Total site area (ha) : 15,921
Project site area (ha): 758.5
The area proposed for inclusion in the LIFE-Nature project is located in the Natura 2000 site
(Bird and Habitat Directives) named “Miedwie lake and its vicinity”. The site is located in the
northwestern part of Poland, geographical coordinates 14o50’26’’ E and 53o14’35’’ N. The
height varies from 13 to 46 m above sea level.
The Natura 2000 site includes Miedwie Lake (one of the largest and lowest-lying lakes in
Poland), as well as smaller lakes (Płoń, Bydgoszcz, Żelewo, Żelewo, Płonno, Zaborsko and
Duże) and some other small water bodies. The area is traversed by the river Plonia and the
Plonski canal, which links lakes Miedwie, Płoń and Żlewko. Numerous improvement canals
cross the site. The level of water on the meadows between Miedwie, Bedgoszcz and Zelewo
is regulated by two water pumps. From the point of outflow of Plon river from Miedwie Lake to
Gizyn village the lake Miedwie is separated from meadows by a dam.
The banks of the lakes are overgrown by rich swamp vegetation and surrounded by
extensively managed meadows. On the north-west part of Miedwie there are found calcareous
fens. Small complexes of wet forests are located on the banks of Plon Lake and in the central
and eastern part of Miedwie Lake. Two large fish farms are located within the boundaries of
the Natura 2000 site. The Natura 2000 site is highly important for breeding birds in Poland
and Europe, especially for Acrocephalus paludicola, Crex crex and Circus pygargus.
The project site is located in the southern part of Miedwie Lake. Lying on peat soils, the
meadows were formerly actively used for extensive agriculture (Calthion and Molinion). Plant
communities here are characteristic for peat lands (Carcion davallianae), locally enriched by
halophylic species (Wierzbno). The project site supports Poland’s richest populations of
Orchis laxiflora, and is one of the limited places of growth of Carex buxbaumii. Flat banks of
the lake are covered by Phragmitetum australis communities, Cladietum marisci (the largest
areas in Poland) and Carex communities. The river Plonia that flows into Miedwie Lake,
divides the project site into two parts. The site is also covered by numerous drainage canals.
From the 1990s the use of the site for extensive mowing and grazing has been decreasing,
which has resulted in the development of plant successions on meadows and degradation of
valuable habitats. In addition, in many places meadows have been transformed into arable
land or reed plantations. Construction of recreation facilities has also been common.
The site is one of the most important sites in Poland for breeding and migrating birds.
Altogether, 106 breeding species of birds have been recorded.
Miedwie Lake is one of the key breeding sites of Acrocephalus paludicola in Western
Pomerania. The 2003 OTOP all-country counts showed that the site supports eight vocalizing
males, which is 10% of the total population of Acrocephalus paludicola in the Pomerania
region (see annex 9.4). The population in 2004 remained at the level of eight vocalizing males.
Over the last 10 years the population of Acrocephalus paludicola at Miedwie Lake has
fluctuated between 7 and 17 vocalizing males (1990 – 5 (census not complete – just proof of
nesting); 1993 – 12; 1997 – 7; 2000 – 9; 2001 – 14; 2002 – 17 vocalizing males). With the
2003 and 2004 counts registering a stable eight vocalizing males, the general population trend
is clearly negative.
The almost 50% decline in 2003 is attributed to abandonment by breeding birds of the eastern
part of the breeding habitat at Miedwie, where agricultural abandonment together with
inappropriate water management caused sharp changes in the vegetation structure and
overgrowth of the site by reed. Now the first layer of vegetation of the former breeding site is
100% dense Phragmites. The second vegetation layer is purely Carex communities. This still
leaves good potential for restoration of former breeding habitats here.
