Sites - Important Bird Areas (IBAs)

Ornithological information A total of 250 species have been recorded, including 177-180 breeding. The site is especially rich in breeding raptors (15 species extant, two extinct), owls (eight species extant, one extinct) and woodpeckers (eight species, out of nine in Europe). Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Gallinago media (rare).

Site description The site comprises the Polish part of the Bia³owie¿a forest, one of the largest and best preserved areas of primary lowland temperate forest in Europe, together with small remnants of the Ladzka forest. The forest covers 1,500 km² of flat plain, of which 620 km² are in Poland, the rest in Belarus. Moraine hills rise only c.30 m above the landscape. All rivers which run through the forest have water sources there or on its periphery. Most of the forest lies in the Narew and Bug tributaries of the Wis³a (Vistula) catchment. The northern part is drained by tributaries of the Niemen, and the western part is part of the Dniestr catchment. There is an almost total lack of standing water, apart from small bogs. The proportion of forest that can be classed as primeval is not large, but many trees are over 200 years old (old-growth). Most forest is on dry ground, dominated by lime Tilia and hornbeam Carpinus, while the most interesting ornithologically is dominated by oak Quercus. Along valley watercourses there is carr of alder Alnus and ash Fraxinus, with Alnus forest in swampy hollows. There is mixed forest of pine Pinus and Quercus, as well as coniferous forest (mainly on wet soils) dominated by spruce Picea and Pinus. As a result of centuries of man's activities there are clearings, forest settlements, hay-meadows along rivers, road systems and trails, narrow-gauge railways, felling sites, hunting areas and gravel-pits.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Protected areas

Protected area	Designation	Area (ha)	Relationship with IBA	Overlap with IBA (ha)
Belovezhskaya Pushcha / Bialowieza Forest	World Heritage Site	92,676	protected area contained by site	10,502
Berezowo	Nature Reserve	115	protected area contained by site	115
Bialowieski PN	National Park	10,517	protected area contained by site	10,502
Bialowieza	UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve	10,502	protected area contained by site	10,502
Debowy Grad	Nature Reserve	100	protected area contained by site	100
Dolina Górnej Narwi - PLB200007	Birds Directive	18,384	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Dolina Waliczówki	Nature Reserve	45	protected area contained by site	45
Gleboki Kat	Nature Reserve	40	protected area contained by site	40
Gnilec	Nature Reserve	37	protected area contained by site	37
Kozlowe Borki	Nature Reserve	246	protected area contained by site	247
Lipiny	Nature Reserve	56	protected area contained by site	57
Michnówka	Nature Reserve	85	protected area contained by site	85
Nieznanowo	Nature Reserve	28	protected area contained by site	28
Olszanka Mysliszcze	Nature Reserve	277	protected area contained by site	278
Ostoja w Dolinie Górnej Narwi - PLH200010	Habitats Directive	20,307	protected area is adjacent to site	0
Podcerkwa	Nature Reserve	115	protected area contained by site	115
Podolany	Nature Reserve	15	protected area contained by site	15
Pogorzelce	Nature Reserve	8	protected area contained by site	8
Przewloka	Nature Reserve	79	protected area contained by site	78
Puszcza Biatowieska - PLC200004	Birds Directive	63,148	protected area contains site	62,500
Rezerwat Krajobrazowy	Nature Reserve	1,356	protected area contained by site	1,357
Siemianówka	Nature Reserve	225	protected area contained by site	225
Sitki	Nature Reserve	35	protected area contained by site	35
Starzyna	Nature Reserve	369	protected area contained by site	369
Szczekotowo	Nature Reserve	37	protected area contained by site	37
Wysokie Bagno	Nature Reserve	79	protected area contained by site	79

Habitats

Land use

Management considerations The greatest threat is from the ongoing replacement of primeval forest by plantations, through intensified forest management, clear-felling, selective logging, and afforestation with conifers. Railway transport of very large quantities of highly toxic chemicals through the forest (more than 100,000 tonnes per year) is a threat (`Other'), and forestry and tourism cause disturbance to birds. Since 1991 efforts have been made to protect the whole of Bia³owie¿a forest in Poland, involving OTOP and other nature-conservation organisations. About 80 projects relevant to nature conservation have been carried out in the area.

Protection status National Partial International Partial10,502 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Bia³owieski, 10,502 ha). 3,463 ha of IBA covered by 20 Nature Reserves (Berezowo; Dolina Waliczówki; Dêbowy Gr¹d; Gnilec; G³êboki K¹t; Koz³owe Borki; Lipiny; Michnówka; Nieznanowo; Olszanka Myœliszcze; Podcerkwia; Podolany; Pogorzelce; Przew³oka; W³adys³awa Szafera; Siemianówka; Sitki; Starzyna; Szczekotowo; Wysokie Bagno; combined area 3,463 ha). 10,502 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (Bia³owie¿a National Park, 10,502 ha). 10,502 ha of IBA covered by World Heritage Site (Bia³owie¿a National Park, 10,502 ha).

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Bialowieza Forest. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/05/2013

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