The Natural Reserve of marshlands from Satchinez (Timis county)
Geography
The natural reserve of marshlands is situated in Timis county, about 25 km north - west of Timisoara, close to the village of Satchinez. The current reserve is located in the Satchinez and Barateaz areas. Access to the region is provided by modernized roads and by the railway route Timisoara - Lovrin.
The landscape
The total area of the reserve is 2.558 ha.The site is the dominant geographical formationin in the great land of the Tisza Plain; the genesis of this formation is linked to the parallel orogenetic
movements combined with the withdrawal of the Pannonian lake’s water and the processes in the Carpathian Basin network that provided material for sealing the lake. After the withdrawal of the lake’s water, the zone became a large area of swamps that were later drained by the rivers Mures, Bega and Timis.
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| Landscape. photo by Radac Alexandru |
Also called "The Little Delta from Banat", the Natural Reserve of marshlands from Satchinez is a real paradise for birds, being a place of contact for three different plains: Vingăi Plain, Jimbolia Plain, Timiş
Plain,
Plain,
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| Satchinez location (photo by Radac Alexandru) |
and element which diminishes the typical monotony of plains.
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| Landscape. photo by Radac Alexandru |
The landscape found in the heart of the reserve, the profound silence and the specific sounds of every living being brings back the image of the Danube Delta. Sat Chinez reserve is a place where man has little influence on the life cycles of the fauna and flora.
Protected Areas
The reserve is part of the Natura 2000 network and is composed of two important sites:
- ROSCI0115 - Satchinez marshes, site of community interest
- ROSPA0078 - Satchinez marshes, which includes a special protection area for birds.
Flora
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| Alisma plantago-aquatica (source: www.kuleuven-kulak.be) |
So far there are 280 species of higher plants identified in the area. Ponds contain species like Hydrocharis morsus ranae, Lemna minor, Nymphoides peltata, Alisma plantago aquatica, Calendula officinalis, etc. The same species live in the canals, ditches and water holes of the site, including common species like: Alisma plantago-aquatica, Butomus umbellatus, Sparganium erectum , Majanthemum bifolium and Glyceria fluitans. Open water holes in the middle of ponds are surrounded by strips of reed, with the occasional presence of the weeping willow or groves of wiilows. Analyzes carried out by specialists revealed that in addition to the characteristic species of reed marshes such as the Iris pseudacorus, Lycopus europaeus, Lysimachia vulgaris, Mentha pulegium, Symphytum officinale, Calystegia sepium, Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia, a series of components caracteristic to the neighbouring groups of plants were also prezent such as the common Poa pratensis Tripholium repens, Persicaria maculos, Convolvulus arvensis or Silybum marianum. Due to the relatively small area of reed, these infiltrated species are not only found close to their borders, but also they penetrate deep into their inner territory, especially during dry periods.
Fauna
The specific diversity of wildlife is high; here we can find:
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| Niphargus valachicus (photo: Denis Copilas) |
- 9 different species of molluscs,
- 10 species of crustaceans, among which a species of amphipods vulnerable Niphargus valachicus,
- 90 species of arachnids,
- 33 species of dragonflies,
- 611 species of Lepidoptera,
- 188 species of Coleoptera,
- 8 species of amphibians,
- 4 species of reptiles,
- 150 species of birds.
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| Misgurnus fossilis (photo by Agachi Laurentiu) |
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| Triturus cristatus dobrogicus (photo by Agachi Laurentiu) |
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| Bombina bombina (photo Radac Alexandru) |
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| Emys orbicularis (photo Radac Alexandru) |
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| Ardea purpurea (photo: Denis Copilas) |
The site is characterized by the existence of permanent swamps which alternate with areas covered by reed, ponds, meadows and clumps of willows, which are home to around 150 species of birds, of which 32 are protected in Europe. Of these, the corncrake, ferruginous duck and the red-footed falcon are species of global conservative interest. The site hosts three major populations and endangered species in the European Union which is: Ardea purpurea (the purple heron), Plegadis falcinellus (glossy ibis) and Circus aeruginosus (the western marsh harrier).
The site is noted for the existence of a mixed colony of nesting pairs of Nycticorax nycticorax (night heron), Egretta garzetta (little egret) and Ardeola ralloides (squacco heron). Also several pairs of Ardea cinerea (gray hero), Plegadis falcinellus (glossy ibis) and Phalacrocorax pygmeus (cormorant) can be seen in the region. For the latter two species this site is one of the few nesting sites outside of Dobrogea. Here we can also see the existence of large mono-specific Ardea purpurea (purple heron) colonies and a colony of Falco vespertinus (red-footed falcons). These marshy areas which were preserved in Banat provide favorable rest conditions for the migratory bird species that cross the Bulgarian migration route from west.
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| Nycticorax nycticorax (photo: Radac Alexandru) |
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| Egretta garzetta (photo: Agachi Laurentiu) |
The name of the reservation is given by the nearest town, which has a long history. It is believed that "Chinese"(chinez) was actually "Prince"(cneaz) because here reigned Paul Chinezu, head of the Timişoarean County, wich the turks fear greatly. They say he had a terrible cruelty and his amazing power frighten enemies.
Occupations of the inhabitants are agriculture, animal breeding, milling, baking, woodworking, industrial activities of food processing and exploitation of oil and gas. It is noted the preservation of traditions of wicker stitching for over 40 years in Satchinez and in Călacea the development of tourism.
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| Falco vespertinus (photo: Denis Copilas) |
In all these places the traditions and customs of the past are preserved and in every year they organize celebrations for the patronage of the churches, different prayers, days of the communes, balls on Easter and Christmas, contests, days of harvest and specific events such as "The guilds fair of Carani ".
References
- KISS A., 2002, Rezervația ornitologică Satchinez, Ed. Excelsior, Timișoara.
- STĂNESCU D., 2005, Mlaștinile Satchinez, Ed. Artpress, Timișoara.
- PÎRV O., HANYECZ K., HARSANYI D., KARDOS M., KERTESZ E., KOVACS F., NEMEH A., RAKONCZAI J., SUMEGI P., SZELEKOVSZKY L., SZUDAR B., 2006, Peisajul născut din ape, Ed. Bekes Magyei Onkomanyzat, Ungaria.
- http://www.turismland.ro/mlastina-satchinez-banat
- http://romaniaoriginal.info/rezervatia-de-la-satchinez-delta-banatului
ACTS NORMATIVE - The Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31992L0043 - The Birds Directive 79/409/EEC
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:020:0007:0025:EN:PDF
Standard forms of sites - ROSCI0115, Swamp Satchinez name
http://dev.adworks.ro/natura/situri/224/Mlastina-Satchinez.html - ROSPA0078, Swamp Satchinez name
http://dev.adworks.ro/natura/situri/81/Mlastina-Satchinez.html - ROSCI0115, Swamp Satchinez name
http://biodiversitate.mmediu.ro/rio/natura2000/view?doc_id=ROSCI0115 - ROSPA0078, Swamp Satchinez name
http://biodiversitate.mmediu.ro/rio/natura2000/view?doc_id=ROSPA0078
Written by Agachi Laurentiu
