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 98

actions should primarily include the creation of “ micro-retention ” through ham-
pering rapid water outflow from draining reclamation systems and the construction
of small water reservoirs. Proposed actions will mitigate economic consequences of
droughts and limit disastrous floods and hence will improve the economic status of
farms. They will be also an important element of sustainable development of rural
areas and of protection of their biodiversity. Moreover, they will form a basis for
implementing the Water Framework Directive, Habitat and Bird Directives, which
are the fundamentals of creating Natura 2000 areas. Water lifting in ditches and
small streams and the construction of small water reservoirs will bring both eco-
nomic and natural benefits. In many cases the development of micro-retention will
need some limitations in agricultural production, e.g., due to flooding or excessive
soil moisture in lower situated areas. Therefore, the accomplishment of the pro-
gramme of water balance improvement requires financial support for farmers who
undertake agri-environmental activities both during investment and exploitation
phases. Due to benefits for the natural environment and agriculture, the activities
aimed at increasing water retention should be considered in the Programme for the
Development of Rural Areas for the years 2007 2013. Studies and analyses per-

formed in our Institute clearly indicate that small investments to increase water
resources commonly applied in farms will bring measurable bene ts to farmers and
the natural environment / … / ”

-

.
Examples cited above indicate that there is a significant coincidence of priorities
in the questions of nature protection and land reclamation. The priorities

— during

calm and objective discussion — should be used and bring synergistic effects.

6.8 Conclusions

1. For the necessity of equipment of reclamation ditches with water lifting facilities
the standpoint of nature protection is essentially the same as postulates of land
reclamation.
2. Increasing catchment retentiveness is extremely important for nature protection;
being a task for land reclamation it is identical with the needs of modern
understanding of flood control.

3. Drainage systems in arable lands have no signi

fl

cance for the protection of
valuable natural habitats; important is, however, the retention of water fl flowing

out of drains.
4. Floods and high levels of ground water in river valleys are, as a rule, very
favourable for biodiversity.
5. Vegetation of managed meadows in Poland may exist in summer at water levels
much higher than those observed in the last decades in the country.

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