Beka nature reserve: protecting coastal heritage with support from WFOŚiGW Gdańsk

Between Mechelinki and Osłonino, where the waters of Puck Bay push inland to shape the picturesque mouth of the Reda River, lies one of the most valuable natural areas of Pomerania — the Beka nature reserve. This unique mosaic of coastal salt marshes, wet meadows and shallow wetlands forms a critical habitat for dozens of species of waterbirds and waders.

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05 december 2025   |   13:37   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Print

fot. WFOŚiGW w Gdańsku

It is also a place that reminds us of the raw power of nature. Beka was once a fishing village located on the territory of today’s reserve — a settlement partially claimed by the sea, earning it the nickname of the “Pomeranian Atlantis”. Only remnants of its foundations and a symbolic cross still mark where the village once stood. For years, the area has been a site of intensive work by conservationists, researchers and NGOs, supported by the Provincial Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Gdańsk (WFOŚiGW).

Salt, water and meadows — a coastal ecosystem like no other

Established in 1988, Beka is one of the oldest nature reserves in the region. It protects rare ecosystems shaped by saline seawater and periodic flooding. These processes created salt marshes — habitats extremely uncommon in Poland, dominated by halophilous vegetation adapted to salinity.

The wet meadows serve as a refuge for open-land bird species such as black-tailed godwits, lapwings, redshanks and greylag geese. In winter, large flocks of bean and white-fronted geese arrive, while migration seasons bring thousands of waders and ducks.

Maintaining this biodiversity requires active conservation. Without regular mowing and grazing, the area would quickly become overgrown with reeds and shrubs, losing its ecological value.

A fund helping maintain ecological balance

For many years, WFOŚiGW in Gdańsk has been a strategic partner and financial backer of conservation activities in the reserve. The fund supports projects implemented by the Polish Society for the Protection of Birds (OTOP), as well as educational and tourism initiatives that help the public understand the importance of this unique area.

Funding from WFOŚiGW has enabled projects such as:

• Active protection of coastal salt marshes and wet meadows in the Beka nature reserve
• In harmony with nature — education for the Beka reserve
• Sustainable tourism and extensive agriculture for the Beka nature reserve

Each project combines hands-on conservation (Polish konik grazing, meadow mowing, watercourse restoration) with broad environmental education and the promotion of responsible tourism.

- The work carried out by scientists, activists and volunteers in the Beka reserve is extremely valuable, which is why we decided to support it,
says Łukasz Tamkun, president of the management board of WFOŚiGW in Gdańsk. - We hope this will not only help protect this unique ecosystem, but also contribute to the sustainable tourism development of Puck municipality. It is worth showing that such a natural gem lies less than thirty minutes from central Gdynia.

Active protection — real work in the field

Projects financed by WFOŚiGW bring measurable results: herds of Polish konik horses maintain a varied, open landscape, while systematic mowing limits invasive vegetation. Restoration of historical water channels improves hydrological conditions and prevents the drying of salt marshes.

Equally important are investments in educational and tourism infrastructure — birdwatching towers, viewing platforms, educational paths and information boards. These allow visitors to explore the reserve safely and responsibly, without disturbing its fragile ecosystems.

- The reserve is not merely a protected area. It plays an important educational role, teaching respect for nature and explaining how this unique coastal ecosystem functions, notes Jędrzej Włodarczyk, head of the education and nature protection department at WFOŚiGW.

Education and cooperation as the foundation of success

Beka proves that nature protection does not have to mean restricting access — it requires thoughtful visitor management. Projects supported by the fund bring together scientists, local farmers, municipal authorities and schools. Field workshops, youth programmes and public events raise awareness of coastal ecosystems and the benefits of sustainable management.

This approach strengthens local engagement, encouraging communities to view the reserve not as a limitation, but as an asset — both ecological and cultural.

- Our efforts in the Beka reserve also serve local farmers and the wider community, emphasizes Łukasz Lesner, vice president of WFOŚiGW. - Only through cooperation can we achieve true balance, in line with the fund’s philosophy of sustainable development.

Beka — a reserve for the future

In an era of climate change, sea-level rise and increasing development pressure, places like Beka gain new importance. The reserve is not only a key bird habitat but also a natural buffer that protects the coastline from erosion and flooding.

WFOŚiGW in Gdańsk consistently aligns its activities with Pomerania’s sustainable development strategy, where nature conservation goes hand-in-hand with education, tourism and ecological safety.

Beka is a place where water, salt, wind and people coexist — in a balance shaped by nature and supported by institutions responsible for environmental stewardship. WFOŚiGW plays a central role as a financier, partner and guardian of sustainable coastal ecosystem protection.

Thanks to areas like Beka, Pomerania preserves its distinctive identity, ensuring that future generations will experience the living, authentic nature of the Polish coastline.

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Rezerwat Beka ochrona przyrody Pomorze WFOŚiGW Gdańsk ekosystemy nadmorskie turystyka przyrodnicza

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