Red Marsh Nature Reserve


Red Marsh Nature Reserve is a nature reserve with an area of 11,629.75 hectares located within the municipalities; Goniądz and Rajgród in Podlaskie Voivodeship northeastern Poland. The reserve is located within Biebrza National Park.

History

This nature reserve encompasses one of the few places in the middle of Europe to have retained vast, sparsely populated and relatively undisturbed area of marsh, wilderness located in the Middle Basin of Biebrza. Part of the area is formed by interwar period designated nature reserves: the Red Marsh and Perches. Current site was extended in 1981. A promoter of these sites and an activist for the preservation of remaining natural ecosystems in Poland, professor Simona Kossak, is the author of a daily broadcast on "Radio Bialystok". Presence of this nature reserves and surrounding areas of wilderness was the main reason for the designation of Biebrza National Park in 1989.

Fauna

The Red Marsh, being away from the overflow land, wetlands, and riparian morass of the river, Biebrza is different in nature because it creates bogs overgrown with dwarf trees, which provide an excellent refuge for animals, especially for the rare and protected ungulate – moose, and red deer and roe deer. Many packs of wolves also reside within the reserve.
In addition, these sites are ideal bedding and nesting sites for birds: white-tailed eagle, golden eagle and the lesser spotted eagle which is under strict protection overall.

Flora

A valuable asset of the Red Swamp is not only natural habitat conditions for animals, but also unique vegetation. Plant species under strict protection include: