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Active protection of the Ca這wanie Peatland
The Ca這wanie Peatland is one of the biggest peatlands of the Mazovian District (1200 ha). It is a soligenous fen located at the edge of the Vistula river valley in the Mazowiecki and Chojnowski Landscape Park. Ca這wanie has been initially accepted as part of the Natura 2000 Network. It meets the criteria of both the Wild Birds and Habitats Directives. It lies within the area of one of the most valuable ecological corridors in Europe - the Middle Vistula River Valley. It is also a European Important Bird Area and an Important Site for Nature Conservation in the Corine Network.
Salix rosmarinifolia
phot. K. Brzezi雟ka |
The fen is cut through by a chain of several dunes which add to the aesthetic value of the landscape and are archeological sites of European importance.
A very high natural value of the place is determined by:
- a diversity of plant communities - litter meadows Molinion and xerotherme meadows on sand dunes ( both described in the Habitats Directive as endangered in Europe), a mosaic of osier-beds, sedge-moss fens, sedge-beds, reed-beds and alder swamp forests;
- rich flora - almost 700 species of vascular plants including 33 under legal protection e.g. Betula humilis - a glacial relic listed in the Polish Red Data Book of Plants.
- rich fauna - over 145 species of birds e.g. corncrake Crex crex, curlew Numenius arquata, hen harrier Circus cyaneus, Montagu's harrier Circus pygargus, little bittern Ixobrychus minutus, lesser spotted eagle Aquila pomarina, short-eared owl Asio flammeus, bluethroat Luscinia svecica, little owl Athene noctua, black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa, common redshank Tringa totanus, common snipe Gallinago gallinago, hoopoe Upupa epops, crane Grus grus, etc. The buterflyes that exist here among other invertibrates ( Lycaena helle, Maculinea teleius, Maculinea alcon) are threatened with extinction in Europe.
At present the natural values of the peatland are in danger because of :
- the continuation of drainage
- giving up the extensive use of meadows
- throwing rubbish to turf-pits
- extracting sand from dunes
- plans of commercial development
Since the current status of the peatland (landscape park) does not ensure adequate protection, it is suggested that the most valuable fragments should be under active protection. It refers to the following sites:
- Sedge-moss communities Scheuchzerio-Caricetea more...
- litter meadows Molinietum medioeuropaeum more...
- Betula humilis sites more...
- dune ecosystems with adjacent wetlands more...
The main aim of the project is to work out the principles of active protection and preserve the most valuable habitats and plant communities of the whole Ca這wanie Peatland. It is suggested that prospectively the active protection programme should comprise fragments of all the ecological plant systems contributing to the natural values of the Ca這wanie Peatland: segde-moss fens, litter meadows, tall-sedge communities, reed-beds, Calthion wet meadows, xerothermic meadows on sand dunes and peripheral alder swamp forest. The priority is to protect and restore sedge-moss fens and litter meadows as ecosystems with particularly high concentrations of rare and endangered species plants and animals and to restore the Betula humilis sites - the species facing here extinction but at the same time standing a chance of effective preservation.
Apart from that the "Save Wetlands" Association wants to popularise the subject of environmental protection among local communities and develop an integrated concept of land use for the whole peatland.
Partial objectives of the project are presented below, alltogether with a short characteristic of the areas they concern:
- Maintaining and Restoring sedge-moss habitats more...
- Protection and re-establishing of Betula humilis sites more...
- Maintaining and protecting litter meadows more...
- Maintaining biodiversity of dune ecosystems and their surroundings more...
- Popularising the protection of the environment among local people more...
- Integrated management of the whole peatland more...
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