Environment and Infrastructure
Biodiversity

Das Projekt in Kürze

Hintergrund	Under natural conditions, oxbows are part of a dynamic process, with old oxbows being slowly overgrown and new oxbows being created. However, as a consequence of river flow regulation and flood protection measures in the past, this natural process is no longer possible and no new oxbows are created any more. Many of the existing oxbows of the Vistula River suffer from deteriorating conditions. Regulations carried out in the 20th century made the Upper Vistula River Valley losing its natural character. The river bed was straightened out, meanders were crossed by levees. Undeniably, the lack of public awareness of nature values and importance of oxbows (for some of the Vistula communes they are the last "oases of biodiversity") contributes to their destruction. Only in the last two years in Oświęcim district three oxbows were destroyed (dumped/buried), including one with habitat of water chestnut Trapa natans (endangered species in Poland). In order to maintain their important role in the functioning of the local eco-systems, numerous oxbows need to be revitalized.
Ziele	The goals of the project are to maintain and increase biodiversity of the Vistula oxbows, promote popularization of oxbows natural values by increasing the interests in the Vistula River valley as a recreation place and at the same time increasing the awareness of the necessity of its protection.
Zielgruppen	Local communities, local public authorities, education institutions as well as tourists
Aktivitäten	The project will finance revitalization of 15 oxbows and some water engineering related measures, such as deepening of the reservoir, mud removal and renovation of the water sluice, reconstruction of the culverts, tree planting and remove of litter. The project will finance also a detailed nature inventory in the Vistula River valley and awareness building activities directed at local inhabitants and the general public.
Resultate	Erreichte Resultate:   80.5 ha where on-the-ground protection and/or restoration measures have been completed 16 oxbows revitalised High-quality data for ecosystems and biodiversity monitoring available for 29.6 ha High-quality inventory data  on ecosystems and biodiversity available for 742.4 ha 125 m3 waste removed from oxbows and 3 water swamp species displaced/reintroduced 1 field inventory conducted 36 domestic study tours with 260 participants; 155 lectures with more than 1800 participants, 20 workshops with 752 participants and 3 conferences contributed to raising the awareness of target groups 15 educational paths with a total length of 92 km
Verantwortliche Direktion/Bundesamt	DEZA
Kreditbereich	Schweizer Beitrag an die erweiterte EU
Projektpartner	Vertragspartner Ausländische staatliche Institution National State Institute North
Budget	Laufende Phase Schweizer Beitrag CHF    923’500 Bereits ausgegebenes Schweizer Budget CHF    922’428
Projektphasen	Phase 1 01.04.2012 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)

Weitere technische Details

• Sektor nach Kategorisierung des Entwicklungshilfeekomitees der OECD	Unallocated / Unspecified
  Sub-Sektor nach Kategorisierung des Entwicklungshilfeekomitees der OECD	Sectors not specified
  Querschnittsthemen	Projekt fördert die Biodiversität.
  Unterstützungsform	Erweiterungsbeitrag
  Projektnummer	7F07723