Korytarz ekologiczny doliny Odry pdf

Summary
Oder as an Ecological Corridor
State – Functioning – Threats
Introduction
The study has been prepared for the Foundation IUCN Poland in 1993 and 1994.
In the preparation of the report the following sources of information have been utilised:
relevant literature, authors’ research carried out in the Oder valley, verbal information from
scientists working in the area and cartographic materials (maps of 1:50 000, 1:25 000,
1:100 000 scales).
The objectives of the study are:
• nature evaluation of the Oder River valley, based on selected systematic groups of
fauna and flora;
• identification of the role that the Oder and its valley play as an ecological corridor;
• identification of threats to nature of the Oder and its valley;
• presentation of proposed methods and activities aimed at protecting the nature of the
Oder and its valley, as well as the restoration of its lost value; and
• presentation of proposed methods and activities aimed at an improvement in the functioning
of the ecological corridor of the Oder and its valley.
Authors of the report, edited by W. Jankowski Ph.D. (coordinator) and K. Œwierkosz
M.Sc., are: S. Bartosiewicz M.Sc. eng., J. B³achuta Ph.D., G. Bobrowicz M.Sc. eng., M.
Borowiec Ph.D., W. Jankowski Ph.D., A. Jermaczek Ph.D., J. Kusznierz M.Sc., P. Migoñ
Ph.D., A. Szyjkowski Ph.D., M. Tyszkowski M.Sc.
Function and role of ecological corridors
Fragmentation of the environment is currently considered to be one of the main threats for
the further existence of many plant and animal species. This is because the isolation of individual
populations increases the risk of their extinction for demographic and genetic reasons.
These adverse processes can be prevented by linking up isolated fragments of the natural
environment (core areas) and, first of all, maintaining already existing connections between
such patches. The ideal situation is when the link is composed of plant communities and
associations similar to those present in the connected core areas. Such links are called „ecological
corridors”.
Various species may use a corridor in two ways: as a route of migration between larger
patches of the natural environment, or as a living and breeding site for those species which
find suitable conditions for themselves here. Therefore, the migration of a species may take
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