Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve

Raised Bog Rozhnianskoe
Domzheritskoe Lake
Berezina River
Open transition mires are ideal displaying ground for Black grouse. Up to 30 males gather on the Postrezhskoe mire.
The Reserve holds many natural small rivers, surrounded by swampy black alder forests.
The left bank of the upper reaches of the Berezina River is occupied by a huge forest-swamp massif with a predominance of natural complexes undisturbed by man.
Marsh marigold begins to blossom in early spring on the floodplain meadows of the Berezina River.
The most typical plant of raised bogs is the Tussock cottongrass, whose seeds ripen in the end of May.
During the spring flood period the Berezina River floods the whole floodplain and surrounding swampy forests; the flood reaches a width of 2-4 km.
The Round-leaved sundew is a unique carnivorous plant, common in the Reserve’s mires.
The Lesser spotted eagle is protected species of birds of prey, which is common in open biotopes in the Berezina floodplain.
Black alder swampy forests in the southern part of the Reserve represent unique massif of untouched forests at an area of more than 15,000 ha.
The Eurasian beaver is found throughout the whole territory of the Reserve, inhabiting both the Berezina River and its numerous tributaries.
Berries of the Bog cranberry ripen on bogs in spring. It serves as a perfect food for many animal species.
Floodplain meadows of the Berezina River are characterized by the exceptional variety of flora and fauna.

Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve

  • Country: 
    Belarus
  • Site number: 
    1927
  • Area: 
    85,192 ha
  • Designation date: 
    25-01-2010
  • Coordinates: 
    54°43'N 28°20'E
Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Overview

Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve in northern Belarus comprises coniferous and broad-leaved forests, floodplains, meadows, transition mires and raised bogs. The Berezina River, which flows within the Site, is important for regulating water levels and ensuring supply; it supplies groundwater over a large area, maintaining water levels for the Site’s ecosystems, which is especially important due to the extent of the Reserve. The Site has one of the largest complexes of preserved mires in Europe, which have become rare in Belarus as a result of drainage activities. 23 internationally important biotopes are found, of which the rare ones cover more than half the Site. These biotopes support several nationally critically endangered species, such as the greater spotted eagle, European roller and sterlet sturgeon, and provide breeding and feeding grounds for species such as great snipe and common crane. Threats to the Site include river pollution from neighbouring fields and industrial sites, decreasing groundwater levels and overgrazing by cattle.

Administrative region: 
Dokshitsy and Lepel districts of the Vitebsk region, Borisov district of the Minsk region

  • Global international designation: 
    • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • National legal designation: 
    • Natural Area of Strict Protection
  • Last publication date: 
    18-10-2019

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