The Prioksko-Terrasnyi Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern part of the Moscow region on the left bank of the Oka River – a right tributary to the Volga River. The core of the biosphere reserve are natural complexes of the Prioksko-Terrasnyi State Nature Zapovednik (Nature Reserve) protected by the state. Their unique feature is a combination of typical broadleaved and mixed forests with relic steppificated pine forests. These landscapes are formed on south-facing sands of a terrace located above the Oka River flood plain.
Description
Map
Surface : 9,670 ha
- Core area(s): 4,960 ha
- Buffer zone(s): 4,710 ha
- Transition zone(s): N/A
Location: 54°53'12"N - 37°37'18"E
Administrative Authorities
Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve
Danky, Moskovskaya oblast, Serpuhovskiy raion
142200
Russian Federation
Tel.: +7 (4967) 707-149
Email: ptz@pt-zapovednik.ru
Ecological Characteristics
The core area of the biosphere reserve is the Prioksko-Terrasnyi State Nature Reserve with its combination of a typical broad-leaved and mixed forests with an old-growth steppificated pine forest. Almost all types of plant communities of the Moscow region are situated on the territory of the Biosphere Reserve: from upland bogs till oak forests, from spruce forests till vast floodplain meadow.
The Bison Breeding Center is located in the Biosphere Reserve core area. The Bison Breeding Center was founded to save the largest European mammal – European Bison (Bison bonasus L.) from extinction. Today the bison nursery is used to create free-living bison populations. More than 600 calves were born in the nursery during its existence. In the period of 1999– 2015, more than 116 animals have been exported to create sustainable free-living bison populations.
Socio-Economic Characteristics
About 65% of the region in used for agriculture. There are requests from the locals by plowing floodplain in the buffer zone.
Currently, the visiting program of the BR includes the following facilities: The Bison Breeding Centre, Nature, leshy house. The length of the pedestrian route is about 2 km away, a group of tourists is accompanied with a guide provided by the BR. Tourist flow is about 45 thousands of visitors in 2013 and 46800 in 2014.
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Last updated: May 2019