Polski
In Water Matters we wrote about plans to establish another national park: The Lower Oder Valley – Międzyodrze. It’s time to answer the most frequently asked questions about the operation of this newly established protected area.
Who will finance the creation and then maintenance of the Lower Oder Valley Park?
Funding for the Inter-Oceanic National Park will be done in the same way as for the other national parks, i.e. from:
- central state budget (33-36 percent of national park revenues);
- External funds (EU, Norwegian, NFOŚ, WFOŚ, FL; 35proc.);
- own sources of income (business, tolls, leases, subsidies; 33-36 percent).
Does the establishment of a national park mean an end to shipping on the Oder River?
The national park is to encompass the area of today’s Lower Oder Valley Landscape Park, excluding the Regalica and Western Oder streams. Navigation on the two arms of the Oder River will continue under the current rules.
Will motorboats be allowed on the Interspace?
Defenders of Nature is not calling for stricter regulations on the movement of boats with internal combustion engines. It will still be allowed to sail them after:
- Western Oder;
- Eastern Oder (Regalica);
- Old Regalica between the arms of the Oder River.
What will be the future fate of the hydro infrastructure?
It is possible to reconcile active and passive protection of the Lower Oder River NSA with water maintenance activities and the preservation of German hydrotechnical monuments. It is worth restoring the circulation of the waters of the Międzyodrze River by making at least some of the flooded canals accessible. Improved oxygenation is an increase in the welfare of gilled animals. This will allow more efficient restoration of the Oder River’s ecosystems after the golden algae bloom. They may arise, among other things. refugia for scaphopod clams and snails. Revitalization of the locks will allow flooding of selected areas during snowmelt, floods or invasion by hostile armies. In turn, the restoration of former flows in canals will intensify self-purification processes. The examples of the Warta Mouth National Park and Germany’s Lower Oder River National Park show that flood and drought protection complement each other well with bird and fish protection.
What will the local community gain?
Tourism development is an opportunity for areas devoid of industry, commerce and larger military units. The advantage of benefits over losses can be perfectly seen in the Warta Mouth National Park and the Białowieża and Biebrza National Parks.
Will the Międzyodrze remain accessible to tourists and local people?
As in any national park, certain areas will become inaccessible. Tourism will take place on designated waterways, hiking trails, perhaps horseback riding. Camping sites, marinas, footbridges and observation towers will be built. The accessibility of waters and wetlands for ordinary and qualified tourism, especially for ornithologists and anglers, will be improved.
Will admission be ticketed?
Residents of municipalities within and bordering the park are exempt from paying fees. The price of admission tickets, parking and camping fees must not exceed PLN 8. And let’s not forget the numerous exemptions and concessions.
What’s next for fishing on the Intracoastal?
The Law on Nature Protection allows fishing for fish and other aquatic organisms in places designated by a plan of conservation tasks (PZO) or a plan of protection (PO). Fishing remained legal in both Poland’s Warta Mouth National Park and Germany’s Lower Oder National Park. However, a number of additional restrictions have been introduced there, such as: a ban on fishing after dark and stricter bait limits.
Will fishery management in the PN of the Inter-oceanic be banned?
Don’t. It was the fishermen who, along with anglers, firefighters and environmental activists, were a group particularly deserving during the Oder disaster. The principles of pro-environmental fishery management will be further specified in the conservation plan or plan of protective tasks.
Will legal hunting and poaching in the park stop completely?
Hunting of birds, deer, black game and small game will be banned in the Intermountain. Nevertheless, the Law on Nature Protection, the Hunting Law, and the regulations on. invasive alien species permit some pro-environmental activities of a hunting nature.
What will happen to filming and nature photography in the park?
It will be free to film and take photos without disturbing or frightening the animals. Let’s remember that bans on photographing certain species, e.g.: terns and plovers, and even approaching their nests have been in effect for years throughout Poland.
What’s in store for drone operators?
It will be possible to obtain permission from the park’s director to fly a drone over the Interspace as an R zone (restricted area, restricted flight). The most magnificent valleys of the lower Oder River are made from outside the boundaries of the area anyway, so the restrictions should not be onerous.
What conservation goals will be pursued in the park?
The most important tasks of the PN of the Intracoastal are:
- Protection against suffocation, including the elimination of stagnation and flooding;
- Restoration of a mosaic of habitats: riparian forests, hay meadows and pastures, oxbow lakes, large-scale floodplains, underwater meadows of trichinella, duckweed, etc., and water lily meadows;
- bird habitat protection;
- The formation of refugia/gene banks of fish and macroinvertebrates.
In time, it will be possible to move on to other, equally ambitious goals, such as: the reintroduction of European mink.
In the article, I used, among other things. z:
https://pnddo.pl/faq/ (accessed 2.04.2024)
https://www.facebook.com/ParkNarodowyDolinyDolnejOdry/ (accessed 2.04.2024)
https://www.nationalpark-unteres-odertal.eu/obszar/fakty-a-z/ (accessed 2.04.2024)
