Raporty i opracowania / Reports and Publications

The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is a song bird breeding in fen
mires and similarly structured other wetlands with a water depth of 1–10 cm. Widespread in
central-European wetlands at the beginning of the 20th century, the species is now globally
threatened. The westernmost and genetically distinct Pomeranian population is even on the
verge of extinction. The major challenge in the conservation of remaining habitat is the costefficient
removal of biomass. About 50% of the Pomeranian population survives in a valley
fen near Rozwarowo in Northwest Poland, where between 1993 and 2007 a conspicuous
change in breeding habitat has taken place from summer grazed sedge meadows to commercial
winter cut reed beds. We compared vegetation structure, site conditions, and
potential prey abundance with the distribution and abundance of Aquatic Warblers in
Rozwarowo Marshes and studied temporal changes and the compatibility of conservation
and reed cutting interests. Aquatic Warblers now occur almost exclusively in sparsely
growing, low reed with abundant Thelypteris palustris, Carex elata, and Lysimachia vulgaris.
This vegetation type provides more potential prey for Aquatic Warblers than the
higher productive tall reed, whereas the patches of sedge vegetation have become too small
following succession after abandonment. Currently, commercial reed cutting maintains
suitable Aquatic Warbler breeding habitat. Considering the impending changes in the reed
market, there is a need for flexible agri-environmental schemes (AES) to ensure that stripes
are left uncut and to prevent eutrophication by high and long flooding of the site.

In the last German breeding area of the rapidly declining ‘‘Pomeranian’’ population of the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), the Lower Oder Valley National Park, we investigated changes in habitat suitability between 1993 and 2006 by combining monitoring results with repeated assessments of vegetation structure and composition, site conditions, and land use. Sites with recent Aquatic Warbler records showed shorter and sparser vegetation, a thinner litter layer, and a higher total plant species richness and cover of small and least competitive (CSR) species than abandoned or unoccupied sites. On a long-term study plot, during a period of late mowing and subsequent cessation of land use, vegetation height increased, the cover of CSR species decreased, and the site became abandoned by Aquatic Warblers. The probability of Aquatic Warbler occurrence was dependent on elevation and increased with the proportion of early mown or grazed area in the preceding year, with early use being most important on slightly higher elevated sites. This rapid deterioration of eutrophic habitats by delayed or discontinued land use is atypical for the majority of Aquatic Warbler breeding habitats. We conclude that both late or no land use and land use during the breeding season negatively affect the Pomeranian breeding sites and that a more sophisticated and flexible land management is urgently needed.

The Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) is a globally
threatened bird species. Around 1900, it was one of the most widespread birds
in Central-European fen mires. The population severely decreased as a
consequence of wetland drainage. Distinct genetic differences to all other
known populations suggest that the remaining birds in Western Pomerania are
the last survivors of a separated, presumably large Central European
population. Its conservation has high priority, but it is hampered by insufficient
knowledge on habitat requirements of the species in Western Pomerania.
Additional threats emerge from conflicting land use interests.
The coastal sites of the West-Pomeranian population are located around
Szczecin bay and consist predominantly of Phragmites australis reeds. The
sites in Lower Odra valley are situated on both sides of Odra river and have a
mixed vegetation of sedges and grasses with Carex gracilis and Phalaris
arundinacea dominating. All current breeding sites in Western Pomerania are
being mown. First results of a comparison between sites currently used by
Aquatic Warbler and sites recently abandoned show that the latter have a
lower water level and a thicker litter layer. A PhD study on Aquatic Warbler
habitat requirements and habitat restoration potential in Western Pomerania
has recently started. A joint Polish-German EU-LIFE project targeting Aquatic
Warbler conservation in Western Pomerania is planned.

Photo annex fron the 4th progress report

Międzynarodowy Plan Ochrony Gatunku dla wodniczki en / International Species Action Plan for the Aquatic Warbler en

Podsumowanie Monitoringu 2008 en / Annual Monitoring Report 2008

Raport z monitoringu wodniczki w BPN 2008 pl / Report on AW monitoring in BNP 2008 pl

Protokół z 3 Warsztatów Najlepszych Praktyk en / 3rd Best Practice Proceedings

Niniejsze opracowanie dotyczy analizy trzech alternatywnych sposobów zagospodarowania
biomasy pozyskiwanej w wyniku późnego koszenia łąk bagiennych, tj.: (i) zagospodarowanie
na cele energetyczne w procesach spalania, (ii) wykorzystane biomasy w procesie fermentacji
metanowej i wytwarzania biogazu, z którego produkowana jest energia elektryczna i ciepło,
(iii) zagospodarowanie biomasy w procesie kompostowania. Opracowanie wykonano mając
na uwadze dostępność poszczególnych technologii oraz uwarunkowania prawnoekonomiczne
wykorzystania biomasy w Polsce.
Opracowanie rozpoczyna się przedstawieniem ogólnych uwarunkowań wykorzystania
energetycznego biomasy w Polsce (Rozdział 1). Następnie scharakteryzowano procesy
spalania, fermentacji oraz kompostowania (Rozdział 2). Podano charakterystykę biomasy
z terenów łąk bagiennych (Rozdział 3). Przeanalizowano moŜliwość zagospodarowania
biomasy z późnego koszenia łąk w procesach spalania, fermentacji i kompostowania, a takŜe
omówiono sposoby pozyskania biomasy z terenów bagiennych (Rozdział 4). Przedstawiono
kilka istniejących na terenie kraju oraz za granicą rzeczywistych przykładów
zagospodarowania biomasy łąkowej (Rozdział 5). Opracowanie kończy się podsumowaniem
i rekomendacjami (Rozdział 6).

Studium zagospodarowania Biomasy z Doliny Piany ger / Machbarkeitsstudie zur Biomassenutzung im Projektgebiet Peenetal ger