Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
The site covers part of the Western Bieszczady range, the only part of the Eastern Carpathians lying within Poland. The lowest part of the site is mainly deforested, above which is subalpine forest (covering 84% of the site), dominated mainly by beech
Fagus. Above that are extensive alpine meadows and
Vaccinium heath, with alder
Alnus shrubs.
A total of 161 species have been recorded. Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Aquila clanga (1-2 non-breeding birds).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threats are infrastructural and urban development along river valleys and within Landscape Parks (new hotels, pensions, etc.), drainage, loss of suitable habitat features for raptors and hole-nesters, and forest succession in open habitats. Almost the whole area is part of a transboundary Biosphere Reserve shared with Slovakia.
National High
International High27,833 ha of IBA covered by National Park (Bieszczadzki, 27,833 ha). 1,876 ha of IBA covered by 17 Nature Reserves (Cisy na Górze Jawor; DŸwiniacz; Go³oborze; Hulskie im. Stefana Myczkowskiego; Krywe; £okieæ; Litmirz; Olsza Kosa w Stê¿nicy; Olszyna £êgowa w Kalnicy; Prze³om Solinki; Puszcza Bieszczadzka nad Sanem; Sine Wiry; Tarnawa; Wetlina; Woronikówka; Zakole; Zswiêz³o; combined area of 1,876 ha). 51,146 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Park (Cieœniñsko-Wetliñski, 51,146 ha). 34,866 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Park (Doliny Sany, 34,866 ha). 108,924 ha of IBA covered by Biosphere Reserve (East Carpathian/East Beskid, 108,924 ha).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Bieszczady Mountains (Poland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/bieszczady-mountains-iba-poland on 23/12/2024.
