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Landscape-Nature Protected Complexes
Park Słowiański. Fot. Sebastian Zapolski
Wejście do Parku Słowiańskiego .Fot. Jerzy Wilanowski
Landscape-Nature Protected Complexes are areas of protected landscape valued for their unique scenic and aesthetic values.
Park Słowiański is a fine example of such complex. It is located within the limits of the town and commune of Szprotawa and covers the area of 85.74 ha. Most of the area is covered with temperate deciduous forest of structure typical for this type of forest stand, including old oak tree stands. There are several dozen Pedunculate Oaks and Sessile Oaks there, some of them recognized as natural monuments.
The complex includes interesting old river beds, marshes, overgrown ponds and spring complexes valued for their natural beauty and a habitat for flora and fauna species typical of such environment.
It is also famous for bog alder forests covering fertile lands with high level of standing water. The most interesting protected animal species found in the complex are European Pond Turtle and Smooth Newt. The complex is habitat for 90 bird species, many covered by the Birds Directive, such as: Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black Woodpecker, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Barred Warbler, Collared Flycatcher and Red-backed Shrike.
The Landscape of Park Słowiański is also shaped by Bóbr river, which has been qualified as mountain river within the borders of the complex.
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History
History
Pracownicy Nadleśnictwa podczas prac w terenie. Fot. Archiwum Nadleśnictwa Szprotawa
Widok na dawną szkółkę leśną. Fot. Archiwum Nadleśnictwa Szprotawa
Leśnik podczas prac na szkółce. Fot. Archiwum Nadleśnictwa Szprotawa
Widok na dawną szkółkę leśną. Fot. Archiwum Nadleśnictwa Szprotawa
Current area of Szprotawa Forest District was established by Director-General of the State Forests on 1st April, 1993. Earlier it had also included Żagań Sub-district (from 1976).
First chronicle notes on forest economy in the area are dated as early as 1430. According to chronicles, in 1430 the town of Szprotawa already had its own forester to manage town forests. The forests covered the area of about 4300 ha and were located in south-eastern area of the contemporary Szprotawa Sub-district. They also included the area of "Buczyna Szprotawska" that had been a protected area for a long time and in 1930s gained status of a nature reserve covering the area of 85.20 ha. The reserve in its current shape covers the area of 152.30 ha. Two commemorative stones dedicated to successive Forest Inspectors of town forests from 19th century can be still admired in the reserve.
In addition to "Buczyna Szprotawska" there were two other reserves in the District - "Wysoki Las" (Tall Forest) and "Błota nad Szprotą" (Marshes by Szprota). The District Inspectorate also protected its natural monuments – "Chrobry" Oak, at the time known as "Wielki Dąb" (Huge Oak) ("Grosse Eiche") and "Buk Trębacza" (Trumpeter's Beech) ("Trompeterbuche").
The remaining forests of the present Szprotawa Forest District were owned by rich landowners and local farmers. Even today tourists can admire border stones of Heinrich von Neuman – 19th century owner of Wiechlice estate and the neighbouring lands.
Modern history
Szprotawa Forest District was established in 1946 and covered the area of current Szprotawa Sub-district amounting to about 8000 ha. The original division was very simple – one section constituted one unit.
Between 1945 and 1951 the division was based on an approximate age class table.
From 1952 to 1965 forest management was based on the provisional plan and finally in 1965 a definitive plan based on complete appraisal was drawn up.
During all the years that have passed since the end of WWII the State Forests, including Szprotawa Forest District, have gone through a number of reorganizations and territorial divisions.
In the 1970s, as a result of enclosure of units, a single large Forest District was formed to include 4 Sub-districts (Szprotawa, Małomice, Żagań and Żuków) and cover the area of more than 100 000 ha. Currently Szprotawa Forest District includes two Sub-districts (Szprotawa and Małomice) having approximately 19 000 ha of forests each, with total territorial range of 65 000 ha. As part of the Lower Silesian Wilderness Szprotawa Sub-district forms compact whole, whereas Małomice Sub-district includes over 300 forest complexes, including 106 with area below 1 ha and 114 with area from 1 to 5 ha. Field and forest border of the Forest District is about 1000 km long, which makes it comparable with the lengths of Polish-Czech and Polish-Slovakian borders altogether.
Since 1946 Szprotawa Forest District has been managed by seven Forest Inspectors (including the current one). The most famous Forest Inspector was Zygmunt Patalas (1951 - 1952), who was later appointed the Director of Forest Research Institute in Warsaw. From 1947 to 1951 Białobrzezie Forest District Inspectorate (from 1951 known as Żuków Forest District Inspectorate, included into Szprotawa Forest District Inspectorate in 1973) was managed by Adam Szczerba, who was later appointed the Director-General of the State Forests.