisation and localisation. Thus trends in the change of peatland utilisation means in the period 1970–2016 were established and the resulting negative effects indicated. For this purpose the process of peatland protection established was analysed in the context of management plans carried out for both the protection of landscape parks and Natura 2000 sites within their territory. The above management plans, however, do not provide information as to localisation data, stratigraphy and to what purpose peatlands are used, which in all cover 2,690 ha – 4.2% of parks’ area. Most often this means there are no formal applications for their protection. This could be said to be a biproduct of a lack of discussion as to the major threat to the environment presented by the increasing disappearance of peatlands – a result of the mineralisation and moorsh process of peat soils. To a large extent the former has resulted from a lack of scientific expertise in respect to soils, peats and land reclamation in research teams preparing landscape management plans.