Current view: Text account
Site description (2000 baseline):
Site location and context
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).
Breeding species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria:
Crex crex (six pairs),
Gallinago media (16 displaying males).
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
In the immediate proximity of Che³m, the cement-works and busy transportation network pose a considerable threat to the marshes. Another threat is infrastructural development associated with a motorway-construction program linking Che³m with the border-crossing at Dorohusk. Only one marsh lies fully within a protected area (Bagno Serebryskie Nature Reserve). There are plans to enlarge the other reserves that partially cover other marshes (BrzeŸno and Roskosz). OTOP and IUCN-WCU are carrying out a project to protect and rehabilitate the marshes.
National High
International None377 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Bagno Serebryskie, 377 ha). 165 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (BrzeŸno, 165 ha). 473 ha of IBA covered by Nature Reserve (Roskosz, 473 ha). 1,100 ha of IBA covered by Landscape Park (Che³mski, 14,000 ha). 600 ha of IBA covered by Protected Landscape Area (Che³mski, 32,110 ha).
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 26/12/2024.
