|Biosphere Reserve Information|
Darvinskiy Biosphere Reserve is situated on a peninsula in the north-west of the Rybinsky Reservoir on the Volga River. The biosphere reserve comprises bogs, marshes and inundated pine forests. The fauna and flora is typical for the southern taiga. Rare birds that nest in the area include the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Elk (Alces alces), brown bear (Ursus arctos), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) find refuge in the biosphere reserve. Due to the operation of hydroelectric stations nearby, the water level changes, thus affecting near-shore habitats.
1,600 people live in the biosphere reserve (1994). They are predominantly engaged in traditional agriculture, forestry, fishing and gathering wild berries. All local forestry, agricultural enterprises and the fishing inspection supported the idea of the establishment of a biosphere reserve. They also agreed to set up a joint consultative commission to protect nature and to control activities in the transition zone.
In 1945 already, Darvinskiy Zapovednik, named after Charles Darwin, was founded to study the changes that this reservoir - one of the biggest in the world - would have on natural ecosystems in the Vologda and Yaroslavl regions in north-western Russia. Thus, there is a long monitoring history of vegetation dynamics, hydrology and climate ecosystems in the area.
|Major ecosystem type||Boreal needleleef forests or woodlands|
|Major habitats & land cover types||Southern taiga forests characterized by Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Oxalis acetosella etc.; oligotrophic moors with Andromeda polifolia, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rubus chamaemorus etc.; reservoir ecosystems with Potamogeton natans, Sagittaria sagittifolia, Phragmites communis etc.; waterlogged river valleys characterized by Phragmites communis and Phalaroides arundinacea; agricultural lands|
|Location||58°30' to 58°32'N; 37°30' to 38°11'E|
|Core area(s)||158,127 (of which lake system: 45,454)|
|Buffer zone(s)||70,116 (of which lake system: 20,096)|
|Transition area(s) when given||210,000 (of which lake system: 40,000)|
|Altitude (metres above sea level)||-97 to + 108|
|Administrative authorities||Darvinski State Reserve|
Climatic and hydrological data
Observations of changes in plant and animal life on test sites
Andrei Anatolievich Shalibkov
Director of the Darvinskiy Biosphere Reserve, Darvinski State Reserve
Cherepobetsky District, P.O. Ploskovo, Settlement Borok, N°44
162723 Vologda Region
|Telephone||(7. 820-2) 66 69 70|
|Last updated: 01/03/2007|