Vodlozersky Biosphere Reserve, Russian Federation

Vodlozersky Biosphere Reserve is located in the extreme north-west of the country. Mid-latitude and northern taiga landscapes are preserved here and all kinds of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems typical for this zone are represented - boreal coniferous forests (spruce Picea abies, P. obovata and pine Pinus sylvestris), mires, lake and river ecosystems. 

Ecological Characteristics

The Reserve territory refers to the biogeographical region of boreal coniferous forests (the third type on the world’s biosphere reserves network map), on the joint of the Northern and Middle taiga subzones.  

According to the region geobotanical zoning more than 80% of the Reserve territory belongs to Vodlozersky and Onegoretsky area of middle taiga forests. Spruce moss (myrtillus type) prevail here, sphagnous pine and spruce forests are also widely spread. The flora of the reserve contains Eastern-European and Eastern-European-Siberian types: Larix sibirica, Trisetum sibiricum, Rubus humulifolius, Atragene sibirica, Aconitum septentrionale, etc.  The vegetation of the Reserve’s Northen part is of the White Sea Northern-taiga forest zone, where sparce Paris quadrifoila and myrtillus and moss cladina type spruce forests prevail.

The large water-boggy territories of the reserve are the important condition for hydrophillous animals life and reproduction. They perform the international role in the birds nesting and migrating.

Socio-Economic Characteristics

In Vodlozerye the traditional settlement system is preserved with a great number of wooden architecture monuments: churches, chapels, houses and barns. These ancient constructions are located in the environment and landscapes not spoiled by industrialization, and they form a unique harmonious architecture-landscape complex. 

The complex balanced sustainable development, the natural and cultural resources exploitation, based on protection of bio-diversity and cultural heritage; the community involvement into the territory management; creating job places for locals and favorable conditions for the life level rise - these are the main principles of the biosphere reserve activity.  Such traditional environment-friendly forms of natural resources exploitation are developed: fishing, farming, berrying and mushroom-picking, traditional crafts, fuel-wood cutting, service sphere for the growing number of the Park visitors. Every year, about 7,000 tourists visit the Biosphere Reserve.

 

 

 

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Last updated: July 2019