Oak-hornbeam forests in the Odra valley (934)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Grady Odrzanskie
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.8667, Longitude: 17.4833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 130 to 146
Area of KBA (km2): 200.2118
Protected area coverage (%): 98.28
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises the 70 km stretch of the Odra valley between Narok town (by Opole town) and Wroc³aw city. The valley is forested mainly with hornbeam Carpinus, but there is also some riverine forest. Much of the site is meadows, pastures and fields. There are also numerous streams, oxbow lakes, areas of shallow water and bare silt remaining from former floods, and fish-ponds.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (up to two pairs), Haliaeetus albicilla (two pairs), Crex crex (4-5 pairs).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (50%) | fisheries/aquaculture (10%) | forestry (40%) | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 2 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 44 | |
| Forest | 25 | |
| Grassland | 25 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 4 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The area is intensively drained and exploited.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |