The first of a hundred. The new reserve will protect ferns that are threatened by cemeteries

The new reserve has an area of ​​almost 65 hectares. On Wednesday, the Regional Director for Environmental Protection in Rzeszów, Sławomir Serafin, signed the decision to appoint him. Thus, the Krzeczkowski Wall became the hundredth nature reserve in Podkarpacie and the first of the hundred to be created on the hundredth anniversary of the establishment of the State Forests.

The new reserve is located in the Krasiczyn forest district and the town of Krzeczkowa. It protects sedimentary rock formed at the bottom of the ancient ocean and a rare variety of tongue fern. The rock with exposed geological layers resembles a wall or wall, hence the name of the reserve.

– This is one of the few exposed layers of Carpathian flysch in Podkarpacie, mixed and folded with various types of rock layers. The history of this place is interesting because there was once a quarry here. Next to the rock outcrop, there is a very rare plant formation in this area called sycamore and tongue fern – explained Przemysław Włodek, forester of the Krasiczyn Forest District. The common tongue is included in the group of endangered species on the Red List of plants and fungi in Poland. One of the greatest threats facing this species is people digging it out and transplanting it into gardens and cemeteries.

The Krzeczkowski Wall is the 100th nature reserve in Podkarpacie. At the same time, it is the first of over 100 reserves proposed for the 100th anniversary of the State Forests.

The head of the General Directorate for Environmental Protection, Piotr Otawski, assured that “this is the beginning of the process.” – We hope that more reserves will be established next year. 209 locations where they could be created have been reported, he said. The reserves are established by Regional Directorates for Environmental Protection; applications are prepared by forest districts.

– This is proof that there are many very valuable natural places in our forests. In this way, we also show that it is possible to reconcile the economic functioning of our organization with nature protection – said Bogdan Jaroszewicz, deputy director general of the State Forests, who also participated in the signing of the act establishing the new reserve.

Sławomir Serafin, the Regional Director of Environmental Protection in Rzeszów, also spoke about the protection of naturally valuable places. – Almost 45 percent The area of ​​the Podkarpackie Voivodeship is covered by various forms of protection. However, only about 11.5 thousand ha are covered by reserves, which is only 0.65 percent of the area of ​​the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, but there will be more – he assured.

Serafin added that there are approximately 70 proposals for new areas that should be included in this form of nature protection (reserve), and their total area is nearly 24,000. ha.