Bryansk Nature Reserve

Bryansk Forest Nature Reserve
Russian: Брянский лес

River Nerussa, Bryansk Nature Reserve

Bryansk Forest Zapovednik
Relief map of Russia

Location of Bryansk Nature Reserve

Location Bryansk Oblast, Russia
Nearest city Bryansk
Coordinates 52°30′N 34°00′E / 52.500°N 34.000°E / 52.500; 34.000Coordinates: 52°30′N 34°00′E / 52.500°N 34.000°E / 52.500; 34.000
Area 121.86 km2 (47.05 sq mi)
Website Reserve website, in Russian

The Bryansk Nature Reserve (Russian: Брянский лес) (also, Bryansky Les) is a nature reserve in Bryansk Oblast, Russia along the Nerussa River (a tributary of the Desna River) near the Russian border with Ukraine.

The forest is a nature reserve ("Zapovednik"), and is integral part of the Nerussa-Desna Woodland UNESCO-MAP Biosphere Reserve, important for protecting the "diversity and integrity of the broadleaf forest in European Russia." [1][2] It is one of the last remaining unbroken forests on the southern end of the Eurpopean broadleaf forest, supporting abundant wildlife in the forests and bogs. The reserve covers an area of 12,186 ha (47.05 sq mi).

Topography

The Bryansk Nature Reserve is part of the Nerusso-Desna woodland, a UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve. This biosphere has been established on the bases of a well-developed network of protected areas, which are connected ecologically.[1] The Bryansk Forest is located in the basin of the middle reaches of the Desna river, a left tributary of the Dnieper River on the border of Ukraine). The terrain is flat: the minimum height above sea level - 134.5 m (at the level of the Nerussa River; the maximum is 189.4 m. The dry land is dominated by sandy and loamy soils; in flood plains, meadows and alluvial lowlands there are bog soils. The Bryansk forests have diminished in size over time, and were once considered dense.

Bryansk Forest

Across the Ukrainian border is the Ukraine's Desnyansko-Starogutsky National Park, which has a forested section that has similar habitat similar to Bransksy's.[3]

Climate

The climate is continental. Average annual precipitation is 550 millimetres (22 in).

Plants and animals

The vegetation in the reserve features widespread pine and pine-oak forests on poor, sandy soils. Zonal spruce and deciduous broad-leaved forests are rare.[4] The forest contrasts with the surrounding agricultural landscape. The reserve has a buffer zone of 9,654 hectares (23,860 acres). In the areas adjacent to the reserve there is an established network of state reserves and natural monuments of regional importance, the protection and administration of which is carried out jointly with the reserve land users. This includes the state nature reserve of federal importance "Kletnyanskoy", with an area of 39,100 hectares (97,000 acres).[2]

The animals in the reserve are typical of the southern range of the mixed boreal-forest subdomain of the Palaearctic region: grouse, boreal owl, hare, lynx, brown bear, and others. Bison were brought to the reserve in 2011.[2]

The Bryansk forest is the only place in Europe where there are all ten of the European woodpeckers: great spotted woodpecker, middle spotted, lesser spotted woodpecker, Syrian, white-backed, black woodpecker, grey, green, three-toed and Wryneck.

References

  1. 1 2 "Neruss-Desna Woodland". UNESCO. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Official Site - Bryansk Forest Reserve". MNRR. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Desnyano-Starogutskyi National Park". Ukraine.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Branksy Les Zapovednik". Center for Russian Nature Conservation.

External links

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