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onsdag, oktober 16, 2024

In Poland, the Oder basin faces a dire restoration


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“That is the place saving the Oder begins,” says hydrobiologist Robert Czerniawski pointing at an not easily seen rivulet which falls first into the Drawa river after which into the Oder. The Polish basin of Oder is equipped by ten thousand streams and rivulets like this one. 

Only a few years again, concrete rings within the now meandering rivulet made positive that ”water flowed shortly and freely, with out the potential for creating any dwelling circumstances, like in a canal”, Czerniawski explains. For the reason that removing of the concrete parts and restoration, the water within the rivulet can clear itself and trout has returned to spawn. “Nature makes use of one thing instantly,” Czerniawski doesn’t disguise his fascination. “Moreover, now the water move is far slower due to the bends”. Because of this it stays longer within the setting as an alternative of simply dashing in direction of the Baltic Sea. 

Oder basin map
The Oder basin. | ©​​Marek Kowalczyk

The Oder catchment space covers one third of Poland. What occurs in Drawa river or in anywhere in Higher or Decrease Silesia, has an affect on the situation of your entire Oder river. “Subsequently, it isn’t sufficient to deal with the Oder riverbed solely. It’s as if, when saving a tree, we solely handled the trunk and ignored the crown, leaves, and roots,” explains Artur Furdyna, ichthyologist and the sphere coordinator of the venture LifeDrawaPL, the costliest river restoration venture within the historical past of the European Union. The EU allotted virtually seven million euros to create applicable circumstances for the return and growth of critically endangered species of fish and aquatic vegetation and the development of fish passes on the Drawa River. Now, amongst others, salmon, which is an indicator of excellent water high quality, can migrate freely once more. 

Robert Czerniawski (left) and Artur Furdyna. | Photo: ©Marek Kowalczyk
Robert Czerniawski (left) and Artur Furdyna. | Photograph: ©Marek Kowalczyk

“We won’t survive with one salmon”

Some native farmers are sceptical about salmon safety within the space. They’ve one other drawback: “the small lakes within the higher a part of the Drawa River are virtually dry”, says Stanisław Baliński, a 74-year-old farmer throughout a gathering in regards to the challenges for the Drawa basin. He stresses the necessity to enhance the water stage on one of many lakes within the space. He doesn’t perceive why there’s a scarcity of water in Drawsko Lake District if there may be as a lot rain as at all times. 

“Drought can nonetheless happen regardless of the conventional rainfall”, reminds Furdyna. “Our actions, amongst others pumping out underground water to irrigate crops, scale back the absorption.”


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Czerniawski, who can be current on the dialogue, emphasises that we can’t solely take a look at our personal yard whereas talking about water sources. If we plan to intrude, we should do it properly, whereas contemplating your entire ecosystem, as a result of uncoordinated actions will trigger hurt. “We can’t simply place a weir or a penstock in the next place and don’t care what occurs downstream”, warns Czerniawski.

The specialists’ arguments don’t appear to persuade the native farmers. They declare that they’re ”combating for survival and meals safety” since ”we won’t have sufficient with only one salmon.”

Hydrobiologist Tomasz Krepski warns towards such statements. “If we don’t deal with each stage of this ecosystem we may have water that shall be of no use to us.” 

Which meals safety? 

Furdyna is questioning which meals safety the farmers from the Drawsko Lake District are speaking about. “Ten p.c of the present manufacturing could be sufficient t…

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