Nalibotskaya Pushcha
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Nalibotskaya Pushcha
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 Spring begins in Nalibotskaya Pushcha |
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| location | Northwest Belarus | |
| surface | 854 km² | |
| WDPA ID | 93947 | |
| Geographical location | 53 ° 53 ' N , 26 ° 26' E | |
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| Sea level | from 145 m to 320 m | |
| Setup date | 1960 | |
| particularities | Very high species diversity of plants and animals, including a high diversity of large mammals - herbivores: bison , elk , red deer , roe deer , wild boar , beaver ; Predators: brown bear , wolf , lynx , badger , red fox , raccoon dog , otter , pine marten |
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The Nalibozkaja Pushcha ( Belarusian Налібоцкая пушча , Nalibockaja pušča ; Pushcha : "primeval forest, heath") is an extensive forest landscape in northwest Belarus . The total area is 1400 km² according to older representations, and 2400 km² according to more recent ones. Of these, 854 km² are designated as a nature reserve.
Geographical location
Politically, Nalibozkaya Pushcha is located in the northwestern Belarusian administrative districts of Hrodna and Minsk , 60 km west of the Belarusian capital Minsk . Geologically it lies in the catchment area of the western Bjaresina and the USA , right tributaries of the Njoman ( Memel ). These in turn are part of the Upper Nyoman Plain ( Belarusian Верхнянёманская нізіна ) and the Belarusian ridge . The name of the Pushcha is derived from Nalibaki , a village in the southeastern part of the Pushscha.
history
Despite its proximity to densely populated areas, the Nalibotskaya Pushcha is the largest forest area in Belarus and has largely been preserved in its original state. The reason for this is their very poor, barren soil. This meant that attempts to reclaim , unlike in the areas south of the Njoman, came to nothing. Instead, the Pushcha has been increasingly used for forestry since the 15th century, at that time part of Poland-Lithuania , and is developing into a center for the extraction and processing of ores and minerals such as lawn iron ore , clay , quartz sand , etc.
During the Second World War, the Pushcha was a place of retreat and hiding place for the persecuted and resistance fighters. Up to 20,000 Jews , members of the Armia Krajowa , Soviet partisans and others are said to have found refuge in the forest during this time. The Bielski Partisans , a Jewish resistance group led by the Bielski brothers Tuvia, Zusja, Asael and Aron, whose story was filmed in 2008 under the title Defiance , have become particularly famous .
Nature reserve
The first plans for the establishment of a nature reserve in the Nalibotskaya Pushcha existed even before the First World War , when the area was part of Russia . Friedrich von Falz-Fein , a German-Russian landowner who owned an estate near Nalibaki , wanted to set up a sanctuary for beavers . However, the world war prevented the implementation of these plans.
In 1932, when the area now belonged to the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic , the Vjalaŭski nature reserve ( Belarusian Вялаўскі запаведнік ) was established. The aim was to protect and research elk , red deer , roe deer and wild boar as well as the otter . Eight fallow deer were introduced from Germany and they reproduced in the following years. However, the stock was destroyed in World War II . In 1951 the reserve was dissolved.
In 1960 the Nalibotski nature reserve ( Belarusian Налібоцкі заказнік ) , which still exists today, was established. The area of the area seems to have been expanded several times. A report published in early 2008 puts the area at 781.6 km², BirdLife International speaks in an assessment report with a map (probably 2009) of 822.7 km², the official WDPA entry finally gives the area in 2016 as 854.0 km² and the The limits on the attached map are significantly expanded compared to the limits on the BirdLife International map.
In 2016 the nature reserve joined the European Rewilding Network .
landscape
The hilly landscape of the Nalibotskaya Pushcha is a mosaic of dry, sandy moraine areas and wet to swampy lowlands , crossed by small rivers , which take up 39% of the area. 91.7% of the protected area is covered by mixed coniferous forest, 5.8% of the area is open land and 2.1% is pure swamp.
Flora
The Pushcha is part of the Nyoman flora area . Of the 955 vascular plant species that grow in this flora area, 840 species are found in the protected part of the Pushcha, i.e. 88% of the total population.
The dominant tree species is the Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris ). In the protected part of the Pushcha it covers 52% of the area, while the Norway spruce ( Picea abies ) covers 9.9%. The most widespread deciduous tree species are the white birch, which covers 23.5 % of the area ( bog birch ( Betula pubescens ) 16.6%, silver birch ( Betula pendula ) 6.9%). This is followed by black alder ( Alnus glutinosa , 12.8%), ash ( Fraxinus , 0.7%), aspen ( Populus tremula , 0.6%), oak ( Quercus , 0.4%) and linden ( Tilia , 0.1%). On the total area of the Pushcha, the proportion of spruce (22%) and thus of conifers overall (70%) is slightly higher than in the protected part. In the south-western part of the Pushcha there are also smaller stocks of hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ), for which this represents the northern limit of their range.
22 of the plant species in the Pushcha are on the Belarusian Red List of Endangered Species or on international Red Lists. These include Ajuga pyramidalis ( Ajuga pyramidalis ), Real arnica ( Arnica montana ), chicken bite ( Cucubalus baccifer ), onion Toothwort ( Dentaria bubifera ), dark red helleborine ( Epipactis atrorubens ) huperzia selago ( Huperzia selago ) Common butterbur ( Petasites hybridus ) and bilberry willow ( Salix myrtilloides ).
Another 23 species such as snakes knotweed ( Bistorta major ), Fragile bladderfern ( Cystopteris fragilis ), Fringed Pink ( Dianthus superbus ), Marsh Helleborine ( Epipactis palustris ), laserpitium latifolium ( Laserpitium latifolium ), pasqueflower ( Pulsatilla patens ), Woolly buttercup ( Ranunculus lanuginosus ), Akeleiblättrige meadow rue ( Thalictrum aquilegifolium ) and others are classified in a study from 1983 as economically valuable because of their medicinal, ornamental or other properties.
Wildlife
Like the plant world, the animal world is also extremely species-rich. The Belarusian Red List of Endangered Species includes eleven species of butterflies , two species of fish , one amphibian , two reptile species , 29 bird species and four mammal species of the animal species found in the protected part of the Pushcha . Some of these form stable and comparatively numerous populations in this area. This includes
- two species of butterflies, the beautiful bear ( Callimorpha dominula ) and the swallowtail ( Papilio machaon ),
- a species of fish, the trout ( Salmo trutta ),
- several bird species, the crane ( Grus grus ), the black stork ( Ciconia nigra ), the lesser spotted eagle ( Aquila pomarina ; 50 breeding pairs), the tree falcon ( Falco subbuteo ), the kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus ) and the kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis ; 30 breeding pairs) ,
- and one species of mammal, the river otter ( Lutra lutra ).
In total (including the non-endangered species) there are eleven species of amphibians, six reptile species, 163 breeding bird species and 46 mammal species of land-dwelling vertebrate species.
Amphibians
The eleven amphibian species are mainly found in the humid lowlands. The most numerous are common newt ( Lissotriton vulgaris ), northern crested newt ( Triturus cristatus ) and fire-bellied toad ( Bombina bombina ). Furthermore, there are water frogs ( Pelophylax ), common toad ( Bufo bufo ), green toad ( Bufotes viridis ), common spadefoot ( Pelobates fuscus ) and others.
Reptiles
The six reptile species tend to inhabit the dry, sandy heights. The most common species are the forest lizard ( Zootoca vivipara ) and sand lizard ( Lacerta agilis ). Other species are slow-worm ( Anguis fragilis ), grass snake ( Natrix natrix ), smooth snake ( Coronella austriaca ) and adder ( Vipera berus ).
Birds
Almost half of the 163 breeding bird species are forest-dwelling species, including eight species of woodpecker and eight species of owls (e.g. eagle owl ( Bubo bubo ) and great gray owl ( Strix nebulosa )). Another large group are the water birds , which with 49 species make up less than a third of the total. 20 species prefer semi-open landscapes, forest edges, etc. as habitat. Finally, only 14 species are open-land birds.
45 of the 163 breeding bird species are on the European Red List. Two of them belong to SPEC1 category (worldwide endangered): the greater spotted eagle ( Aquila clanga ), which is rarely observed, and the corncrake ( Crex crex ), which is a common breeding bird in the lowland meadows of the Pushcha. Ten species are Spec2 category (in Europe at risk, more than half of world stocks living in Europe), including great snipe ( Gallinago media ), black-tailed godwit ( Limosa limosa ), Green Woodpecker ( Picus viridis ), nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus ), European Roller ( Coracias garrulus ), woodlark ( Lullula arborea ) and common redstart ( Phoenicurus phoenicurus ). 33 species belonging to spec3 (endangered in Europe, less than half of the world stand living in Europe) category, including hen harrier ( Circus cyaneus ), Black Kite ( Milvus migrans ), Wood Sandpiper ( Tringa glareola ), black tern ( niger Chlidonias ) and Gray Woodpecker ( Picus canus ).
Due to its abundance of bird species and its comparatively non-threatened nature, the Pushcha is listed by BirdLife International as an “Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)” , one of 53 in Belarus.
Mammals
Among the 46 mammal species of Pushcha include many small mammals such as mountain hare ( Lepus timidus ), southern white-breasted hedgehog ( Erinaceus concolor ), squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris ), all of which occur frequently, or, more rarely occurring, Forest Dormouse ( Dryomys nitedula ) and hazel dormouse ( Muscardinus avellanarius ). However, large mammal species are also represented in a relatively large number of species. There are around 90 bison ( Bison bonasus ), 700 elk ( Alces alces ), 700 red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) and 300 roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), all figures as of 2016. Other existing species of large herbivores are wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) and beaver ( Castor fiber ). The brown bear ( Ursus arctos ) and lynx ( Lynx lynx ) as well as (very often) the canids wolf ( Canis lupus ), red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) and raccoon dog ( Nyctereutes procyonoides ) are represented (very rarely ), as well as several mustelids such as otters ( Lutra lutra ), badger ( Meles meles ), pine marten ( Martes martes ) or mouse weasel ( Mustela nivalis ), all of which are common except for the badger. Four of the mammal species - bison, wolf, lynx and otter - are on the European red list.
In the meantime, red deer and bison were eradicated. The red deer were released back into the Puschtscha in 1975, the bison in 1994. Poaching is still a threat to the populations . Of the 25 bison lost between 1994 and 2012, at least four were caused by poachers.
The release of Tauros cattle ( Bos primigenius ) and horses ( Equus ferus ) is planned for the coming years. These two species have a different feeding behavior than the already existing large herbivores. It is expected that they positively influence the plant world by pushing back common species and improve the availability of food and living space for the other large mammals as well as for the small mammals and other small creatures of the Pushasha through probiotic effects .
tourism
A developing branch of the economy in the Nalibotskaya Pushcha is nature tourism ; for example, companies offer animal observation , photo tours and ecotourism trips .
The long-distance cycle route EV2 Capital Route of the European cycle route network EuroVelo will lead over 40 km in length through the Pushcha. In 2016, this section of the route is partly being planned and partly already under construction.
Web links
- WDPA entry: "Official Record for Nalibokskiy." Protected Planet (online interface for the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)), undated . (English)
- IBA entry: "BY048. Nalibockaja Pušča. “ BirdLife International, undated . (English)
- "Rewilding of Naliboksky Forest." Rewilding Europe / European Rewilding Network, undated . (English)
- Vasili Shakun (Васіль Шакун): "European bison ( Bison bonasus ) in the central Belarus: current state and prospects of conservation of the free-ranging population 'Volozhinskaya'." European Bison Conservation Newsletter , Volume 5 (2012), pages 95– 102. (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Vasili Shakun (Васіль Шакун): "Formation of the free-ranging population of European bison ( Bison bonasus ) 'Volozhinskaya'." European Bison Conservation Newsletter , Volume 4 (2011), pages 31-36. (English)
- ↑ a b c d e "Налибокская пуща." ( Memento of the original from June 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Новости Беларуси (Belarus News), January 7, 2011. (Russian)
- ↑ a b “Налибокская пуща.” Executive Committee of Stoubzy Raion, undated . (Russian)
- ↑ a b c d e f g Vasili Shakun (Васіль Шакун): "European bison ( Bison bonasus ) in the central Belarus: current state and prospects of conservation of the free-ranging population 'Volozhinskaya'." European Bison Conservation Newsletter , volume 5 (2012), pages 95-102. (English)
- ↑ a b c "Official Record for Nalibokskiy." Protected Planet (online interface for the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA)), undated . (English)
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Н. А. Кухоренко, П. А. Митрахович: "Биологические Ресурсы Заказника" Налибокский "." Вестник БГУ. , Сер. 2, 2008, No. 3, pages 102-107. (Russian)
- ↑ "В Налибокской пуще действует новогодний маршрут." ( Memento of the original from June 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Новости Беларуси (Belarus News), January 7, 2011. (Russian)
- ↑ a b c d e Алесь Белы (Aleś Beły): "Налібоцкая пушча - тэрыторыя, важная для птушак." ( Memento of the original from September 23, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. WILDLIFE.BY, April 10, 2010. (Belarusian)
- ↑ a b Quoted from be.wikipedia.org, "Налібоцкая пушча," as of June 2, 2016. An independent source is still needed.
- ↑ Сяргей Харэўскі (Sjarhej Chareŭski): Зьвяры-суайчыньнікі. 2000. Quoted from be.wikipedia.org, "Налібоцкая пушча." (Belarusian)
- ↑ "BY048. Nalibockaja Pušča. “ BirdLife International, undated . (English)
- ^ Rewilding Europe: "European Rewilding Network." Without date. (English)
- ↑ a b c "Five new European Rewilding Network members - now 48 from 23 countries." Rewilding Europe, April 20, 2016. (English)
- ↑ a b c d e f "Rewilding of Naliboksky Forest." Rewilding Europe, undated . (English)
- ↑ Roeland Vermeulen: Natural Grazing. Practices in the rewilding of cattle and horses. Nijmegen: Rewilding Europe, 2015. ISBN 978-90-822514-2-5 (English)
- ^ Leo Linnartz, Renée Meissner: Rewilding Horses in Europe. Background and guidelines - a living document. Nijmegen: Rewilding Europe, 2014. ISBN 978-90-822514-1-8 (English)
- ↑ Ronald Goderie, Leo Linnartz, Denis Frissen: Soortbeschermingsplan Oeros in Limburg. Single report 2013–2015. Nijmegen: ARK Natuurontwikkeling, 2015. (Dutch)
- ↑ Paval Harbunoŭ (Павал Гарбуноў): "The first 150 kilometers of EuroVelo come to Belarus!" EuroVelo.org, December 15, 2015. (English)
- ↑ "Karta." ( Memento of the original from June 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. EuroVelo 2 Belarus, no date. (Belarusian / English)
