Middle Bug river valley (969)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Dolina Srodkowego Bugu
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.3333, Longitude: 23.6333
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 128 to 179
Area of KBA (km2): 294.62552
Protected area coverage (%): 93.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A 340 km long stretch of the Bug river valley along the border with Ukraine and Belarus, from Go³êbie village (where the Bug enters Poland) to the mouth of the Krzna tributary. The main tributaries flowing into the Bug along this stretch are (largest first) the Huczwa, We³nianka, Udal, Uherka, W³odawka and Hanna. This stretch is 2-3 km wide, and includes the Husynne storage reservoir on the Udal tributary. The channel of the Bug is deeply incised and has a natural character (no dredging or regulating work has been undertaken), while the relatively flat valley is covered by meadows with variably wet soils, small areas of degraded riverside forest of alder Alnus and willow Salix scrub, and arable land. Oxbow lakes are common. Husynne reservoir (112 ha, 2.5 m deep) is half-overgrown with reedbeds Phragmites and water-soldier Pistia.
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: Other breeding species include Actitis hypoleucos and Alcedo atthis.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (75%) | forestry (5%) | hunting | nature conservation and research (30%) | not utilised (5%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 34 | |
| Grassland | 51 | |
| Other | 3 | |
| Forest | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 2 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The enlargement of border crossings in five places poses a threat˜some important species no longer breed in these places. Since 1997 a project by IUCN and the Lublin Ornithological Society has investigated status, function and threats in the Bug valley, in cooperation with Ukraine on the right bank.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | 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 | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Utility & service lines | Ongoing |