Site: Mokrady dolního Podyjí (floodplain of lower Dyje River)

Designation date: 02-11-1993

Coordinates: 48°50'N 016°45'E

Elevation: 152 m - 180 m

Area: 11,500 ha

Location: The site is located around the city of Breclav in the southern part of the Breclav district in Southern Moravia.

Criteria: 2 ,3 ,4 ,6

Importance: Mature floodplain forests with a predominantly natural species composition represent the largest remaining fragments of hardwood floodplain forest of the Ulmenion alliance in Central Europe, with a predominating association of Fraxino pannonicae - Ulmetum. The whole site is a biocorridor of international importance, including a number of important biocentres (e.g. a protected gene pool site for oak and ash at soutok, covering 900 ha). The site supports a number of rare plant species, such as Leucojum aestivum, Scilla vindobonensis, Iris sibirica, Hottonia palustris, Cardamine parviflora, Carex melanostachya, C. strigosa, Euphorbia lucida, E. palustris, Lycopus exaltatus. There are hundreds of invertebrate species associated with old solitary oak trees. A number of them are likely to be critically threatened but not all of them have yet been scientifically identified. There are numerous important amphibian breeding sites (e.g. Triturus cristatus and frogs Rana arvalis and R. ridibunda,). Notable mammals include the otter Lutra lutra, the beaver Castor fiber, and bats. The site includes 72 threatened bird species, of which the birds of prey Haliaeetus albicilla, Milvus migrans, M. milvus, Falco cherrug, Alcedo atthis, storks Ciconia ciconia and C. nigra, herons Ardea cinerea, and the goose Anser anser breed in the floodplain. The tern Sterna hirundo, the cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, and the gull Larus melanocephalus, are breeding in the Nové Mlýny Reservoirs, the most important staging, wintering and breeding area of the site. On the reservoirs, geese Anser fabalis (max. 50,000) and A. albifrons (5,000) are the most important wintering species. The reservoirs are also a noteworthy summer roosting point for the goose Anser anser (max. 10,000).

Wetland Types: 9 ,6 ,4 ,1 ,Xf ,Ts ,M (dominant types shown in bold)

The floodplain of the Lower Dyje River includes predominantly floodplain forests, floodplain meadows, pools, two artificial water reservoirs and a system of small fishponds.

Biological/Ecological notes: The site includes 129 breeding bird species and many other migrating and/or wintering species. The most typical tree species include oak Quercus robur, Fraxinus angustifolia, Ulmus minor, Populus alba. Temporary spring pools support typical invertebrate communities of Lepidurus apus, Siphonophanes grubii and Conchostraca.

Hydrological/Physical notes: Originally, the site contained a continuous complex of floodplain habitats along the Dyje (Thaya), Morava (March), Svratka and Jihlava Rivers. The complex is nowadays segmented due to the construction of three artificial reservoirs (the Nové Mlýny Reservoirs), of which the Middle and Lower Reservoir are included within the Ramsar site. Furthermore, the site includes remnants of originally large areas of wet meadows, oxbows, backwaters and small pools. But the area has been altered by channelisation of the riverbed and by ploughing up of adjacent meadows, and a fall of groundwater table. The whole site, and the floodplain forests in particular, still possesses a considerable self-purification function.

Human Uses: Much of the site is under formal protection status. Land uses include timber extraction, hunting and farming. The water reservoirs are used for irrigation, recreation, angling and fishery. Besides numerous excursions, there are plans for a nature trail construction at Pohansko around the Nové Mlýny Reservoirs, and for a cycling nature trail near Lednice.

Conservation Measures: The floodplain of the Lower Dyje River is an Important Bird Area, of which part is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve. A large part of the site is included in the protected area of natural water accumulation "Kvartér Moravy." The floodplain forests between Lednice and Breclav are listed among protection zones of water resources. Nine small areas are protected as nature reserves (in total about 340 ha, including three National Nature Reserves, one National Nature Monument, one Nature Reserve and four Nature Monuments). The Biosphere Reserve Palava has been expanded to include the Dyje-Morava floodplains resulting in a large overlap of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with the site. The Nové Mlýny Middle Reservoir (180 ha) and Sekulska Morava (25 ha) have been proposed as Nature Reserves. Management plans for the sub-sites are under preparation. Restoration of the natural water regime, including unhindered spring floods, is now being accomplished. Further restoration of wet meadows has been proposed and improvement of wetland habitats at the Nové Mlýny Middle Reservoir has been approved by the Ministry of Environment. Some ploughed meadows, nowadays arable fields, are likely to be returned to previous habitats of wet meadows. The site has been included on the Montreux Record on June, 6th, 2005.

Adverse Factors: The greatest harm has already been done by the channelisation and deepening of almost all sections of the main rivers, and the catastrophic drop in the groundwater table. Since the construction of the Nové Mlýny Middle Reservoir spring flooding, typical for the floodplain biotopes, was prevented. Further negative factors include severe water pollution and large-scale timber extraction. Changes in ecological character are a threat.

Site Management: Protected Landscape Area Pálava Administration, Mikulov, District Dept. for the Environment, Bøeclav. No further contact details provided.

External Link:

Based on the 1993 Ramsar site information provided. This site entry was slightly revised on 28 August 2003, based on information contained in the 2002 Ramsar National Report, and on 29 September 2003, following the receipt of new official information.