Inclusion of new sites (mires)

Bembeńskie moss fen, 11,9 ha, the Lesser Poland Province, Alpine region, comprising three alkaline fens in the Bembeński stream valley in Orava. One of them belongs to the most valuable alkaline fens in the Polish Carpathians, with efflux of calcareous waters and sedimenting tufaceous limestone, trav-ertines, and with a number of unique indicator plant species (e.g., Pinguicula vulgaris, Carex davalliana). This complex was discovered during a biological inventory in summer 2010 (Stańko & Kiaszewicz 2010). In 2013, Z. Książkie-wicz identified there also a strong population of Vertigo angustior in this part of Poland linked with habitat 7230.

Orava moss fens: 79,0 ha, the Lesser Poland Province, Alpine region, three well-developed alkaline fens. These land forms were discovered during a bi-ological inventory in the summer of 2010. One of these areas is a unique and exceptionally valuable example of a complex of co-occurring fens of different types – alkaline fen surrounding the Orava raised bog, not included yet in the Torfowiska Orawsko-Nowotarskie Natura 2000 site, comprising patches of bog forest and transition mire (although most of raised bogs, bog forests and transition mires – in Orava are included in the network (still the existence of the whole complex comprising various fen types is an ancillary argument for designation of this area). This area is characterized by the occurrence of

Fig. 38. Location of the Orava moss fens.

Photo 106: The Orava moss fens, essential to be included in the Natura 2000 network as a new Natura 2000 site (photo by P. Pawlaczyk).

vast patches of Caricetum davalliane, Eleocharitetum pauciflorae, and Scorpid-io-Caricetum diandrae.

In 2013, Z. Książkiewicz identified a strong Vertigo angustior population in this complex in this part of Poland closely associated with alkaline fens 7230.

Serafin fen – 322,6 ha, the Mazovian Province, Continental region, the largest live moss fen and transition mire in the Mazovian province, the Torfowisko Serafin nature reserve is at the core of the proposed area. This moss fen is the largest in Mazovia, and the water supply is very good. The fen orchid pop-ulation comprises several hundred plants, while Hamatocaulis vernicosus is locally very abundant. Floristically, it is the richest fen in the Mazovian Prov-ince, harboring very many threatened (13 species included in the Polish Red List) and protected species (33 species). The most valuable of them include four species of orchids: the Liparis loeselii, the extremely rare and endangered Eriophorum gracile, Carex chordorrhiza and very rare and endangered moss species – Hamatocaulis vernicosus, Paludella squarrosa, Helodium blandowii, Tomentypnum nitens, and Sphagnum fuscum. Such an accumulation of rare species in a fen is unique outside glacial extent during the last glacial period (Jarzombkowski & Kozub 2011, P. Pawlikowski, oral information).

Fig. 39. Location of the Serafin fen.

Kłocie Raciąskie – 188,1 ha, the Mazovian province, continental region, the only and large mosaic of fen-sedge bed, moss fens (7230) and hard ol-igo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara sp. (3140) in the Maziovian province, known also as the Lipa fen. The site is a patchwork of Cladium mariscus and tall sedge rushes and scrub communities formed in the area of an exploited fen. Moss fen communities grow in former peat mines and are dominated by Carex elata and sometimes C. rostrata or C. lasiocarpa.

The moss layer is composed of Campylium stellatum, Limptrichia cossoni, and Scorpidium scorpioides. Open water bodies preserved in deeper pits of for-mer peat mines are inhabited by stonewort species (Chara spp.), bladderwort species (Utricularia vulgaris, U. minor, U. intermedia), and mosses, especially Scorpidium moss. In their direct surroundings, they adjoin fen-sedge rushes formed by fen sedge (Cladium mariscus). Water supply in 2011 was moder-ately good. The main assets of this complex include moss fens (7230) and the only calcareous fen in the Mazovian region (Jarzombkowski & Kozub 2011).

Fig. 40. Location of the Kłocie Raciąskie moss fens.

Drzezno – 95,3 ha, the Mazovian Province, lake and adjacent moss fen with the largest in Mazovia population of Liparis loeselii; a potential Natura 2000 site would include two neighbouring alkaline fens: Drzezno (nature reserve) and Nałęcin.

Fig. 41. Location of the Drzezno fen.

Sikory Juskie – 60,1 ha, the Warmian-Masurian Province, moss fen with Liparis loeselii population. In 2007, 1 200 fen orchid plants were found (the largest population in the Warmian-Masurian province, one of the largest in Poland (P. Pawlikowski, unpublished). This population is under surveillance of the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection. Although in 2013 this population went through an abundance crisis with a reduction in several tens of plants due to a very high water level, in 2016 its abundance and area rose again. P. Pawlikowski has identified at least 165 shoots (including 45 gener-ative and a dozen or so juvenile), so this locality still belongs to one of the richer ones in the Warmian-Masurian region. In general, wide fluctuations of shoot numbers are typical of orchids. In spite of fluctuations, the population is in all respects worth incorporation into the network.

Kirszniter – a small (12,0 ha) but well-developed and preserved mid-forest lake-shore moss fen with a population of several hundred Liparis loeselii (one of bigger ones in the Warmian-Masurian province), besides which it is a very valuable and floristically precious alkaline fen.

Fig. 42. Location of the Sikory Juskie fen.

Fig. 43. Location of the Kirszniter moss fen.

Photo 107: Moss fen near Kirszniter Lake in Warmia, the area proposed to be included in the Natura 20000 network (photo by P. Pawlaczyk).

Myszków fen – 51 ha, Silesia, Continental region, in Warta river valley near Myszków. It is the largest area encompassing remnants of calcarous fens in good conservation status with strong populations of Liparis loeselii (Hałabowski &

Błońska 2015) and brown moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus, but also with other valuable species (see Chapter 7) inter alia stands of Scorpidium scorpioides, large areas of Eleocharis quinqueflora, sphagna carpets: Sphagnum teres, Sph.

warnstorfii and Sph. contortum. Partially protected as ecological area „Przy-giełka” but this kind of protection is insufficient (Hałabowski et al. 2016b).

Sławków – a larger area in the Silesian Province proposed to be included in the Natura 2000 network, also known for the occurrence of bats: Myotis emar-ginatus and Myotis myotis, comprising in particular (apart from dispersed smaller patches) key, on the regional scale, complexes including alkaline fens, and important localities for Liparis loeselii (Ł. Krajewski, unpublished). The Szczakowa complex comprises ca. 100 ha of floristically valuable spring fens (habitat 7230) developed at the bottom of the former sand mine (see Chapter 7). Population of fen orchid Liparis loeselii counts more that 2000 plants. Fens in the Biała river valley comprise patches of natural alkaline fens along the valley flanks of the Biała river downstream from Laski village. It covers at least several hectare of better-preserved moss fens in three patches harboring, for

Fig. 44. Localisation of the Myszków fen.

Photo 108: Moss fen in Myszków (photo by Ł. Krajewski).

Fig. 45. Location of the Sławków area.

instance: Liparis loeselii (in total ca. 100 plants at 3 localities, Hamatocaulis vernicosus (at least 3 localities) (see Chapter 7) The moss fen in the Biała Przemsza valley in Sławków is a small (ca. 1 hectare) but floristically valuable natural alkaline fen with Liparis loeselii, Epipactis palustris, Carex dioica, C.

diandra, C. davalliana, Limprichtia cossonii, Campylium stellatum, and Utric-ularia intermedia, found in 2015 (earlier in the 1960s, there were reports of a locality for fen orchid in this part of the Biała Przemsza river valley but until 2015 it had not been found) (Ł. Krajewski, unpublished).

Spring fens near Pogoria lake – 6,2 ha, the Silesian Province, floristically val-uable spring fens developed at the bottom of a former sand mine, hosting valuable flora (see Chapter 7). A population of ca. 120 Liparis loeselii plants found in this complex should be included in the network also from a species conservation perspective. There are good prospects for its protection since, in 2013, shrubs were removed from a part of the spring fen area as a protective measure by a decision of the Dąbrowa Górnicza city authorities. The values of this complex were confirmed in 2016 (Ł. Krajewski, unpublished).