UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Askaniya-Nova
General information
Askaniya-Nova Biosphere Reserve is a representative of the Black Sea southern-steppe biogeographic province, situated 60 km south-east of the town of Kakhova close to the Black Sea. Within this area, the Festuca and Stipa steppe ecosystem has been conserved like an island in the Dniper-Molochnoe lowland, which has otherwise intensive land use practices.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1984
Country
Ukraine
Total population
5134
Area
Surface
334.30 ha
Total terresterial area
334.30 ha
Location
Latitiude: 46.4727 - Longitude: 33.9489
Contact
Ecosystem-based network
EuroMAB
Ecological Characteristics
Within this area, the Festuca and Stipa steppe ecosystem has been conserved like an island in the Dniper-Molochnoe lowland, which has otherwise intensive land use practices.Major habitats include:Feather grass steppe dominated by Stipa lessingiana, S. ucrainica and S. capillata together with fescue (Festuca sulcata) and crested hair grass (Koeleria cristata); fesucetae communities with Festuca valesiaca, Crinitaria villosa, Stipa ucrainica etc.; slopes with stipetae associations and species such as Stipa capillata, S. ucrainica, Festuca valesiaca etc.; dales with elytrigetae communities supporting Elytrigia pseudocaesia, Bromopsis inermis, Poa angustifolia etc.; wet meadows with Beckmannia eruciformis, Alopecurus pratensis, Juncus gerardii etc.
Socio-Economics Characteristics
There are six villages and one settlement within the biosphere reserve, with a total of 10,000 people (1997) who are mainly engaged in the cultivation of cereals (wheat, barley, corn), vegetables and melons, as well as in animal husbandry (sheep, cattle, pig). Tourism is a major activity in the area with about 1,5 million national and 3,000 foreign tourists (1997). The biosphere reserve is also interesting from a cultural point of view. Created as the first steppe reserve in the Ukraine in 1888, it comprises a dendrological park of the 19th century and a zoological park with a breeding centre for Przewalski horse, ostriches, aboriginal ungulates and birds. The site has a long research and monitoring history.