Thanks to the cooperation of Polish and Czech municipal authorities, the Green League Foundation and WWF-Poland, the initiative to protect the border meanders of the Oder River has been transformed from theoretical to practical. As part of the Space for the River project, a field lesson plan and an educational trail route were developed for Polish and Czech schoolchildren. The path aims to introduce students to rare and endangered wildlife and their habitats. The course of the path has been planned to connect with marked cycle paths, so that it can also be used by tourists visiting the meanders.

Since 1998, WWF Poland and the municipality of Krzyżanowice have been working together to preserve and protect the Oder's border meanders. In 2004, the Silesian Governor declared these areas of special natural value a protected landscape area. This area encompasses numerous meanders of the Oder River, as well as riparian land, including meadows and fragments of floodplain forests. The meanders of the Oder River in the area of the municipality of Krzyżanowice between Chałupki and Zabełków are unique in that they contain rare plant communities protected on a European scale. More than 126 plant species have been found here, as well as many endangered animal species, such as rare butterflies, beetles, roseate, screech owl, mountain toad, European beaver, river otter, kingfisher and river plover. River processes such as the washing up of banks, the formation of shoals, gravel islands and oxbow lakes, and even the interruption of river bends, are taking place on the border Oder. As part of the project, WWF Poland and the municipality of Krzyżanowice are preparing nature trails and field lessons for students from Polish and Czech schools to raise environmental awareness among young people and the region's inhabitants.

Because of its unique natural habitats and diversity of flora and fauna, the area of the meanders of the Oder River has been submitted for protection within the Natura 2000 network. In order to secure the continued development of the river and the protection of nature, the concept of Space for the River was created, which aims to combine nature conservation with the use of the river valley for utilitarian purposes. This project has been carried out by WWF Poland, the Green League Foundation, the Department of Botany at the University of Silesia and the Municipality of Krzyżanowice since 2005. In order for the space for the river to fulfil its function, it takes into account the needs for protection against erosion and flooding, as well as the need to protect bridges, roads and buildings. As part of the project, changes in riverfront land use, such as the exchange, purchase or lease of land exposed to lateral river erosion, are planned to help minimise economic losses in the future.

The Space for the River concept aims to ensure that rivers have sufficient space to preserve important channel-forming processes, while preserving existing infrastructure and avoiding losses to private riparian landowners. This type of solution is used in other European countries such as France, Switzerland, Austria and Germany. A nature trail in the area of the Border Meanders of the Oder was opened in October 2006, with the support of the Municipality of Krzyżanowice, the Poviat Starosty of Racibórz and the Green League Foundation from Katowice.

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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Educational trail on the Oder Meanders

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