Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
Berezinski reserve is the largest complex of pine forests mixed with bogs and fens, as well as river floodplains. Water has a special role and place in the condition and structure of the reserve, represented by the Berezina, smaller rivers and streams, canals, oxbows, floodplain water reservoirs, lakes. There are 69 rivers and streams on the territory of the reserve, the largest being the Berezina. All lakes of the reserve are eutrophic and are getting rapidly overgrown with vegetation.
The fauna list of the Berezinski reserve includes 230 bird species, including 179 breeding species. These are mainly forest and wetland species, to a lesser extent these are species affiliated with open spaces and dwellings. 56 National Red Data Book bird species have been recorded on the territory of the reserve.
Non-bird biodiversity: The flora of the reserve currently includes more than 2,000 plant species. Whereas the shares of cold-resisting plants and thermophytes are approximately equal for the whole Belarus (the latter slightly dominating), the Berezinski reserve on the other hand is characterized by domination of cold-resisting plant species. Three new for Belarus plant species have been identified on the territory of the reserve: Omalotheca supina (is located here far beyond its southern range boundary), Carex paupercula, Cystopteris sudetica (an isolated population of this relict species is found in the reserve). 37 plant species are listed in the National Red Data Book of Belarus. 56 mammal species occur on the territory of the reserve, including 8 National Red Data Book species: European Bison Bison bonasus, Brown Bear Ursus arctos, Badger Meles meles, Lynx Felis linx, Myotis dasicneme, Lesser Noctule Nyctalus leisleri, Vespertilio nillsoni, Garden Dormouse Eliomus quercinus.6 reptile and 11 amphibian species have been recorded on the territory of the reserve. One species - Running Toad Bufo calamita is listed in the National Red Data Book.
The reserve's nature is underscored by virgin forests and vast
Sphagnum mires. The site retains some 50,700 ha of mires, now unique for Europe. The elevated northern and central parts of the mire are dominated by transition mires and bogs with isolated mineral islands covered by coniferous forests. The southern part of the reserve contains some large fen tracts, including the whole Berezina river floodplain. Forests are dominated by extensive pine-tree stands. Most pine forests are wet. Many of them are affiliated with bogs and transition mires. Economic activities (agriculture) can be carried out in the economic zone (7,000 ha). The protection zone, which is 2 km wide, surrounds the reserve. The lands of this zone are used by forestries and collective farms. Any activities that may negatively affect the natural state of the reserve are prohibited on this zone.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Disturbance of birds, which has increased significantly over the last several years following higher tourist loads on the site.
Unregulated collection of mushrooms and berries.Intensified agriculture on areas adjacent to the site.
National Conservation Status: State Reserve (zapovednik) was established in 1925
International Conservation Status: Biosphere reserve was established in 1979. In 1993 the Council of Europe included the site into the network of biogenetic reserves. In 1995 the site received the Council of Europe's Diploma. IBA was established here in 1998 (code - BY005, criteria Â2, ÂÊ). It is a potential Ramsar site (criterion 1, 2).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Biarezinski zapaviednik (Belarus). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/biarezinski-zapaviednik-iba-belarus on 23/12/2024.
