Data Zone
Country/territory: Poland
IBA criteria met: C1, C6 (2010)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 133,900 ha
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2011 | favourable | not assessed | not assessed |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site description (2000 baseline)
The forest is divided into two parts by the Augustów channel, through which the Wo³kuszanka river flows into the Niemen river. The northern part is situated on the Augustów plain in the catchment of the Czarna Hañcza and the Marycha rivers (tributaries of the Niemen). The southern part lies along the border between the Augustów plain and the Biebrza valley. The forest is predominantly coniferous (spruce Picea and pine Pinus), including moist and swampy areas, although large areas are also covered with alder Alnus and in some places there is well preserved dry-ground forest of lime Tilia and hornbeam Carpinus. Many of the forest stands have a natural character. There are several dozen lakes, the largest being Wigry lake (2,187 ha, 73 m in depth). Open areas are occupied by hay meadows and pastures. The National Park in the north-west of the site is used for recreation.
Key biodiversity
Over 200 species have been recorded, c.150 breeding. Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Haliaeetus albicilla (1-2 pairs), Crex crex (rare), Gallinago media.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Augustów forest (Poland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/augustów-forest-iba-poland on 22/11/2024.