Space for the river
Space for the river
Border rivers creates billateral problems between 2 countries- border is established on the course of the main current of the river;with natural changing pattrn of the current in meandring natural river it causes changes in the size of territories, so it is a normal tendency to regulate river banks what causes losses in natural processes, protecting the dynamics of the river and biodiversity.
Project is aiming in demonstration of activities which can, under billateral agreement of two parties, block the regulation (concrete banks,channel approach) in order to protect biodiversity.Project is using well known experiences from France, Germany and Switzerland under the title "Espace de Liberte".This piece of Odra River, here - border river of Poland and the Czech Republic is the only natural fragment of naturally dynamic course of sub-mountain river, with unique ecosystem, habitat of valuable flora and fauna.
Project will try to preserve natural course of the river on various levels: purchase of land will allow to stop regulation of river, through mutual agreements exchange of land.Project will secure needs of preservation of unique habitat, political border (new para in Polish/Czech border agreement preserving natural status of river instead regulation); sustainable use of protected land;permanent monitoring of dynamic processes (participation of researchers from Poland and other European countries - it is a kind of unique, natural laboratory!).
Project is a very unique attempt in protecting natural values of natural course of border river and its dynamics, where extra international aspects are faced (delimitation of border);quarantee to sustainable management of land in buffer zone of the river;designing the model of restitution of riparian forest;designing a model solution for preservation of dynamic,natural processes of border rivers-lobbying in EU institutions for changes in water management of border rivers taking into account value of nature and its processes;gaining the public support, mainly local communities involved ior exposed to dynamic changes in land property pattern reflecting natural processes (dynamic meanders)
 
Loading map...

Project Snapshot

Grantee:
WWF Poland Swiatowy Fundusz na Rzecz Przyrody
Country:
Poland
Area Of Work:
International Waters
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 73,886.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 14,241.00
Project Number:
POL/04/19
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Notable Community Participation
consultation with local landovners; participation of local people in some activities (clearing land of unwanted vegetation);
Policy Impact
project will formulate at the end some new ideas concerning conflict resolution between strict border rules complicated by the nature of natural river border (dynamic pattern of river's current) submitted to the joint Polish-Czech Border Commission, then to be submitted to EU as a proposal for preservtion of natural management of border rivers

Partnership

University of Silesia; Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection,Katowice