Woniesc reservoir (932)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Zbiornik Woniesc
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.9833, Longitude: 16.7333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 100
Area of KBA (km2): 29.32227
Protected area coverage (%): 99.86
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A storage reservoir (777 ha) on the Samica river, connected by the Wonieœæ channel to the Obra river. The reservoir comprises five former lakes (Drzeczkowskie, Witos³awskie, Wojnowskie, Jezierzyckie, Wonieœæ), connected by a narrow channel (c.13 km long, 200-1,300 m wide), with meadows between them. A dam and sluice divide the upper part of the reservoir, where aquatic vegetation is well-developed, from the lower, where such vegetation is very localized. Adjacent there are fish-ponds, forests, meadows and cultivated fields. The reservoir stores water for agriculture and fire-fighting.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The globally threatened Aythya nyroca has not bred here since 1995, but the habitat remains and it is believed there is a good chance that it could breed here again, therefore criterion B2 is still applied. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (one pair). Other notable breeding species include Anas strepera (22 pairs) and Chlidonias niger (20-60 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (10%) | fisheries/aquaculture (75%) | forestry (5%) | hunting | tourism/recreation (15%) | water management (40%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 2 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 35 | |
| Grassland | 24 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 21 | |
| Forest | 18 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Birds are disturbed by fisheries, hunting, tourism and angling, and are also threatened by rapid changes in water-level.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Only in the future |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Only in the future |