Parks and Environmental Reserves in Belarus, and Related Topics |
![[ Postage Stamp: European Bison (Zubr), 1995 ]](images/zubr-95.jpg)
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Parks and Environmental Reserves in Belarus, and Related Topics |
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Belarus has 92 natural reserves at present (August, 2000), including 19 hydrological, 22 landscape, and 51 biological reserves, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection.
"The Belarusian Council of Ministers has authorized the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection to establish a 2,129-hectare biological reserve in the Smolevichi district, Mensk region."
"The Council of Ministers' directive bans irrigation and other work that may change the natural landscape and hydrological conditions; hunting; the commercial gathering of wild plants; the dumping of untreated sewage and waste; picnics, and parking in the non-equipped area."
"Sanction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Architecture and Construction is required for constructing buildings, power supply lines, roads, pipelines and other supply lines and developing natural resources in the reserve. The reserve will be managed by the Ministry of Forestry." information from BelaPAN (Mensk, Belarus), No. 97; Wednesday, August 23, 2000; 9:50 p.m.
Belavezhskaya (Pushcha) National Forest |
![[ Postage Stamp: Belavezhskaya Pushcha, 1999 ]](images/bel-pushcha-99.gif)
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"Belavezhskaja Pushcha Naure Reserve is about 1300 sq km of primeval European forest."
"It stretches north from the town of Kamjanjuky, about 40 km north of Brest. A small part of it is in Poland, which administers it jointly with Belarus. Some 55 mammal species including elk, deer, lynx, boar, wild horse, wolf, badger, ermine, marten, otter, mink, and beaver live here, but it is most celebrated for its 1000 or so European bison--a species which was near extinction in the 20's before individual animals from Germany and Sweden were brought here."
"There is a nature museum and enclosure where you can view bison, deer, boar, and other animals. Only a few buses a day go from the Brest central bus station to Kamjanjuky, the main town just inside the reserve. To visit the reserve in your own vehicle without a guide, you may need a police permit, depending on current regulations. The Hotel Intourtist service bureau in Brest can get it for you for the same day if you ask first thing in the morning. The service bureau also sometimes arranges group excursions during the summer, but you may not see much more than the museum and the enclosures."
"A new director, third since the beginning of the year [2000], has been appointed to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a vast forest on the Belarusian-Polish border."
"The Presidential Property Department, which runs Belovezhskaya Pushcha, has given the job to Yevgeny Smoktunovich, the park's chief ranger. Mr. Smoktunovich was born in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, grew up there and returned there after college to work as park ranger. He now faces a tough task of bringing the park back from the brink of bankruptcy."
"Ex-collective farm director Vasily Zhukov ran the park till the spring of 2000. He has been given a higher job with the Presidential Property Department. His deputy, Mikhail Zhuravlyov, succeeded him but was sacked earlier this month [December, 2000]." information from BelaPAN (Mensk, Belarus), No. 115; Thursday, December 28, 2000; 11:35 p.m.
"A group of 12 elderly people who live in the Belavezha Forest have published an open appeal to President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, the Belarusian legislature, and the global community to save this ancient forest and help them protect the rights of its inhabitants, Belapan reported on 27 March. The Belavezha Forest, which stretches across the Belarusian-Polish frontier, is the last fragment of Europe's former primeval forests.
" 'Predatory uncontrolled logging is under way. Valuable timber is being carried out of the national park in an uninterrupted flow,' the residents said in the appeal, blaming the administration's "greed for money" for what is happening to the forest. 'With pain in our hearts, we are watching people's heritage being wasted, endless manipulations and deals making our land a lifeless area and turning us into aborigines without legal rights,' the appeal reads.
"According to the authors, the administration exercises pressure on Belavezha Forest residents, threatening to sack them if they voice opposition to current management practices. "Hundreds of people have been fired, with experts, researchers and ordinary workers among them. They are replaced by 'alien' manpower from other regions of the country, as well as from Russia and Ukraine," the letter says. JM" information from RFE/RL CEE Report , 28 March 2003
Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve(Бярэзінскі біясферны запаведнік)(Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Mammals, and Reptiles) |
![[ Postage Stamp: Berezinsky Reserve, 1999 ]](images/byarezinksi-99.gif)
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Founded on January 30, 1925, it became a biosphere reserve in 1979, and is the oldest reserve in Belarus. It is on the upper course of the Berezina within 100 km of Mensk.
"The new status (September, 1997) will make it possible to obtain additional funds for taking nature-protecting measures in the reserve. According to the Brest Regional Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, there are about 50 nature reserves, including 19 republic-level ones, in the Brest region." information from BelaPAN (Mensk, Belarus), No. 30, Wednesday, September 10, 1997 6:00 p.m.