Background The valuable natural environment of the Vistula river valley is partly protected by several Natura 2000 sites, including the “Middle Vistula Valley” SPA. This special protection area includes a 210 km-stretch of the Vistula River and covers an area of 308 km². Some 280 bird species have been recorded in this area. Of these, 160 species regularly breed here – at least 23 of these are listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive. The Vistula and its tributaries (Bug, Narew, Wkra and Bzura) also provide important migration corridors for many European bird species, such as those breeding in Scandinavia, the northern part of Russia, the Baltic countries and northern and central Poland. Various rare and endangered European mammals and butterfly species also use migration corridors provided by the river and its tributaries. The Vistula in its central course forms natural sands islands, which together with its specific plant and animal species, makes it a unique habitat. Moreover, many relict tundra plant species, as well as a complex of natural habitats dominated by poplars and willows are found in the Vistula Valley. The river has also acted as a historical corridor for the dispersion of plant species. Objectives The general project objective is to restore the breeding colonies of waders, gulls and terns in the Middle Vistula Valley Natura 2000 network site (SPA), especially those within the Warsaw borders. Other objectives include: Improving connectivity within the site by restoring areas of river habitats; and Improving the protection/conservation value of the SPA by increasing the ecological knowledge of Warsaw citizens of the importance of protecting threatened bird species, their type of land-use, and necessary actions for conserving species and their habitats. Expected results: Improvements in the conservation status and/or habitat conditions of at least 100 bird species; The establishment of at least four new stable colonies of Charadriidae; Four sets of floating islands (over a total area of 150-1 200 m²) will be constructed to provide new environments for 200 breeding pairs of bird species. These artificial islands will provide stopover places during migration and will increase the amount of habitats for nomadic and over-wintering waterfowl, waders, gulls, wagtails, white-tailed eagles and other species; An increase of at least 100 ha in the flooded area of river habitats; and Over the course of the project, small ‘refuges’ in the form of stable islands of not less than 2 ha will provide new habitats for spawning fish.