What is Belovezhskaya Pushcha? First of all, this is the largest remnant of the primeval relict forest on the flat terrain. According to the ideas developed by modern scientists, this forest in prehistoric times was located on the territory of Europe, but over time it was partially cut down. In its more or less pristine form, it has survived only as a large massif on the territory of the Bialowieza region, which, in turn, is located on the lands of Poland and Belarus.
Geography of the Forest
Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a place through which the border between two states - the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Poland - passes . Next to this virgin prehistoric forest is the famous watershed of the Black and Baltic Seas. The flora and fauna in this geographical area is unique. Four conservation regimes have been created in Belovezhskaya Pushcha for its conservation:
- conservation area;
- recreational area;
- regulated use area;
- economic zone.
Moreover, an artificial buffer zone has been created around the reserve itself. The forest located on the lands of Belarus and Poland is truly unique and the largest massif among all the prehistoric forests that still exist on our planet. Pine forests (mossy and blueberry) prevail here, and the average age of each tree is at least 80 years.
A bit of history
This reserve as a protected unique territory was already known in 1409. Then a king named Jagiello sat on the Polish throne. It was in his private property that this forest was. It was he who at one time issued a royal decree, according to which, all hunting for large animals inhabiting the territory of the relict forest massif was strictly prohibited. The “Bialowieza treasure” has been a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413, and in 1795 the forest joined Russia.
“Children of your bison ...”
What do you think connects the word “bison” with the word “Pushcha”? These are already real synonyms. Remember how it is sung in the famous song: "the children of your bison do not want to die out." And it is no coincidence. Emperor Alexander I in 1802, by his decree, completely forbade hunting for bison that inhabit the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
All in the same 1802, this territory began to be part of the Grodno province, the official emblem of which was recognized by the bison. But not only the bison sheltered this famous reserve. Its territory is inhabited by a huge number of different animals and plants. Let's talk about the flora and fauna of the forest.
Bialowieza Forest. Animals and plants
By the number of species of plants and animals that inhabit this territory, Belovezhskaya Pushcha has no equal in all of Europe! Just think: almost 1000 species of seed plants and vascular spores grow here. Here 260 species of various mosses, 570 species of mushrooms and 300 species of lichens are registered. The National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is not only a nursery of flora, but also a real natural "zoo".
The list of fauna of this reserve includes 60 species of various mammals, 230 species of birds, 11 species of amphibians (amphibians), 8 species of reptiles (reptiles), 25 species of fish and a huge number of invertebrate animals - more than 11,000. It is worth noting that the largest bison population lives It is in the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
Here you can meet such large herbivores as red deer, roe deer, elk, wild boars. Predatory animals in the forest are represented by wolves, foxes, badgers, lynx, otters, martens, etc. Zoologists, namely entomologists, claim that very rare and unique invertebrate animal communities have survived in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. These include insects that live in rotten or dead wood, in mulberry mushrooms, as well as invertebrates that prefer lowland and upland marshes.
Once the territory of this reserve was inhabited by a large ungulate animal - a tour. Unfortunately, at present its population has completely died out. Tours disappeared from the face of the Earth in the XVII century. Historical zoologists say that these ungulate animals were much larger than the current "Bialowieza" giants - bison. To be honest, bison are also on the verge of extinction ... They, like many other animals living in this reserve, are listed in the International Red Book.
World Heritage
The national park called “Belovezhskaya Pushcha” in 1992 was included in the so-called World Heritage List of mankind. This decision belonged to UNESCO. Moreover, exactly one year later, the park was given the status of the so-called biosphere reserve. In 1997, a diploma of the Council of Europe, an international organization promoting cooperation between all European countries, was awarded in the name of this reserve.
One of the most important events in the history of this truly unique place happened relatively recently - in 2014. According to the decision of the session of the World Heritage Committee, adopted on June 23, 2014, the Belovezhskaya Pushcha park-reserve with its Belarusian and Polish territories became a single UNESCO World Heritage Site. Be sure to visit this beautiful place!