Protection of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha
For the purpose of conservation of the exceptional biodiversity of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and in accordance with the Belarussian law "About specially protected natural territories and objects", promulgated October 20, 1994, the entire territory of the Pushcha has been divided into 4 functional zones in which the level of protection varies.
Wilderness Protection Zone (Core zone) - 15,677 ha (16.3% of the territory). This Zone strictly protects all areas of intact, wild natural communities. The Wilderness Protection Zone is provided to serve as a reservation of genetic resources (a gene pool) of plants and animals and as a completely natural area. As such this zone is a reference to full natural circumstances and fully natural growth. The area is managed in such manner as to create conditions which allow the natural development of complexes and their components. This Zone primarily exists of indigenous old-growth coniferous and deciduous forests. Except for scientific research and protection no (commercial, economic or other) activities are allowed for within this Zone.
Regulated Nature Zone - 65,175 ha (67.8%). This Zone serves as a site for study, preservation and restoration of ecosystems that are characteristic within the Belovezhskaya Pushcha complex, as well as for reproduction and rational use of natural resources. All activities within this Zone should provide optimal conditions for sustainable development of natural communities, while scientifically-orientated nature conservation arrangements are being implemented. Within the Regulated Nature Zone it is allowed to execute the following activities: scientific research, monitoring, activities aimed at restoration of disturbed natural complexes and the reproduction of natural resources, measures for prevention of fire, sanitary woodcutting, forest maintenance, clearing of dead wood for forest sanitation and afforestation in order to restore primary forest stands, protection of the forest against vermins and diseases (basically by biological methods); elimination of animals in order to regulate the number of their populations and for the purpose of selection, artificial feeding of wild animals under exceptional unfavorable seasons, veterinarian, prophylactic and biotechnical measures applied to wild animals, restricted ecotourism, haymaking, harvesting of berries and mushrooms, cattle pasturage, amateur fishing as well as several other uses serving the needs of the National Park and its employees which are being carried out on specially selected sites. Natural resources are being exploited in limited quantities. Ecotourism is allowed under guidance of guides employed by the National Park.
Regulated Recreational Use Area - 10,732 ha (11.1%). The purpose of this area is to encourage tourism and the recreation, to implement activities connected to cultural aspects, leisure and improvement of mans health as well as to study the impact of recreational pressure upon ecosystems. Nature conservation and economic activity are being aimed at preservation and, to a limited extent, reconditioning of the forest landscape and water bodies for recreational and educational purposes. When recreational services are being set up specific rules in order to prevent degradation of natural complexes should be followed and measures for the preservation of landscapes, water, vegetation and wildlife should be arranged. The activities allowed within the Regulated Nature Zone are permitted in the Regulated Recreational Use Area. Besides this on designated places within the forest it is allowed to park cars on parkings, to camp using tents and to make camp fires and there are specially designated places for relaxation and experiencing rest within the forest. The Regulated Recreational Use Area is recognized as a part of the National Park where landscapes, natural ecosystems and individual objects have recreational, cognitive, cultural, educational, aesthetic, ethnographic, archeological, historical and other values while they do not require the measures of protection stipulated for the Wilderness Protection Zone or the Regulated Nature Zone. Admittance may be free or based on guided visits.
Economic Activity Zone - 4,614 ha (4.8%). This Zone has been designated in order to locate administrative, productive and recreational staff and operating facilities, for hosting and serving tourists, for residential purposes and the economic activities of the local population. Selected cuttings, agriculture, forage supplying, cattle pasturage, wood processing, berry and mushroom harvesting and amateur regulated fishing is permitted here. There are no restrictions of access within this Zone.
In addition to the four previous zones a Support (or Buffer) Zone has been established. This Zone encircles Belovezhskaya Pushcha and covers about 90,000 ha. The lands are in possession of private and collective users as well as of the state, while their use is subject to a number of limitations on economic activities. This Zone is designated to mitigate possible damage caused to nature complexes and sites of the National Park by economic activities executed on these adjacent lands.
In the framework of the Project "Belovezhskaya Pushcha Forest Biodiversity Conservation", which was financed by the World Bank (Global Ecology Facility), the idea of a so-called "Belovezhskiy Ecological Region" (BER) has been offered. The development of this idea would allow to solve many major problems and threats to the natural character of the forest. The BER would be a major input to start the complex task of adequate management of the National Park and the subdivisions of the park.
In recent years a substantial increase of the total area protected as Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park with ecologically valuable and important land has been the most significant positive protective measure. The area of the National Park covered 87.6 thousand hectares one decade ago. On January 1st, 1999 the area has been enlarged to 101,603 ha, while it currently covers more than 120,000 ha. The major additions exist of the bog area Dikoie - a swampy area covering 7,539 hectares - and the Pruzhany District of the forestry administration Shershevskoie (13,300 hectares). The forester area of Shershevskoie is a base for management of game, while its main objective is obtaining trophies through hunting.
On the territory of the Shershevskoie Forestry and Game Ground an enclosure for hunting covering 3,500 ha has been constructed. This purpose of this "range" is to serve the intensive and profitable economic activity of hunting. About 1000 individuals of Wild boar and 300 individuals of Red deer are being kept within the area. Specific techniques for keeping, resettling and breeding have been developed and are being applied within the area. Apart from economic goals the Forestry and Game Ground serves another important purpose, which is the reduction of the number of wild ungulates in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Wild ungulates are being led from the Pushcha into the Shershevskoie Forestry and Game Ground. These animals are selected and caught from the wild population. However, a ban on or strict limitation of shooting of animals within the territory of the Pushcha is planned. Population control by means of shooting facilitates to bring down the number of ungulate animals in the central part of the Pushcha. In the same time it allows for carrying out a more exact selection of animals to be taken out of population, which improves their genetic quality.
More about the Belovezhskaya Pushcha
[History] [Geographical location and general information] [Climate, hydrology, geology and geomorphology] [Soils] [Flora and vegetation] [Fauna] [National Park's structure] [Protection] [Science and research] [Cultural monuments and tourism] [Belarusian Grandfather Frost's Residence] [Economic activity] [Maps and schemes]