Area: 414,56 ха
Ownership: state - 100%
Description:
Golia Island is a Danubian island, located in north-western Bulgaria to the east of the town of Vidin, between km 798 and 802, southe of the villages of Kutovo and Slanotrun. The site’s territory includes the Bulgarian bank in this section, the river itself and the western 2/3 parts of the island down to the state border with Romania. The island is overgrown with shrub and tree vegetation – mainly willows and poplars. A small part of it is occupied by farmland.
Birds:
Golia Island is one of the most important sites in the country on European Union level for the conservation of the Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and the Little Egret Egretta garzetta, which nest there in a big mixed colony together with the Grey Heron Ardea cinerea, the Purple Heron Ardea purpurea and the Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo. In winter the globally threatened Pygmy Cormorant Phacrocorax pygmeus also occurs in the area, using the island as a roosting site. The Greylag Goose Anser anser, which is listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985), also overwinter in the area in small numbers.
Threats:
The nature of Golia Island is formed under the high influence of the hydrology of the Danube River. All forest activities related to clear cutting, 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, as well as 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 negative impact on the breeding colonies of birds. The project of construction of a new bridge across the Danube River between the towns of Vidin and Kalafat is not expected to have negative impact on the island and the breeding colony there if the main construction work takes place out of the breeding season.
Legal protection:
The area is not protected by the national nature conservation law. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. The proposed SPA is in a close vicinity to a proposed Special Protection Area in Romania.
