Oswin site (957)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Ostoja Oswin
Central coordinates: Latitude: 54.3000, Longitude: 21.5833
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 64 to 80
Area of KBA (km2): 22.16465
Protected area coverage (%): 99.68
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site encompasses the nutrient-rich lake and adjoining wet forest and open areas with many swamps. Most of the previously pastured areas are no longer used, and have reverted to swamps occupied by young alder Alnus wood or sedge meadows. Open water is not extensive, and the greater part of the lake is covered by reedbeds Phragmites. There are seven islands (all forested). The Oœwinka river (tributary of the £yna) rises from the lake.
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: Haliaeetus albicilla (one pair), Crex crex (four pairs). A total of 126 species have been recorded.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (40%) | forestry (12%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (40%) | not utilised (10%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 15 | |
| Forest | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 40 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Following drainage operations in 1970 and intensive abstraction of water from the Oœwinka river outside the Nature Reserve, the lake-level fell by c.1 m. This caused extensive vegetational changes, and reduced bird numbers. To raise the water-level once more, a dam was built on the Oœwinka river in 1993. Hunting is unsustainable, and tourism/recreation causes disturbance to birds. There is a proposal to expand the Nature Reserve boundary, based on studies in 1996.