Borecka forest (956)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Puszcza Borecka
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.1167, Longitude: 22.1333
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 133 to 223
Area of KBA (km2): 189.69663
Protected area coverage (%): 99.32
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A forest complex, with most stands being broadleaved or mixed. The terrain is varied and is drained by small rivers, mainly of the E³k catchment (a tributary of the Biebrza) with only a small part drained by the Go³dap (part of the Wielkie Jeziora Mazurskie catchment). There are many water-bodies and a few larger lakes, with a lake complex in the south-eastern part of the site, where the largest lake is £aŸno. Hollows are occupied by wet forest or open swamps. There are large areas of spruce Picea forest and, on drier ground, of lime Tilia and hornbeam Carpinus. Fragments of remnant natural forest are over 150 years old in some places. Many meadows are scattered within the forest, some of them very wet.
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: A total of 130 species have been recorded breeding or probably breeding. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (two pairs), Crex crex (rare).
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (5%) | forestry (90%) | hunting
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 4 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 6 | |
| Forest | 87 | |
| Grassland | 3 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Tourism/recreation causes disturbance to birds. Intensive tree-felling, and drainage, are also threats.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the past and unlikely to return |