The best reserve: Ukraine. All the reserves of Ukraine

The nature of Ukraine is extremely generous and extraordinarily diverse. The beautiful temperate climate and fertile lands, as well as numerous rivers and reservoirs, greatly contribute to the growth of various steppe, meadow and forest vegetation. Unfortunately, human activity in the development of natural lands often leads to the disappearance of rare species of flora and fauna. In order to preserve and, if possible, multiply the rarest and endangered species of plants and animals, as well as preserve unique landscapes and improve the overall ecological situation, the national reserves of Ukraine were created.

What are the reserves for?

The country's reserve fund is part of a natural area that is least affected by humans. It serves for a constant and comprehensive observation of the state and course of natural processes occurring in nature on those parts of the biosphere that remain so far unchanged or altered insignificantly. Reserves of Ukraine are self-regulating natural systems, separated from other ecosystems and various kinds of negative anthropogenic impact.

The state takes care of the water areas and lands belonging to protected areas, and removes them from economic use, as they are the highest form of nature protection territories and a kind of laboratories serving for complex scientific research.

Reserves in Ukraine

Numerous national parks and nature reserves are home to a large number of endemic and rare species of birds, insects, plants, as well as rare animals imported from other continents. Reserves of Ukraine are a huge global value from the point of view of the gene pool, represented here by the diversity of flora and fauna, as well as the unique landscapes inherent only in this area.

In Ukraine, there are four biosphere reserves - the Carpathian, the Danube, the Black Sea and the Askania Nova, as well as nine state ones that are in different natural areas: Polessky and Rovensky in the mixed forest area, Kanevsky, Rastochye and Medobory - in the forest-steppe zone, Dnipro-Orel , Eletskaya steppe, Lugansk, Ukrainian steppe, in Carpathian mountains - Carpathian and Gorgan Mountains, as well as 6 reserves in the Crimean peninsula - Kazantip, Opuk, Karadag, Yalta mountain forest, Crimean and Cape Martyan.

Biosphere Reserves

Reserves were approved by the International Coordination Council in accordance with the Man and the Biosphere program. One of their main tasks is the protection of natural areas in order to preserve biological diversity and the natural state of natural objects and complexes. In addition, scientific research is organized on the territory of the reserves, and an environmental assessment of the state of the environment is carried out. By 1994, there were already more than 300 biosphere reserves around the world, four of which are currently in Ukraine.

Biosphere reserves of Ukraine consist of land and water areas, as well as whole natural complexes and individual objects that have a special scientific, environmental, aesthetic and other value.

Structure of reserves

Specialists from the United Nations have developed a zoning concept for biosphere reserves. These reserves should consist of three zones: the core, or the main territory, the buffer and transition zones. The core is the land with the least disturbed ecosystem. Here, research and educational activities are conducted. The kernel may be one, but there may be several. Around them is a buffer zone, which can be used for both research and ecotourism. In the transition zone there may be settlements, in addition, there is allowed a small agricultural activity.

Biosphere reserve Askania Nova

This reserve is a truly unique corner of the pristine nature and the last section of the steppe in Europe, which has never been plowed up. It is worth noting that the steppe, plowed once, will never recover completely. In the Ascanian steppe, there are more than 400 plant species, most of them cereals.

Askania Nova is perhaps the most famous national reserve, located on the territory of Ukraine, the area of which is more than 11 thousand hectares. It was founded in 1921 in the Kherson region. On the grounds of the reserve there is a forest park with artificial ponds and canals, inhabited by more than 1000 species of animals and more than 60 species of birds.

The uniqueness of the Askania Nova reserve is that in addition to local species of wild fauna, very rare species of animals brought from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and America were very well established. The area of the extensive zoo pens is 30 square meters. Km. In semi-conditions, Scottish ponies, Kafr buffaloes, zebras, llamas, Przewalski horses and even saigas are grazed here - ancient ungulates, who lived in the time of mammoths.

Danube Biosphere Reserve

It was founded in 1981 in the territory of Odessa region. Originally its area was 14.8 thousand hectares. But the area of the reserve has been expanding all the time and now it has reached 50 252.9 ha. The reserve protects unique for all Europe unique landscapes of the Danube floods.

Reserves of Ukraine are extremely rich in various species of flora and fauna. Only in one Danube Biosphere Reserve there are 563 plant species. Such biological diversity is due to the presence of a special fertile silt applied by the river. Among the grasses there are often areas with water vegetation, formed by plants included in the Red Book of Ukraine - a floating nut and salvinium floating.

A wonderful ecology and sufficient forage resources smoothly attract a huge number of birds. Here they are more than 200 species, among which are very rare: spoonbill, pink pelican, pelican curly, ogary, white-tailed eagle and others. In addition, the reserve water is a wintering place for more than 120 species of birds.

The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve

Its creation began in 1968 in the Transcarpathian region. The total area is 57,880 hectares, of which 31,995 hectares are a protected area. This reserve consists of six arrays and two botanical reserves, which have the status of state reserves: Yulevskaya Gora and Chernaya Gora. All the protected massifs are at an altitude of 2,061 m above sea level in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Here there are original mountain mixed, beech and spruce forests, as well as foothill oak forests, alpine and subalpine meadows with rocky-lichen landscapes.

The nature reserves of Ukraine are famous for their forest lands, in particular the Carpathian. About 90% of its entire territory is covered by primeval forests. The reserve includes 66 species of mammals, more than 10,000 species of various invertebrates, 193 species of birds and more than 1,000 species of vascular plants. In addition, there are more than 60 species of plants and 72 species of animals listed in the Red Book.

Black Sea Biosphere Reserve

It is considered one of the largest, oldest and most valuable reserves of Ukraine, the territory of which extends in two regions - Kherson and Nikolaev. A special pride of the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve is the variety of landscapes presented here. These are areas of solonchak steppes, sandy spits, and water areas of bays, and fresh and salt lakes, as well as black alder, aspen and birch groves.

The area of the functional zone of the reserve is 70 509 ha, and the buffer zone - 18 620 ha. Of these, about 84% are the water areas of the Yarlitsky and Tendrivsky bays of the Black Sea.

A huge number of species of migratory and wintering birds attracts many ornithologists to this biosphere reserve. Ukraine diligently cares about the preservation of these truly unique complexes created by nature itself.

At the moment it is known that there are more than 3,500 species of fauna on the territory of the reserve, of which 124 species of animals are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine and 29 are on the European Red List. Also, the reserves of Ukraine are distinguished by a large variety of insects, and the Black Sea Reserve is no exception. Over 2000 species of insects have been found on its site, 168 of which are arachnids.

The role of reserves in the life of modern man

Every self-respecting people living on their historical territory, always strives not only to preserve, but also, if possible, to increase natural wealth and maximally improve the conditions of existence on their native land for future generations.

The natural reserves of Ukraine were created so that modern people would not forget during all the achievements of scientific and technological progress and flights into space that there are still corners of the pristine nature on the Earth, about which our ancestors made legends.