PRIOKSKO-TERRASNY

BIOSPHERE RESERVE

About 140 bird species have been recorded within the Reserve. The 5 of them included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, 28 - in the Red Book of the Moscow region. About 112

bird species are as nesting in different habitats of the Reserve.

For increase of efficiency and improvement of conservation of natural complexes and individual species of flora and fauna, reserve's staff and scientists from 17 scientific institutions of Russia are carried out research on 13 scientific themes are monitored 22 parameters of the Environment. All research data are summarized in the annually published Chronicles of Nature, monographs, papers in the regional, all- Russian and international scientific publications. Recommendations for the conservation of natural complexes, separate species of animals and plants at the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve presented to the relevant authorities.

The Prioksko-Terrasny State Nature Reserve created in June 1945. To the

South of Moscow (about twelve

kilometers from the Serpukhov city) you

will find out this real pearl of Nature. Its

area is 4960 hectares and 92% of them

covered by forests. On February 19,

1979, in the framework of the UNESCO

program on Man and the Biosphere this

nature reserve has received the special

international status of Biosphere

Reserve.

Moscow region

Serpukhov district

PRIOKSKO-TERRASNY NATURE BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Tula region

Fauna of bats (Chiroptera) at the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve is numerous, diverse (10 species) and remains stable for more than half a century. The presence of young and adult individuals confirms the role of the Reserve as the area important for conservation of mid-Russian fauna of bats.

The absence of human impacts, rich forage resources and good protection make the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere

Reserve to be an attractive habitat for the lynx (Lynx lynx L., 1758). Some traces of those animals registered regularly at the Reserve for the last 10 years.

In 1948 several beavers (Castor fiber L., 1758) have been released at

the Reserve for a re-acclimatization. At the present time they live

permanently in all streams of the Reserve. Since 1968 and currently

their numbers fluctuate at the level around from 30 to 40 individuals.

More than 1000 species of vascular plants registered on the territory of the Reserve. Actually this high diversity of plants at the relatively small area is possible because a presence of different biotopes. In addition, there are over 160 species of mosses, 100 species of lichens, about 700 species of fungi-mushrooms, of which 27 species are not found in Russia anywhere else.

Without any doubts, the main attraction at the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Biosphere Reserve is an eclosure with European bisons (Bison bonasus L., 1758). Since 1948 in the Reserve there was working the special Program for breeding and saving the genetic Fund of this species. At the time being more than 600 calves were born at the Reserve and more than 400 of them were grown up and exported out for the free-living groups in the wild nature in the Russia and even abroad.

The Department for protection of the Reserve's territory always focused on prevention of violations of environmental legislation, as in the Reserve and in its buffer zone as well. The employees of the Department deeply involved into prevention of the emergence and spread of forest fires, illegal gathering of plant species, and hunting. There are a lot activities at the phenological station.

The eco-educational activities directed towards the popularization of conservation of natural complexes and wild species on the Moscow region. For this purpose some booklets and brochures have been published. The staff of the Reserve has been successfully participated in the number of the mass actions such as the "March for parks", "Day of Reserves and National parks", "Earth Day", "Day of Environment protection" and so on…Also there are more than 20 activities in some other conservation topics. Each year there are many volunteers took part in activities at the Reserve. The local Museum of Nature and the Central bison nursery have been very attractive for the different tourists. Almost each year the Reserve visited by 60,000 people.

Photo by Mashkov, Culichenko, Albov, Rybkin