Tuchola Forest (965)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Bory Tucholskie
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.9833, Longitude: 17.8667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 119 to 207
Area of KBA (km2): 3803.04799
Protected area coverage (%): 95.65
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area is part of the great Tuchola `sandr' (outwash plain of glacial origin). The terrain is varied, with elevated plains, extensive hills, many hummocks, valleys and troughs, and is drained by the Brda river and its many tributaries (the largest being the Zbrzyca). Some of the rivers have steep gradients and strong flows. Of 60 lakes in this area, the largest is Charzykowskie lake (1,363 ha), and the deepest is Ostrowite lake (43 m deep). Many are flow-lakes, being part of the Brda river system, and most have low to moderate levels of nutrients. Forests are dominated by pine Pinus. On richer soils there are dry-ground forests of hornbeam Carpinus, birch Betula, beech Fagus and oak Quercus, and near watercourses and reservoirs there is riverside carr and forest of alder Alnus. There are fens, connected with rivers and lakes, as well as (in hollows) raised bogs and transitional mires.
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: An important wintering site for swans Cygnus (all three European species), which also holds 10% of the national population of Pandion haliaetus on passage. A total of 107 species have been recorded breeding; breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (three pairs).
Delineation rationale: 2004: the site area has been expanded from 38,815 ha to 360,000 ha.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (17%) | fisheries/aquaculture (8%) | forestry (57%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (12%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 4 | |
| Grassland | 7 | |
| Shrubland | 1 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 22 | |
| Forest | 66 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Forestry work close to, or in, buffer zones designated for nesting Haliaeetus albicilla, Bubo bubo and Ciconia nigra disturbs these particular species, as does tourism/recreation.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Abstraction of surface water (agricultural use) | 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 |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing |