New Vision of the Role of Land Reclamation Systems in Nature Protection and Water Management - Wetlands and Water Framework Directive: Protection, Management and Climate Change - page 93

Table 6.4 Natural habitats from the list of the Habitat Directive present in agricultural areas and
their potential sensitivity to land reclamation
Habitat Sensitivity to reclamation

Xeric sand calcareous grasslands None

Semi-natural dry grasslands None

Species-rich mountain and lowland Nardus
grasslands

None

Very high — may exist in reclaimed
areas

Molinia meadows

Cnidion venosae meadows High — must be fl ooded

Lowland and mountain extensively used fresh
meadows

Low in lowlands; none in the
mountains

Mountain hay meadows None

Continental salt meadows Very high — do not exist in reclaimed

areas

Calcareous fens Very high — do not exist in reclaimed

areas

Alkaline fens Very high — do not exist in reclaimed

areas

in that number 22 are water related. From among 75 bird species nesting in Poland
and protected by the Bird Directive (Dyrektywa 2009 /147/WE ), 34 are associated

with rural areas including 25 species associated with meadows and pastures
(Dembek et al. 2004 ). Lists of endangered and protected bird species associated
with meadows and pastures of the country are much longer.
Selected natural habitats in agricultural areas which Poland is obliged to protect
under the Habitat Directive and their sensitivity to reclamation are presented in
Table 6.4 . Table 6.4 shows that the sensitivity of natural habitats associated with
agricultural areas and important for the European Union to activities typical for land
reclamations is quite diverse. For some of them (sand calcareous grasslands, dry
grasslands, mountain grasslands) reclamation measures have no sense. For others

…

—

situated in river valleys a change in water conditions caused by reclamations

results in their elimination. Such habitats include calcareous and alkaline fens, salt
meadows and

—

flooded Cnidion venosae meadows.
Noteworthy, the share of mentioned habitats sensitive to reclamations in the total
area of grasslands is negligible and of no economic importance. To sum up

fl

under
present natural and economic conditions there are no rational reasons to reclaim
valuable non-forest ecosystems from the list of the Habitat Directive present in
agricultural areas.
Highly sensitive to changes in water conditions are wetland habitats

—

—

agricul-

—

turally non-productive but often accompanying croplands listed in the Habitat

Directive:

￿ flooded muddy river banks;
￿

willow, poplar, alder and ash riparian forests;