Działalność Oddziału Świętokrzyskiego PIG-PIB w zakresie geologii środowiskowej, ochrony przyrody nieożywionej oraz edukacji geologicznej

Abstract

Activity of the Holy Cross Mountains Branch of the Polish Geological Institute-NRI in the field of environmental geology, protection of inanimate nature and geological education.A b s t r a c t. The Holy Cross Mts. and their vicinities is a unique area on the geological map of Europe since rocks of all Phanerozoic systems, including the Cambrian to Quaternary, are exposed there. The variable rock types provide great cognitive and educational opportunities, but also stimulate the exploitation of various types of minerals. On the one hand, mining activities contributed to the recognition and better exposure of rocks, but on the other hand, they often threaten the natural environment and become burdensome for the inhabitants. The study of the balance between environmental protection and human mining activity is carried out by environmental geology, which is an important part of the activity in the Holy Cross Mts. Branch of the Polish Geological Institute (PGI), where various tasks in this field have been carried out for over half a century. The care for protection and promotion of the geological heritage of the Holy Cross Mts has been an important task of geologists working in the Kielce Branch of the PGI throughout its over 80-year history. It is manifested in the legal protection of the most interesting geological areas and geosites, and the promotion of geological knowledge in wide public opinion. The geological education in the Holy Cross Mts. plays a special role because the inanimate nature is a very valuable element of natural environment that distinguishes the Kielce region from other regions of Poland.