Land relief is an indispensable feature of any land surface. Soil is a biologically active part of the land. Land surface, including soil and relief, is subject to protection which should employ a complex environmental and industrial approach to all aspects of land use. These issues are discussed in a report commissioned by the Ministry of Environmental Protection. The report will be published in further issues of our monthly. The study focuses on forms and level of degradation of land surface, protection of land surface in Polish law and draft legislation.