Area: 1168,0 ha Altitude: 21-38 m
The island of Vardim is the third biggest Bulgarian island along the Danube. It is situated on the Danube River from km 546 to km 542, east of the town of Svishtov and north of the village of Vardim. Vardim Island is almost entirely covered with natural riverine forest, which in its western part was cut and turned into poplar plantation. The main habitat on the island is a natural floodplain forest with complex structure. Unique for the site is the association of Quercus robur, Quercus pedunculiflora and Ulmus laevis. In the oak part of the forest there is undergrowth with the participation of Amorpha fruicosa, etc. The rest of the island is dominated by White Poplar Populus alba and Black Poplar Populus nigra and the vegetation there has poorer species composition compared with that on the Danube banks. The open grasslands occupy a relatively small area. In the period of high spring waters the island gets flooded, but during the rest of the year it remains dry. Temporary sand strips with no vegetation appear in its western and eastern parts (Doykov 1990; Ivanov 1993).
Vardim Island is a representative area for birds dependent on riverine forests habitats. It supports 75 bird species, 21 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 31 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 2 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 11 in SPEC 2 and 18 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The international importance of Vardim Island is determined by the fact, that it is one of the five most valuable Bulgarian sites for the breeding Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, that form considerable colonies there. By 1985 the Pygmy Cormorant Phalacrocorax pygmeus, Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides and Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus also used to breed there (Grimmett, Jones 1989), but in recent years this is no longer the case. Recently the White-tailed Eagle Haliaetus albicilla breeds again on the island.
About 9 % of the area is protected by law through designation of the „Staria Dab” protected area in 1971. The aim is to protect the unique oak forest. In 1998 Vardim Island is appointed as CORINE Site because of its European value for habitats, rare and threatened plant and animal species, including birds. In 1989 the area was designated as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International. Site classified as SPA by Council of Ministers Decision from 02.03.2007. Issued designation order by the Minister of Environment and Water with prohibitions and restrictions on activities contradicting the conservation objectives of the SPA – Order No. RD – 560/05.09.2008.
