27 Sep Will the pond turtles come back? This project aims to restore the unique nature of the Ponidzie region
Over 500 hectares of meadows and forests being part of the Świętokrzyskie and the Nida River Landscape Parks will once again be filled with unique species of plants, birds, amphibians and fish. Today a scientific conference inaugurating the project of restoring the natural richness of the Nida was held in Krzyżanowice — TVP Kielce informs about the beginning of the project.
Until a few decades ago, this area was unique in Poland and Europe due to the abundance of animal species living in the Nida delta near Umianowice. However, intensive human activity caused that the area’s unique ecosystem slowly began to change and become impoverished. — Once there were many interesting species, including the pond turtles, which are nowhere to be seen now — says Wojciech Sołtysiak from the Complex of Świętokrzyskie and the Nida River Landscape Park.
The project “Renaturyzacja Śródlądowej Delty Rzeki Nidy” (Eng. Renaturalization of the Inland Delta of the River Nida) aims to restore the natural wealth of this place. — If this place were to become this natural and landscape jewel, the money and the benefits from tourism would come as well. After all, not everyone is only looking for dinosaurs — says prof. Tadeusz Zając from the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The first conference inaugurating the project took place on Thursday in Krzyżanowice. The basic assumption of the project is to restore the flow of water in this area. — The main element of these works will be the cleaning of oxbow lakes, cleaning of eutrophic reservoirs, construction of dams with fish ladders — Wojciech Sołtysiak from ZŚiNPK explains. — This year we’re concentrating on gathering the entire project team — Tomasz Hałatkiewicz, the Director of ZŚiNPK adds.
Then the construction of scenic viewpoints, a natural education center as well as laboratories and conference rooms will commence, for the Polish Academy of Sciences will carry out research on endangered species here.
— This is a chance for the Ponidzie region to build a strong identity, not only for its spa resorts but also the nature — as Michał Cieślak, a member of the PiS political party, comments.
Scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences, the University of Agriculture in Kraków and the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Radom participate in the programme. The investment is to be completed in 2024. Its cost is over 23 million PLN.
We recommend watching the video material prepared by TVP3 Kielce: www.kielce.tvp.pl/44569257/wroca-zolwie-blotne-ten-projekt-ma-przywrocic-unikatowa-przyrode-ponidzia