Photo by Badjoby

The city of Warsaw has asked the European Union for funds to bring to life an original ecological project right in the city centre involving an artificial floating and fixed islands on the Vistula river running through the city centre.

The project also includes web cameras to watch birds breed, observation towers as well as a beaches and educational trails.

Warsaw hopes to win funding from the EU Life+ program, which the European Commission grants to Natura 2000 areas. The city officials say their application was first eyed in Brussels with suspicion and surprise.

“They didn’t know that we have such a wild river in Warsaw,” says Michal Olszewski, director of the municipal European funds office.

The project focuses on the bird species, the common tern, which is becoming less and less common in Europe these days. Due to major changes in the water level in the Vistula, terns are sometimes unable to breed for several years in succession because their nests are flooded, says the Warsaw zoo director and ornithologist, Andrzej Kruszewicz.

“But how will the birds know that the artificial islands are a safe haven for them? They will be fitted with bird decoys and fake bird droppings. It is enough to splash the surface with white paint,” Dr Kruszewicz, who prepared the application, explains.

Four floating islands are planned, their area between 150 and 1,200 metres square. The project also envisages fixed islands built away from the main stream. It will cost an estimated 4 million euros, with the EU contributing less than a half of the total sum. (kk/mmj)

Source: Gazeta Stoleczna