ZONE PROTECTION

The first legal act in Poland which took under protection breeding sites of ten most endangered species of birds was the resolution of the Ministry of Forestry and Timber Industry, issued in 1983, prepared in cooperation with the Eagle Conservation Committee and Gdansk Ornithological Station. Nowadays, an amended act, of 1st October 2001, and a resolution of the Ministry of Environment concerning protection of animal species, dated 26th September 2001, govern nature conservation in Poland. Zone protection of nest-sites covers ten species of raptors and the Eagle Owl (table 1). Among this group, the following species deserve special attention: the Spotted Eagle, which is globally endangered, and the White-tailed Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle. The Polish populations of latter two species account for ca 20% of the European populations and therefore their condition bears significance for the species survival on the scale of continent.

Table 1. List of birds of prey taken under zone protection, categories of threat and the periods when partial protection zones are valid

Species	Category of threat		Maximum distance from the site of breeding and regular occurrence		Periods of partial protection zones in force
	PCKZ	SPEC	Strict protection zone	Partial protection zone
White-tailed Eagle	LC	3	200	500	1 January - 31 July
Golden Eagle	EN	3	200	500	1 January - 31 July
Lesser Spotted Eagle	LC	3	100	500	1 March - 31 August
Spotted Eagle	CR	1	200	500	1 March - 31 August
Osprey	VU	3	200	500	1 March - 31 August
Short-toed Eagle	CR	3	200	500	1 March - 30 September
Booted Eagle	CR	3	100	500	1 March - 31 August
Peregrine	CR	3	200	500	1 January - 31 July
Red Kite	NT	4	100	500	1 March - 31 August
Black Kite	NT	3	100	500	1 March - 31 August
Eagle Owl	NT	3	200	500	1 January - 31 July

Categories of threat applied in the "Polish Red Book of Animals" (PCKZ):

CR (Critically Endangered) - extremely endangered species,
EN (Endangered) - species facing a very high risk of extinction,
VU (Vulnerable) - species facing a high risk of extinction,
NT (Near Threatened) - species at lower risk but near threatened,
LC (Least Concern) - species not showing any symptoms of population decline in Poland yet, and do not belong to very rare, the abundance of which can even increase locally and/or temporarily, but the species is represented by small, marginal and insular populations, its Polish population makes at least 10% of the whole population, species is endemic or relict, species is covered by international conventions.

Categories of threat on European and global scales
(SPEC - Species of European Conservation Concern):

• species globally threatened with extinction,
• species whose global population is concentrated in Europe and which have an unfavourable conservation status,
• species whose populations are not concentrated in Europe but having an unfavourable conservation status on this continent,
• species having their global population concentrated in Europe and a favourable conservation status on this continent.

Zone protection of breeding sites

Protection of breeding sites of endangered species of raptors is executed through marking out areas, referred to as zones, which permanently or temporarily safeguard the nest surroundings against any form of disturbing human activity.

Two kinds of zones are created around nest-sites:

A ZONE OF STRICT PROTECTION, valid throughout a year, functions on the principles of a strict reserve - any kind of activity to be performed within this area requires an agreement by the provincial governor. In the case of birds of prey, it is usually a fragment of old forest with one or a few (used alternately) nests as well as resting, roosting and observation trees. For the Eagle Owl, this can also be a piece of open area like peatbogs or marshes. The size and shape of a zone are defined specifically for each species and site on the strength of the rules stated in the resolution.

When determining a breeding site, one should take into account a patch which is similar in character to the fragment of forest comprising the nest. The borders should best coincide with easily noticeable constituents of the landscape, such as roads, ditches, streams, forest division lines, age classes sites, etc. Inclusion into strict zones of forest meadows, arable fields, pastures and woods representing younger age classes should be avoided. In practice, we deal with a variety of situations, the examples of which are given in the maps.

A ZONE OF PARTIAL PROTECTION is an area periodically excluded from human activity, which comprises the closest neighbourhood of the breeding site confined with a strict protection zone. This zone also plays an important part, ensuring that the birds are undisturbed and secure in the breeding season. The experience gained by the Eagle Conservation Committee indicates that a partial protection zone for the Lesser Spotted Eagle, Red Kite and Black Kite can be laid out at a distance of 300 m from the nest. The border can make a circle or, analogously to the strict protection zone, be drawn based on landmarks (roads, ditches etc.).

Bans enforced in protection zones

The act of zone protection imposes a ban on cutting down trees or bushes, conducting land reclamation works, erecting buildings or installations, performing any other activities which may affect protection of breeding sites, and also appearance of people without a permit from the governor of the province. The zones of strict and partial protection should not be specially marked (e.g. with bands on trees). Instead, it is recommended to set up NO ENTRY - ANIMAL REFUGE notices at crossing of roads leading to protection zones.

What should be done on localization of a new nest of a species under zone protection?

Information about finding a new nest should promptly be imparted to the area administrators (usually the State Forests representatives - the forest officer and forest inspectorate) and Provincial Nature Conservator, who is obliged to define the compass of protection zones. The nest itself and the nest-site are subject to legal protection from the moment of notification. The borders of a protection zone to be created are laid down either by the Provincial Nature Conservator or persons entitled by this officer (often KOO members), in cooperation with the land administrator. An analogous procedure should be followed when a new nest is localized within an already existing protection zone. In this case, however, instead of creating a new zone, the old one gets extended.

Is human intervention in protection zones admissible?

When justified, the Provincial Nature Conservation Officer agrees to strictly defined measures to be undertaken within protection zones (specifying the scope and timescale of activities, distance from the nests, etc). Man's intervention in protection zones must not pose a threat to the broods or birds, however.

Invalidation of protection zones

It is permissible to invalidate a protection zone only in the case of permanent abandonment by a bird of its hitherto occupied site. A decision of invalidation requires careful reconnaissance of the situation in the field.

Effectiveness of zone protection

The functioning of protection zones in Poland should receive positive evaluation. The zones established successfully protect the broods of birds of prey against harmful activity of man. Nevertheless, there are some cases (fortunately fewer and fewer) when the zone protection law is broken (fig. 1).

Figure 1. Incidence of violation of the zone protection law around nests of eight species of raptors in 1993-2002 (N=8585) [comparable data for 1994 lacking]

The information acquired during the controls of several thousand broods of rare birds of prey unequivocally indicates that various activities of man pursued in the zones are responsible for an increase in brood losses. Mostly, however, the zones prevent the birds from being disturbed during the breeding season, enhance their attachment to the permanent breeding grounds and, along with the nest, protect the fragment of an old forest stand which constitutes a refuge for many other rare species of animals.