Rostovsky Biosphere Reserve, Russian Federation

The Biosphere Reserve is located in the Southeast of Rostov Region. The natural conditions of the territory located in the valley of the Kuma-Manych depression and the spurs of the Salo-Manych ridge, in general, typical for the Southern European part of Russia. The territories of the Reserve for a long time are used with varying degrees of intensity. The activities of the administration of the Reserve is to preserve the natural diversity of the core zone and the sustainable development of the territory of the buffer zone and zone of cooperation.

On the territory of the protected zone of the Reserve the technologies of ecologically adapted agriculture are being implemented. The area of the Reserve has great potential for the development of many types of tourism, as well as use in development of recreation, sport fishing.  

Ecological Characteristics

The territory of the Biosphere Reserve is represented by two dominant zonal types of vegetation on dark chestnut soils in the complex with salt marshes: moderately-dry fescue-feather grass steppe with temperate xerophilous motley grass and dry fescuefeather grass steppe with desert-steppe with motley grass and semishrubs. Small areas of intrazonal character stand out plant communities of turf-cereal-wormwood semideserts type on light chestnut soils with salt marshes. On the plateau of spurs of the Salo-Manych ridge are presented fundamental, as well as meadow steppes and mowing meadows, pastures and arable land.

The ecosystem diversity of the Reserve determined by the presence of a large number species of living organisms. Flora accounts about 460 species of higher vascular plants. The vertebrate fauna consists of 270 species, including mammals – 31, birds (sedentary, nesting, migratory, and regularly visiting the territory of the reserve) – more than 219 species, amphibians – 3, reptiles – 9, fish – 16. Among the revealed species diversity the particular interest are species identified as needing special protection, of which 7 species of plants, 32 species of birds and 8 species of insects included into the Red Book of Russia.

 

 

Socio-Economic Characteristics

The dominant trend of the last 10 years is the increased flow of tourists visiting Biosphere Reserve (in 4 times). This is due to the development of related infrastructure: the completion of the reconstruction of the visit-center, the construction of the information center, the opening of a new tourist route "Don Mustangs", the annual in the last five years the international festival of ecological tourism "Glorified Steppe", as well as work with the media. 

Local communities use the benefits of the proximity of the Reserve for promotional purposes (upon the sale of real estate, agricultural products). While these activities have a limited development. 

 

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Last updated: April 2019