Biosphere reserve of Voronezh. Caucasian Biosphere Reserve. Danube Biosphere Reserve

The Voronezh, Caucasian and Danube biosphere reserves are the largest nature conservation regions located in the post-Soviet space. And what is a biosphere reserve? First of all, it is a protected area, on which there is a unique natural ecological system. In addition, monitoring and study of natural environments are constantly carried out on it and the surrounding land .

History of the Voronezh Reserve

By its creation, the state reserve is primarily due to beavers. Because before the study began on the territory of this national park there was a hunting zoo, in which deer and beaver were first brought. The latter formed a fairly large colony.

The history of the reserve dates back to 1919. Then an expedition was sent here to investigate the nature of the Voronezh province . A group of scientists took four long years to fully investigate the territory on which the biosphere reserve of Voronezh is now located. After that the head of the expedition asked to organize a permanent guard of beavers to prevent their destruction.

Already in 1923 a protected territory was established, which ran along the Usmani River, where less than a hundred beavers lived at that time. Thanks to human care, the number of beavers increased significantly, and they ceased to be on the brink of extinction. In 1927, the protected area officially became a reserve. And in 1985 it became a biosphere.

Main goals

The biosphere reserve of Voronezh is located on the territory of the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions. Its area is more than 30 thousand hectares. The symbols of the reserve are figures of a beaver and a deer, framed by branches.

Nowadays this place is a unique natural territory, on which the diversity of flora and fauna is represented.

The main tasks of the employees are the preservation of island forests, the richness of animal species, and the study of the ecological situation. In addition, the Voronezh State Biosphere Reserve is a place where researchers are engaged in active environmental education of the population.

Vegetable world

On the territory of the modern reserve there is a huge number of rare plants. Here is an amazing combination of oak, pine, birch and aspen trees.

The biosphere reserve of Voronezh is a unique place where a rare taiga plant - blueberry is still preserved. In addition, its territory is a large number of reservoirs. Therefore, here you can find many rare plants that grow on swamps and rivers. Among them, we can distinguish floodplain alders that begin to bloom in the spring, as well as bright flowers of iris and marsh.

In the hot time on lakes and forest rivers there are flowers of egg capsules, water lilies and water lilies. In addition, in this area, especially along the river Ivnitsa, a huge number of ordinary ostrich grows. And on the shore of Lake Chistoe you can see the rarest kind of plants - ordinary lzhekamysh.

Animal world

The creation of the reserve is associated with the appearance of beavers, so the protection and augmentation of these and other animal species is the main direction of work. The biosphere reserve of Voronezh inhabits a large number of large mammals. These are wild boars, roe deer, moose and red deer.

The most numerous predator of the reserve is the common fox. However, on the territory there are also larger predators, for example wolves. Undoubtedly, the most important place in the life of the reserve is occupied by beavers, which from several dozen multiplied to several hundred.

The biosphere reserve "Voronezh" inhabits nine species of the marten. You can often meet badgers. However, the most common are the animals of the hamster family. Among this species, you can often find various voles, for example, common, red, watery and dark.

In the reserve there are also many birds. Most often you can meet geese, sparrows and falcons.

History of the Danube Biosphere Reserve

The history of this protected place originates in 1981, when the Danube floods were created on the basis of the Black Sea Reserve branch. Then it occupied an area of almost 15 thousand hectares. Thanks to the World Bank in 1995, it was possible to organize a huge Danube Biosphere Reserve on the basis of a small protected area.

The current size he received in 1998, after the Decree of the head of state, his territory has increased to almost 50 thousand hectares. The territory of the modern reserve includes the Stentsiv-Zhebrian Plavni, the Zhebriansky Range, and the Channel Island of Ermakov. Included in its composition and fisheries, which is near.

The Program for the Development of Protected Zones provides for the expansion of the Danube Nature Reserve by 2015 through the most valuable wetlands in its ecosystem, which are located from the city of Reni. Consequently, soon the reserve will occupy all the territories of the most valuable wetlands of the Danube region.

Activities of scientists

The Danube Biosphere Reserve was created in order to protect the unique nature of the Danube region. Scientists carefully study the nature of the Danube Delta, conduct background monitoring of the ecological state, and also educate the population.

In addition, research is being carried out in the field of conservation, as well as environmental protection. Of particular importance is the study of anthropogenic factors that affect the state of the ecosystem as a whole. There are also activities that help to reduce the man's man-made influence on nature to a minimum.

The reserve cooperates with international organizations, including work on UNESCO programs. Thanks to this, the attention of the public is actively drawn to the environmental problems of this region.

Not only changes in the flora and fauna of the reserve are being studied, but also hydrological and climatic changes. There is also ongoing monitoring of the state of the Danube, marshes and small rivers.

Flora of the reserve

The vegetative world of the reserve is rich in unique plants. Its flora numbers almost 600 different species. Such a variety of plant life is preserved due to very fertile soil, as well as a large amount of moisture. In addition, the soil contains a huge amount of silt inflicted by the river.

The most popular plant species are the narrow-leaved cattail and reeds. On the banks of the Danube you can see thickets of willows, which are about 100 meters wide. In this area there are white, trehtychinkovaya, loshkaya and other species of this plant. In the coastal part of the reserve you can find amphibian bush, sea buckthorn, as well as tamorizo galozisty.

In the tall grass you can see small areas with aquatic vegetation. White water lilies, thyroid shields, floating and floating salvina are rare species of plants that abound in the biosphere reserve. Photo of unique species was recently seen only in the Red Book of Ukraine. But thanks to the efforts of scientists, rare plants now feel comfortable in natural conditions.

Fauna

The animal world of the Danube Reserve is also unique. The greatest number of species falls on birds. This feature of the reserved place - due to the large number of feed resources. Here you can see a seagull, a heron, a gray goose, a coot, a swan, ducks and a tern. In addition, there are rare species of birds. Among them, one can not fail to mention the pink pelican, the spoonbill, the curly-haired pelican and the red-breasted goose. On the territory of the reserve, not only do birds rest during the flight, but some waterfowl species also winter.

About 100 species of fish can also be found here. Some species are very rare, for example, umber, chop small and large, sturgeon, and also salmon Danube. From mammals on the territory of the reserve you can meet wild pigs, a forest cat and a raccoon dog, as well as several dozens of reptiles and amphibians. Among the inhabitants of the reserve are more than 20 species of insects that are listed in the Red Book.

History of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve

Its history began in 1924. It was from this time on that the protected area was guarded at the legislative level. Earlier here was the organization "Kuban Hunt". The area of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve is more than 250 thousand hectares. This reserve is unique in its beauty and variety of species of flora and fauna.

The Caucasian Biosphere Reserve in 1999 was included in the list of natural sites of UNESCO, which are of worldwide importance. The territory has been included in the international network of biosphere reserves since 1997. This is the only reserve of the Greater Caucasus, which is located at an altitude of almost 3.5 km above sea level.

Security activity

The biosphere reserve of the Caucasus is an object on the territory of which nature protection and educational activities are conducted. But what is the biosphere reserve and what are its main goals?

The Caucasian Reserve is a strictly protected area where rare natural objects with important natural or scientific value can be found. Its employees are engaged in research of rare species found on its territory, monitoring of the mechanisms of the biosphere, as well as monitoring the impact on living organisms of man-made factors, as well as protecting them from these factors.

An important role in the work of reserve scientists is played by the protection of its territory from economic activities, because it must remain without any changes introduced into nature by man. Scientists believe that their assistants are the mass media, which help to conduct educational work among the population.

Landscape of the reserve

The Caucasian national reserve has a unique geographical location. Here you can see high-altitude plateaus, rocks, hollows, cuesta ridges, many small lakes and mountain rivers, coniferous and mixed forests.

What is a biosphere reserve in such a place? It has a mountainous terrain, which is characterized by vertical zonality. Here there are a belt of nival, subalpine, mixed forests, coniferous and beech forests and others. In the gorges you can see forests and meadows, as well as lakes and mountain rivers. The tops of the mountains are covered with eternal glaciers, in which many rivers of the reserve originate.

Vegetation

The plant world of the reserve is diverse. On the same territory there are both tundra plants and heat-loving plants. In total, the flora of the region has almost 3 thousand species, of which more than 200 species are occupied by trees and shrubs.

Unique fir trees grow on the territory of the reserve. In addition, here you can find plants that have been preserved since the pre-glacial period. This is holly, yew, laurel and ginseng. There is also a large number of different berry, fruit and medicinal plants.

Fauna of the Caucasian Reserve

Natural reserves are primarily created for the preservation of unique animals that are living in a certain region. More than 70 species of mammals live in the Caucasian reserve. Among them are a wild boar, a bear, a red deer, a lynx, a Kuban wolf, foxes, a badger, martens and other rare animals. Of particular importance to the reserve are powerful bisons.

In addition, more than 240 species of birds can be found on the territory of the reserve. These are such rare species as the bearded, white-headed sip, golden eagle, Caucasian black grouse. Many of these birds nest in the territory of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve.

The pride of the reserve is a huge variety of fish, of which there are about 20 species. Most often in rivers you can see a brook trout. In addition, there are ten species of amphibians, such as the newt, the tree frog and the Caucasian cross-hair, as well as nearly 20 species of reptiles. The most common of these are the Caucasian lizard and the adder. On the territory of the reserve grows many mushrooms - almost a thousand species. Among them, 20 are listed in the Red Book.