Nida Rivar Valley (970)
Poland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Dolina Nidy
Central coordinates: Latitude: 50.5667, Longitude: 20.5000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 190 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 207.91064
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site comprises the stretch of the Nida river valley between the villages of Mostowice and Skowronno Dolne, as well as a wedge of a few square kilometres' area between Umianowice and Skowronno. The valley widens gradually up to 6 km width, to the gorge near the village of Sobowice. The whole of the site is covered by a system of small watercourses, and there are four low hills. There are many oxbow lakes, mires and seasonally flooded areas with aquatic vegetation (e.g. Potamogeton) and reed Phragmites. Amongst the meadows there are areas of wet alder Alnus forest and clumps of willow Salix, while the riversides are lined with trees/scrub of Salix and poplar Populus.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: A total of 125 species have been recorded breeding, including 47 waterbirds.
Habitats
Land use: agriculture (70%) | hunting | not utilised (30%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 30 | |
| Grassland | 60 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats are drainage and dredging/canalization. As a result of this and also of agricultural abandonment, open habitats such as the meadows of wet grassland are reverting to scrub and woodland, which is reducing the value of the site for some key bird species.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Small-holder farming | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Wood & pulp plantations | Small-holder plantations | Only in the future |
| Biological resource use | Gathering terrestrial plants | Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target) | Only in the future |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Subsistence/artisinal aquaculture | 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 |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Persecution/control | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Excess energy | Noise pollution | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Air-borne pollutants | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Tourism & recreation areas | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Ongoing | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Only in the future | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Only in the future | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Flight paths | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Temperature extremes | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing |