The next several years will be crucial if the network is to be successfully established and consolidated. As of January 2013, it amounted to 6.15 million ha, 20% of Poland’s land area (MoE, 2013), compared with the estimated 7% of forest area under nature protection in 2012.19 Forest accounts for more than half: 3.3 million ha or 36% of the total forest area (Table 4.5) Most forest mammals (except chamois) and birds are found outside national parks. This reinforces the need to speed up implementation of Natura 2000 in forests outside national parks.