Key Biodiversity Areas

Marshy valley of the Drweca river (976)
Poland, Europe

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Bagienna Dolina Drwecy
Central coordinates: Latitude: 53.2833, Longitude: 19.5667
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 71 to 132
Area of KBA (km2): 33.70673
Protected area coverage (%): 99.89
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The site lies in the Drwêca river valley between Brodnica town and the road between Jajkowo and G³êboczek villages, and includes the lower parts of the Brynica and Samionka river valleys, Sopieñ lake and Ostrów lake. The valley is 600 m to 3 km in width and includes a canal system and oxbow lakes. The Drwêca river has a natural character and meanders strongly; overflow in early spring causes extensive flooding. The vegetation is species-rich; besides meadows there are reedbeds Phragmites, sedge-beds and small stands of alder Alnus woodland.
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: Over 200 species have been recorded, 140 of them breeding. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (up to two birds on passage), Haliaeetus albicilla (up to five non-breeding birds), Crex crex (4-9 breeding pairs).

Habitats


Land use: agriculture (30%) | forestry (40%) | hunting | not utilised (30%)
IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Grassland41
Wetlands(Inland)4
Forest44
Artificial - Terrestrial11

Threats


Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Threats to birds include the abandonment of land management, disturbance, and hunting and poaching.
Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Agriculture & aquacultureAnnual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall-holder farmingOngoing
Biological resource useLogging & wood harvestingUnintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Only in the future
Biological resource useHunting & collecting terrestrial animalsIntentional use (species being assessed is the target)Ongoing
PollutionExcess energyNoise pollutionOngoing
Natural system modificationsOther ecosystem modificationsOnly in the future
Residential & commercial developmentTourism & recreation areasOnly in the future
Energy production & miningRenewable energyOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceRecreational activitiesOngoing