The layout of the plant floors is as follows: in the bottom box (400-1000 m n.p.m.) natural mixed forest with beech, spruce, fir, sycamore and pine trees were replaced by spruce monocultures. In the upper rack (do 1250 m n.p.m.) there are compact spruce forests with an admixture of sycamore and rowan. Blueberry grows in their undergrowth, heather and grass- and herbal plants. Above the forests there is the mountain pine layer (do 1500 m n.p.m.), in which the admixtures are rowan, Carpathian birch and Silesian willow. Raised bogs were formed in the even places. On the top floor – alpine – rock vegetation dominates: mosses, stands, grass. Among the growing species there are endemics and glacial relics.
The fauna of the Karkonosze Mountains is not rich. The deer are the largest mammals here, roe deer and moufflons. Of the birds, the most numerous are those associated with the forest, hazelnuts among them, hawkers, ring thrushes and brushes.
From the Middle Ages, the Karkonosze Mountains were penetrated by mineral seekers, drwali, shepherds and folk herbalists (called lab technicians). The natural environment of the mountains has also suffered significantly due to intense tourist traffic. There were Karkonosze (and they probably still are) the most visited range of the Sudetes, starting from the 19th century. Animals gave way to tourists; wolves and lynxes were exterminated, wildcats and bears.
The mindlessness of some tourists is not the domain of the present day. W XIX w. Violet rock algae enjoyed great popularity (pour. TrentepholiaJolittus/L/Wallr.), which, when exposed to heat, gave off a scent similar to that of violets. To get that desired fragrance, tourists fled avalanches of "violet stones"” from the slopes of Śnieżka, and algae were sold as souvenirs in mountain pine boxes.
Created in 1880 r. The Giant Mountains Society (RGV) began efforts to protect nature. With time, the commissioner for nature protection and the Mountain Guard were appointed (mountain rescue service), several nature reserves have been established (Śnieżne Kotły was the first to be protected).
After World War II, Polish scientists made efforts to comprehensively protect outstanding natural values, landscape and culture of the Giant Mountains. W 1959 r. the Karkonosze National Park was established, which together with its counterpart on the Czech side, created in 1963 r. (Krkonoś National Park) was declared a Transboundary Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO's Man and Biosphere”(M&B). W 2005 r. KPN has become a part of the NATURA areas 2000, and the Karkonosze peat bogs were included in the RAMSAR group – especially valuable water and peatland areas.
The entire Giant Mountains (and especially the Main Ridge) fee for a network of hiking trails, also trans-European. After the entry of Poland and the Czech Republic, EU members, problems with crossing the border have disappeared into the Schengen group, but keep in mind, that in the areas of national parks, movement is subject to park regulations, which must be strictly adhered to.
The largest towns and convenient starting points in the Giant Mountains are: Szklarska Poręba and Karpacz on the Polish side, and Harrachov and Spindleruv Mlyn in the Czech Republic.