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There are no waves (and that's a good thing for some)

28 of January '25
w skrócie
  1. The development of apartment buildings in the first coastline leads to dune erosion, habitat destruction and ecosystem disturbance.
  2. Natura 2000 sites and unique species are threatened by tourism and development, despite conservation measures enshrined in local planning documents.
  3. Construction decisions in the municipality raise questions about the priorities of local authorities and the long-term consequences for the environment.

  4. For more interesting information, visit the home page of the AiB portal

The development of the dunes in Dziwnow is causing controversy - although the region is famous for its unique natural assets, investment pressure is increasingly threatening the ecosystems.

"No waves, no waves, no waves," sings Dawid Podsiadło. This is the song that is probably most often played on the Dziwnow coast.

Dziwnów, a picturesque seaside municipality known for its unique natural areas, does not mind the coastline. Although, when entering the beach, one notices placards prohibiting entry to the dunes, development is being built in their belt. With the completion of the complex next door in 2019, a new apartment building development is already under construction, located on the first shoreline. It rightly stirs up controversy, especially in the context of protecting local ecosystems.

Zrzut ekranu z portalu x.com

Screenshot from x.com

Grzegorz Kurek

environmentally valuable area

The municipality of Dziwnów is an area of high natural value, the protection of which includes: Protective forests, the "Martwa Dziwna" ecological land use, which is a habitat for unique species and an educational and recreational space, comprehensive actions against the devastation of the protective infrastructure of the dunes, which is recorded in the Study of Conditions and Directions of Spatial Development of the Municipality of Dziwnów and the Environmental Protection Program for the Municipality of Dziwnów. Despite this, tourist pressure and investment development are having an increasing impact on the fragile ecosystem. The annual degradation of dune embankments by storm surges, increased tourist traffic, and the development of infrastructure in the coastal strip result in the shrinking of naturally valuable areas.

Profitable investments, but not for the environment

The existing Gardenia Seaside complex (Investor/developer A&M Agnieszka and Maciej Kaczorowscy, number of units - 149) and the new development - CISHA Apartment Building (Area Development, architectural design - Insomia studio, construction work will last 2026, number of units - 83) raise concerns about the long-term impact on the local environment. Planning for a development on the first coastline, certainly intensifies this debate. CISHA is explicitly described on its website as "A year-round luxury complex in the first coastline of the seaside town of Dziwnów" and that "vacationers here will have direct access to the beach."

Local dunes, including valuable habitats on the spit, are already suffering from tourist use and unregulated recreational infrastructure. The main threat to the preservation of the current state of dune vegetation is the increase in tourist use and the accessibility of even the farthest stretches of coastline from the village.

Mapa omawianych inwestycji z zaznaczonymi obszarami ważnymi przyrodniczo

Map of the developments in question with areas of natural importance marked

own study

The construction of apartment buildings on dune areas leads to increased erosion of the dunes through changes in wind and water flow, disturbing the habitat of protected species. Particularly questionable is also the development on the opposite side of the spit strip, in the Natura 2000 area Kamienski Zalew i Dziwna. It is here that at least 26 bird species from Annex I of the Birds Directive, 8 species from the Polish Red Book (PCK) occur.

The Local Spatial Development Plan(MPZP) in the municipality of Dziwnów exists only fragmentarily and selectively, which significantly hinders the preservation of a coherent planning thought. The lack of a comprehensive approach to spatial planning results in investment decisions that take into account neither the needs of environmental protection nor the long-term consequences of development. This results in investments that, instead of fitting harmoniously into the landscape and local conditions, generate spatial conflicts and have a negative impact on valuable areas.

Pokrycie MPZP gminy

Coverage of the municipality's MSP

Screenshot from the map of the Spatial Information System of the municipality of Dziwnów

Fragment gminy - Dziwnów.

Fragment of the municipality - Dziwnów. - In the north, apartematents in the line of the beach are visible, in the central part one local plan is visible.

Screenshot from the map of the Spatial Information System of the municipality of Dziwnow.

The entire area suffers from frequent local flooding due to frequent "backwash" caused by strong winds accompanying storms.

Zrzut ekranu z portalu ikamien.pl

Screenshot from ikamien.pl - archived entry from 2012 and the storm at that time

Tomasz Kargul

Nature protection in the shadow of construction

Decisions on construction permits in recent years in Dziwnów are surprising, because for years much has been done to protect the seashore - there has been artificial recharge of beaches or strengthening of dune embankments. The introduction of these measures was a reaction to repeated destructive storms and the systematic retreat of the dunes. Nevertheless, further development does not seem to stand in contradiction and raises questions about the priorities of local authorities.

Examples from other parts of the coast, such as the construction of a container terminal in Swinoujscie or the Vistula Spit diversion, indicate that infrastructure development without consideration of ecological consequences can lead to irreversible losses for nature.

Perhaps Dziwnów is envious of neighboring Pobierow 's majestic hotel development? We will never know. Perhaps the new mayor, Lukasz Dzioch, succeeding Grzegorz Maciej Jóźwiak, in power in the municipality since 2010, will look at the issued construction decisions with a more critical eye. The continuation of investments in Dziwnów certainly requires a stronger balance of tourist interests and environmental protection.

Magdalena Milert


Sources:

BIP Municipality of Dziwnów. Studium uwarunkowań i kierunków zagospodarowania przestrzennego Gminy Dziwnów. Accessed at: https://bip.dziwnow.pl/pliki/dziwnow/zalaczniki/2863/tekst__studium.pdf, on: January 27, 2025.

BIP Municipality of Dziwnów. Environmental protection program for the Dziwnów Municipality. Accessed at: https://bip.dziwnow.pl/pliki/dziwnow/zalaczniki/1718/Program_Ochrony_Srodowiska.pdf, on: January 27, 2025.

Cisha.pl. CISHA apartment buildings. Accessed: https://cisha.pl/pl/, on: 27.01.2025.

Dziwnow.net. (2015, February). Storm in Dziwnow. Accessed: https://www.dziwnow.net/sztorm-w-dziwnowie/02/2015/, on: 27.01.2025.

Dziwnow.net. (2021, December). The worst is behind us. The wind is starting to die down. Accessed: https://www.dziwnow.net/najgorsze-za-nami-wiatr-zaczyna-slabnac/12/2021/, on: 27.01.2025.

Kamienskie.info. Dziwnów municipality begins fight against vandals. Accessed: https://kamienskie.info/gmina-dziwnow-rozpoczyna-walke-z-wandalami/, on: January 27, 2025.

Labuz, T. A. (2013). Ways to protect seashores and their impact on the natural environment of the Polish Baltic coast. WWF report, 1-180.

Łabuz, T. (2020). Environmental protection of coastal dunes on the Polish coast - areas, forms and effects. In Latest reports from environmental protection and science; Lublin: Tygiel.

Urbanity.pl. Gardenia Seaside. Accessed at: https://www.urbanity.pl/index.php/zachodniopomorskie/kamienski/dziwnow/gardenia-seaside,b14622, on: 27.01.2025.

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