State: PlevenArea: 1260,94 ха
Ownership: state - 98.5%; municipality - %; private - 1.5%;
Description:
This is a group of 3 bigger permanent islands (Lakat, Gradina and Palets) and several smaller temporary ones, that appear in periods of low waters in the Bulgarian section of the Danube, the river itself and a flooded poplar plantation between km 584 and 593 east of the town of Nikopol. The site’s northern limit coincides with the state border with Romania. To the south it is limited by the Belenska lowland and the Nikopol Plateau. Lakat island is the biggest in the group. It is covered by shrub and tree vegetation – mainly willows Salix spp. and poplars Populus spp. Sand strips and smaller islands are formed in periods of low water between it and the neighbouring islands.
Birds:
The island complex is of global importance as a regular roosting site for the globally threatened Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus and Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, which winters on the sand strips of the island. It is also a one of the most important breeding sites of the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla along the Danube River. The island group is suitable roosting and feeding area for diversity of waterfowl, of which the Smew Mergus albellus, Goosabder Mergus merganser, the Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and the Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo congregate in good numbers.
Threats:
The Lakat Island and its adjacent areas are sensitive to forestry activities in the island and to the hydrology of the Danube River. All forest activities related to clear cutting, removal of the forest undergrowth, afforestation with hybrid poplar, as well as the illegal cutting have negative impact on the riverine forests. The intensive fishery in the area, as well as the hunting cause significant disturbance to breeding 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 and roosting birds.
Legal protection:
The land territory of the proposed SPA (about 45%) is a part of the “Persina” Nature Park, designated in the year 2000 to protect the remarkable ecosystems typical for the Danube River. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. The proposed SPA borders a proposed Special Protection Area in Romania.
