Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. 25/01/2010. Belarusian Lakeland: 85,149 ha; 54°38'N 028°30'E. Biosphere Reserve: Natural Area of Strict Protection, Important Bird Area (IBA), Important Plant Area (IPA). This Ramsar Site is located in the northern part of the country, in the Belarusian Lakeland area. The site lies on three administrative districts in the watershed of the Berezina and Essa rivers basins, Lepel and Dokshitsy districts (Vitebsk region) and Borisov district (Minsk region), its nearest industrial centre being Minsk city. The reserve is a unique complex of coniferous and broad-leaved forests, floodplain, transition mires and raised bogs, meadows, floodplain black alder and birch forests. Forested rivers and lakes cover 86,5 % of the territory. Mires have become rare in Belarus as a result of heavy drainage activities and have practically disappeared in Central Europe. The complex of the reserves undrained mires is one of the largest in Europe and has high-level protection. The reserve is habitat for a number of threatened plant and animal species and it is one of the most important nesting and concentration sites of wetland birds in Belarus. In particular, the site supports 111 species of animals listed in the National Red Data Book of Belarus, which represents 59,8 % of the total number of species listed, including 10 mammal species, 58 birds, 2 amphibians, 1 reptile, 2 fish species and 38 insect species. Moreover, the site counts 74 plant species listed in the National Red Data Book. The main factors adversely affecting the site's ecological character are periodic fires and overgrowth of mires with scrub and reed. An officially approved management plan is currently being implemented. Ramsar Site no.1927. Most recent RIS information: 2010.