"Osviysky - Krasny Bor" became the first national biosphere reserve in Belarus

The first national biosphere reserve in Belarus has appeared in the Vitebsk region, as reported today at a press conference at the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection by Vasily Kirpichenok, Deputy Head of the Committee's Department.

"The biosphere reserve 'Osvyeysky - Krasny Bor' has been established in our region – it is the first and so far the only one in the republic. The relevant decision of the regional executive committee has passed all expert reviews and approvals in Minsk and was published just a few days ago. Two заказникs - 'Osvyeysky' and 'Krasny Bor' have united to address the issue of the national ecological network. In the future, the issue of creating a national biosphere transboundary reserve based on our new formation and the Russian Federation's 'Sebezhsky' National Park is being worked on. In the future, the transboundary reserve will be included in the Emerald Ecological Network of Europe," explained Vasily Kirpichenok.

He added that the natural complexes of the biosphere reserve are of great importance for the conservation of biological diversity. They form a unified wetland complex,

which includes lakes, humid forests, transitional and raised bogs. The "Osvyeysky - Krasny Bor" Biosphere Reserve is located on the migration route of birds and is a place for their mass nesting. Its territory provides opportunities for studying and demonstrating approaches to sustainable development on a regional scale.

"In addition, the status of the reserve opens up more opportunities for the local population, for their employment - gathering berries and other natural resources, producing eco-friendly products, engaging in tourism, and construction," added Vasily Kirpichenok. In general, according to him, as of the beginning of 2016, there were 327 specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) of republican and local significance in the region, covering a total area of 381 thousand hectares, which is 9.5% of the region's area. But on January 26, 10 more were added to the 76 natural monuments of republican significance. "The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection declared a number of biotopes (watercourses and springs) and adjacent territories as new hydrological natural monuments based on research by the Scientific and Practical Center of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for Bioresources in 6 districts of the region. These are "Druysky", "Genina Gora", "Sarya" and "Kokhanovichi", "Mlynok" and "Rechnye", "Stayki", "Gromyaki," noted the deputy head of the department. This year, work on surveying SPNAs of local significance will be carried out in Beshenkovichi, Braslav, Verkhnedvinsk, Glubokoye, and Shumilino districts.

Ekaterina Knyazeva, BELTA.