On 9th September 2016 there was an educational rafting on the river Drawa, the second event organized within the framework of Active education, within the framework of the project entitled LIFEDrawaPL “Active protection of water-crowfoots habitats and restoration of wildlife corridor in the river Drawa basin in Poland.” The rafting began on a campsite in Złocieniec from where all participants went to Rzepowo, where the route started. Among those responsible for active education and conducting a nature contest were the members of LIFEDrawaPL team and RDEP in Szczecin: dr Piotr Waloch and mgr Artur Furdyga.
After about three hours of active rowing, combined with active education within the scope of the upper Drawa wildlife, the participants – safe and sound – reached Złocieniec. During the meal, which ended the rafting, a short written test was conducted, which emerged the winners of the knowledge competition. In several cases it was necessary to ask in extra time about characteristic aquatic plants occurring on the route. All participants presented an extraordinary knowledge of nature related to the river ecosystem. The greatest knowledge, awarded I place in the nature competition, was presented by the employees of Forest District Szczecinek and BULiGL in Szczecinek: Mr Andrzej Brusiło and Mr Tomasz Babiak. The prize for the second place was given to the employees of Forest District Połczyn: Ms Małgorzata Gabryszak and Mr Dariusz Warpachowicz. After a fierce battle the III place was taken by Ms Małgorzta Mickiewicz (RDEP Szczecin) and Mr Krystian Potyralski (Szczecin). Congratulations!
The educational rafting on the upper Drawa enabled individual contact with the wild nature of the river and westpomeranian landscapes. During the route the participants could familiarise themselves with some protected habitats strongly connected with the river valley, such as: water-crowfoots rivers (code 3260), eutrophic lakes (code 3150), alder riparian forests and water-heads (91E0), oak-hornbeam forests (9160), mesotrophic beech forests on slopes (9110). The most characteristic species of aquatic plants were presented. The participants could also hear about the fish fauna inhabiting the upper Drawa. There were also some information about certain activities within the LIFEDrawaPL project (the Drawa restoration in Głęboczek and Złocieniec), some interesting facts about the role of the river ecosystem and its functioning and threats to which it is exposed.
A short film about II Rafting within the project LIFEDrawaPL can be viewed at:
http://drawalifeplus.rdos.szczecin.pl/en/films/
