ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS TO SUPPORT BREEDING BIRDS IN SAND … · ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS TO SUPPORT BREEDING...
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Poland Mineral extraction process creates novel habitats, like islands, peninsulas and banks, which may play an important role as breeding place for many water birds. Islands are particularly favoured by some threatened and conservation dependent species because they offer relatively undisturbed places for breeding. Man-made islands become especially important in regions, where natural river habitats have been destroyed. Mining sites of Górażdże Group add an important element to the conservation of island-breeding birds at a regional and national level. Three bird species threatened at the EU level (listed in Annex I of Birds Directive) and 2 species endangered in Poland breed on islands in Górażdże mining sites: Common Tern, Little Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull. But the available islands are often not enough or in poor condition due to erosion or overgrowth by vegetation (linked with natural succession). Therefore conservation actions are needed to increase the accessibility of island habitats for birds and to increase breeding populations. The aim of the project is to improve island habitats in selected Górażdże mining sites to target bird species. The activities will be carried out at three sand and gravel pits: • Creation of a sandy island in Malerzowice pit, where a sand peninsula will be cut off from the bank; • Creation of two artificial islands of modular concrete type in Nowogród Bobrzański pit; • Removal of reeds, trees and bushes and clearing of small gravel beaches on selected islands in Wójcice and Malerzowice pits. This will in consequence increase the populations of endangered bird species, mainly terns and gulls. Location Opolskie and Lubuskie region, Poland Area 250 ha Mineral type Sand and gravel Habitat(s) created Islands in freshwater lakes Target species Little Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Black- headed Gull, Common Gull Protected areas Natura 2000 area – Zbiornik Nyski PLB160002 (SPA) Organisations Polish Society for the Protection of Birds, Górażdże Group BACKGROUND WHY IS THIS PROJECT NEEDED? PROJECT OBJECTIVES ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS TO SUPPORT BREEDING BIRDS IN SAND AND GRAVEL PITS Malerzowice mining site – red lines show where a canal will be excavated to create an island.
Transcript of ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS TO SUPPORT BREEDING BIRDS IN SAND … · ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS TO SUPPORT BREEDING...
Poland
Mineral extraction process creates novel habitats, like islands, peninsulas and banks, which may play an important role as breeding place for many water birds. Islands are particularly favoured by some threatened and conservation dependent species because they offer relatively undisturbed places for breeding. Man-made islands become especially important in regions, where natural river habitats have been destroyed. Mining sites of Górażdże Group add an important element to the conservation of island-breeding birds at a regional and national level.
Three bird species threatened at the EU level (listed in Annex I of Birds Directive) and 2 species endangered in Poland breed on islands in Górażdże mining sites: Common Tern, Little Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull. But the available islands are often not enough or in poor condition due to erosion or overgrowth by vegetation (linked with natural succession). Therefore conservation actions are needed to increase the accessibility of island habitats for birds and to increase breeding populations.
The aim of the project is to improve island habitats in selected Górażdże mining sites to target bird species. The activities will be carried out at three sand and gravel pits:
• Creation of a sandy island in Malerzowice pit, where a sand peninsula will be cut off from the bank;
• Creation of two artificial islands of modular concrete type in Nowogród Bobrzański pit;
• Removal of reeds, trees and bushes and clearing of small gravel beaches on selected islands in Wójcice and Malerzowice pits.
This will in consequence increase the populations of endangered bird species, mainly terns and gulls.
Location Opolskie and Lubuskie region, PolandArea 250 haMineral type Sand and gravelHabitat(s) created Islands in freshwater lakesTarget species Little Tern, Common Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Black-
headed Gull, Common GullProtected areas Natura 2000 area – Zbiornik Nyski PLB160002 (SPA)Organisations Polish Society for the Protection of Birds, Górażdże Group
BACKGROUND
WHY IS THIS PROJECT NEEDED?
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS TO SUPPORT BREEDING BIRDS IN SAND AND GRAVEL PITS
Malerzow
ice mining site – red lines show
where a canal w
ill be excavated to create an island.
PUBLIC BENEFITS
HABITAT CREATION
These activities are part of the BirdLife – HeidelbergCement Biodiversity Conservation Programme: Giving nature a second chance!
For more information:Boris Barov | Conservation Programme Coordinator | BirdLife Europe - HeidelbergCement
Avenue de la Toison d’Or 67 | 1060 Brussels, Belgium | Telephone +32 (0) 479 70 16 06 | [email protected]
• Increased bird colonies will add value to the natural landscape, providing aesthetic and ecological benefits to the region;
• Views on the artificial islands in Nowogród Bobrzański mining site will become part of the educational path prepared by local authorities.
Island on Wójcice mining site (Nyskie Reservoir Natura 2000 site), where a new gravel beach for terns
will be created.
Sandy peninsula in Malerzowice mining site to be transformed to an island.
Common Tern Sterna hirundo is one of the target species of the project.
Little Tern Sternula albifrons is a rare breeder in Poland, with one of a few
populations in southern Poland, located in Nyskie Reservoir.
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius inhabits sandy or gravel habitats will
benefit from the project activities.Ph
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