Current view: Text account
Site description (2002 baseline):
Site location and context
The IBA covers the most significant part for biodviersity conservation of the Sozh floodplain from the mouth of the Besiad river up to the Vetka river. The Sozh floodplain is about 5-6 km wide. The floodplain is mainly present on both sides of the river, though sometimes only on one bank or the other.
More than 20,000 geese and 30,000 waders stop off in April-May for feeding and rest. White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons and Ruff
Philomachus pugnax are especially numerous on migration
. The floodplain meadows are used by large breeding populations of the globally threatened Corncrake
Crex crex and Great Snipe
Gallinago media. Breeding Garganey
Anas querquedula, Black Tern
Chlidonias niger, and Bluethroat
Luscinia svetica are also high in number.
Non-bird biodiversity: No special flora and fauna studies have been performed on the site.
The floodplain is dominated by steppe-type and wet meadows. Fens with a weak peat layer are mainly found in depressed areas. Numerous oxbows, most of which are extremely overgrown with vegetation, are scattered across the floodplain. Floodplain forests are represented by one small oak-wood tract. Hay-making and cattle pasturing used to occur on the site. In 1986 the IBA was contaminated by radiation following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion. Since then the economic use of the area has been very limited.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
The main threat to the biodiversity is the cessation of traditional economic activities, resulting in the rapid encroachment of shrubs on open meadows.
National Conservation Status: none.International Conservation Status: An IBA was established in 1998 (code BY 021, criteria A1, Â2).
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Sož floodplain (Belarus). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/sož-floodplain-iba-belarus on 24/12/2024.
