Data Zone
Country/territory: Poland
IBA criteria met: C1, C6 (2010)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 4,118 ha
Site description (2000 baseline)
The site is a complex of calcareous marshes˜Gotówka, BrzeŸno, B³ota Serebryjskie, Rozkosz and Stefanów˜situated north-west and west of Che³m town. Fens overlie the chalk, and are dominated by great fen sedge Cladium. Wetter areas are covered by beds of reed Phragmites and sedge Carex. Within the marshes are chalk islands covered with dry grassland and scrub. Surrounding meadows are used by farmers. Most of the marshes are cut by old but still functioning drainage channels which join the Udal river system (the Bug tributary), the Œwier¿owski canal system and the Gdolanka river system (the Uherka tributary).
Key biodiversity
Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Crex crex (six pairs), Gallinago media (16 displaying males).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Chelm calcareous marshes (Poland). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/chelm-calcareous-marshes-iba-poland on 23/11/2024.