FOREST AREAS OF THE ZAWADZKIE FOREST DISTRICT

The Zawadzkie Forest District, with its significant landscape and natural values, diverse forest and field ecosystems, provides a wealth of aesthetic experiences and serves to satisfy the needs of tourism, recreation, and relaxation. The rich natural, scenic and cultural richness of the forest areas allows for recreational and sightseeing tourism, as well as adventure tourism. Mushroom picking, camping, trekking, pole walking, kayaking on forest rivers and fishing – there are countless ways to actively spend time in the forest, of varying intensity and everyone will find something for themselves. Tourists have three large rest areas, along with bicycle trails totaling 115 km with numerous shelters, three educational trails, and for drivers - 22 parking spaces with shelters, benches and tables are available. The fast-flowing Mała Panew River (the so-called Opole Amazon) flows from east to west through the Forest District, meandering along its picturesque shoreline, admired by hikers, cyclists and kayakers. Within the Zawadzkie Forest District, there are over a dozen reservoirs serving as water storage facilities. These include, among others: the complex of five cascading Pluderski Ponds in the Piotrowina forest district and those built as part of the so-called Small Lowland Retention program: “Regolowiec” in the Haraszowskie forest district, "Liszczok" in the Piotrowina forest district, and “Pilawówka” in the Łaziska forest district.

The Zawadzkie Forest District's forests are part of the "Stobrawsko-Turawskie Forests" Protected Landscape Area; there are also several Nature and Landscape Complexes protecting the most interesting natural sites and areas of so-called

Natury 2000. Smaller sites, such as forest marshes, overgrown meadows and ponds

with rare and protected plant and animal species, constitute numerous ecological sites. Legal protection is also granted to natural monuments, including individual trees, clumps and tree avenues. More information on tourism can be found on the Zawadzkie Forest District website.