State: SilistraArea: 975,88 ха
Ownership: state - 87%; municipality - 12%; private - 1%;
Description:
An island on the Danube with the adjacent section of the river and Bulgarian river banks, km 424 to km 423, located north of the village of Pozharevo and covered by woodlands. The main habitat on the island is a typical riverine forest of willow Salix spp. and White Poplar Populus alba with rich undergrowth. Every year the Danube floods the island, most often in the period February–April. Its banks are covered by sand strips.
Birds:
Pozharevo Island supports 69 bird species, 16 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 25 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 4 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 5 in SPEC 2 and 16 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 21 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 19 are also listed in Annex I of the Birds Directive. Pozharevo island is of global importance as a breeding site for the globally threatened Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus. It hosts one of the five biggest mixed colonies of Night Heron Nycticorax nycticoraх, Little Egret Egretta garzetta and Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides in the country. In winter the island is regularly visited by two other globally threatened species – the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and the Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis. It is of international importance for several other wintering waterfowl species, especially Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Smew Mergus albellus and Greylag Goose Anser anser, which form considerable concentrations there. Pozharevo Island is a roosting and feeding area for the White-tiled Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla.
Threats:
The Pozharevo island is sensitive to forestry activities in the island and to the hydrology of the Danube river. All forest activities related to clear felling, removal of the forest undergrowth, as well as afforestation with hybrid poplar have negative impact on the riverine forests. The intensive fishery in the area, and the hunting, cause disturbance to water birds. Big investment projects related to international transport corridor No1 – Danube river will cause permanent change in the hydrological regime of the river as well as disappearance of shallow waters around the island. It will have a negative impact on the breeding colonies of birds.
Legal protection:
So far 7.4% of the area has legal protection according to national nature conservation legislation. There are two protected areas - the “Sya Kulak” Protected Area, which was designated in 2003 to protect the typical landscapes, and the “Pozharevo Island” Protected Area, which was designated to protect the typical habitats for birds. In 1998 about 75% of the area is appointed as CORINE Site because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds. In 1997 the area was appointed as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. The proposed SPA borders a proposed Special Protection Area in Romania.
