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Refuges of the European ecological network "Natura 2000"
The Lower Soła Valley
The area encompasses the fishing ponds in the neighbourhood of O¶więcim, a part of the Soła River Valley and a gravel pit used by anglers. The intensity of fish production is different in different ponds. The pond complex in Poręba Wielka is heavily overgrown with emersed plants, whereas others are devoid of extensive bulrushes. The Soła has a character of a submontane river here, with a broad stony river bed and stretches of riparian forests on the banks. Low-density housing and small villages are located amid the pond complexes. The landscape of the refuge is dominated by arable fields, which cover over half of the area.
At least 12 bird species from Annex I of the Birds Directive and five species from The Polish Red Data Book (PRDB) occur here. The species qualifying the Soła Valley among international refuges is the Night Heron. Also other species endangered in Europe breed here: the Little Bittern (PRDB), the Great Bittern (PRDB), the Little Crake (PRDB), the Spotted Crake, the White Stork Ciconia ciconia and the Common Tern. The refuge has considerable local importance for the Whiskered Tern.
Factors posing a threat to the wildlife value of the area include: potential abandoning of fish farming or changes in pond use, removing islands, removing bulrushes and aquatic vegetation, regulating the Soła River and clearance of riverside bushes, illegal and wasteful exploitation of gravel from the Soła river bed and in the more distant perspective - construction of the O¶więcim bypass.
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