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Refuges of the European ecological network "Natura 2000"
The Lower Skawa Valley
The area comprises the biggest pond complexes in the O¶więcim-Zator region: Spytkowice, Przeręb, Bugaj and the Monów Ponds. The ponds are situated in all directions around the little town of Zator and cover an area of 1500 ha. The origins of carp farming in this region date back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Nowadays, fish are cultured here on a large scale, but a lot of tanks are overgrown with aquatic vegetation. In the refuge there are also some gravel pits with islands eagerly inhabited by birds.
At least 17 bird species from Annex I of the Birds Directive occur here and refuges are being designated for them within the network Natura 2000. There are also seven species from the Polish Red Data Book (PRDB). The species qualifying the Lower Skawa Valley among international refuges are the Night Heron and the Little Bittern. Their breeding populations constitute at least 1% of all Polish populations. The ponds are also one of the few breeding grounds of the Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca in Poland. Also other species endangered in Europe breed here: the Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus, the Whiskered Tern (PRDB), the Common Tern Sterna hirundo, the Great Bittern (PRDB), the Spotted Crake Porzana porzana, the Little Crake (PRDB), the Black Tern Chlidonias Niger and the Bluethroat Luscinia svecica.
Factors posing a threat to the wildlife value of the area include: abandoning or intensifying pond industry, removing pond islands, removing bulrushes and aquatic vegetation, regulating the river and clearing riverside bushes, introducing mass recreation together with water sports to water-filled gravel pits.
Forms of conservation within the refuge:
 Przeciszów Nature Reserve (85.1 ha),
Żaki Nature Reserve (17.5 ha),
Protected Landscape of the Jurassic Landscape Parks.
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