The park's main river is the Warta, dividing it into a southern part - the former S這雟k reserve, located in the Kostrzyn Retention Reservoir, and a northern part - the so-called Northern Polder.In the southern part, annual fluctuations in water level reach up to 4m, and the main function of this part of the park is to collect flood waters, which are decisively influenced by water levels in the Oder River, and to a lesser extent in the Warta River and the Postomia River basin. The water level in this part usually rises in late autumn and is highest in spring ( March-April). The northern part is a polder with numerous oxbow lakes and a rich network of drainage facilities, separated from the Warta by a dike. Vegetation The plant communities in the Park represent a high level of biodiversity. More than 400 species of vascular plants account for about 30% of the flora of the entire Wielkopolska-Kujawska Region. The high diversity is also evidenced by the presence of nearly 50 plant communities in the area. The vegetation cover of the Park is mostly natural, although the structure of the actual vegetation differs from the potential one. Indirect and direct human impact, documented for several centuries, has been marked primarily by the disappearance of riparian forest vegetation and the spread of natural communities of the so-called auxochoric type. Compared to other sections of the Warta River, the vegetation cover of the projected Park stands out for its high level of naturalness, as well as its unique character. The latter consists, among other things, of the occurrence of several very rare, endangered vascular plants. The plant cover is a very interesting object for research and teaching. It provides opportunities to conduct studies on the structure and dynamics of the flora. In addition, it is possible to monitor changes resulting from deliberate hydrological manipulations. The vegetation of river valleys throughout Europe has already been, for the most part, highly transformed. Animals The area of the Warta Mouth National Park is one of the most important breeding grounds for water and marsh birds in Poland - 245 species of birds have been found here, as well as breeding grounds for 160 species - these include: 4 species of grebes, 7-8 species of ducks, 5 species of caddisflies, 9-10 species of piping plovers. For many species of birds, the Park is one of the most important breeding sites in Poland. As many as 26 species of birds nesting in the Park belong to the endangered species according to BirdLife International classification, such as: aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, corncrake Crex crex, lynx Limosa limosa, crane Grus grus, bittern Botaurus stellaris, bittern Ixobychus minutus, or quite common black tern Chlidonias niger. The Warta Mouth National Park plays an important role for birds also outside the breeding season. Ducks moult here in great numbers - mallards Anas platyrhynchos, teals Anas crecca, as well as geese geese Anser anser and mute swans Cygnus olor, coots Fulica atra. During the autumn migration period, the Park is a place of concentration of water and marsh birds - mainly bean and white-fronted geese Anser fabalis and albifrons - the number of night geese reaches 200 thousand individuals. In winter, the Warta Mouth National Park is the largest wintering ground in Poland for the whooper swan Cygnus cygnus - up to 2,500 individuals, as well as an important wintering ground for the white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla - up to 50 individuals. Bird protection is hampered by the appearance and rapid development of the population of the American mink Mustela vison, as well as increasingly frequent information on the appearance of the raccoon Procyon lotor, arriving from the west. In addition, 34 species of mammals from 13 families have been found in the Warta Mouth National Park. Among those included in the Polish Red Book are the otter Lutra lutra ( category R) and the European beaver Castor fiber ( category E). The main threat to the park's nature is the secondary succession of vegetation in unused meadows and pastures. Willow thickets appearing in the southern part, and reed beds in the northern part, significantly contribute to the disappearance of the most valuable open habitats, which are breeding grounds for many bird species. For this reason, one of the priority actions aimed at protecting habitats is their active protection, allowing in areas traditionally used for agriculture extensive meadow and pasture management. The high ornithological value of the park area, in the context of the shrinking acreage of very valuable breeding habitats, was the reason for the inclusion of the "Warta Mouth" area in the pre-accession SAPARD program, in the agri-environmental section, where subsidies are provided for farmers using meadows and pastures in the park under the rules set by the land managers. Active habitat protection is also assisted by sponsors, thanks to whom some 300ha of hay meadows have been restored. Nature education and tourism Since May 31, 1996, the Nature Education Center in Chyrzyn has been in operation, and since October 1996 regular field and laboratory classes for school and university students have been conducted here. The topics of the classes are focused on wetlands, their importance and ways to protect them. Nature education includes slide shows, excursions , one-day thematic classes, as well as several days of ecological workshops, ornithological camps, field exercises for students. There are currently several hiking and bicycle trails in the park, as well as two nature trails "Bird trail", leading through the most attractive areas of the former S這雟k reserve, and a "Natural Garden of Senses" at the park management. The "Concept of Environmentally Friendly Tourism in the "Warta Mouth", made within the framework of the "Green Ribbon Oder-Nysa" project by the German side, has also been developed. Under an agreement with the District Board of the Polish Angling Association, the park area is also made available for amateur fishing, in designated places.The park also has small hotel facilities - 5 rooms for 15 people and a hostel for about 30 people, along with sanitary and catering facilities.
04.07.2013
