Almany Mires
Country: Belarus
Area: 103,935.0 ha
National protection status: National Landscape Reserve
International protection status: Ramsar site (1091) – Olmany Mires Zakaznik (94,219 ha); IBA (BY018) – Al'manskija baloty (96,628 ha); Emerald Network* (BY000012) – Olmanskiye bolota (93,135 ha).
* After denunciation of accession to the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats, de jure there are no Emerald Network sites in Belarus.
The Almany Mires National Landscape Reserve is located between the right tributaries of the Pripyat River – the Garyn, the Scviga and the Lva. It is the largest transboundary Ramsar site in Europe preserved in its natural state with very little human-induced fragmentation of the mire. Its large size and inaccessibility make it possible to preserve wilderness areas where natural processes support the conservation of species threatened elsewhere in their natural environment, without the need for costly conservation measures. Natural or slightly modified areas occupy 90% of the reserve, of which 50% is covered by forests (including forests on bogs), 40% by open peat bogs (mainly in transition), and 5% by rivers and waterbodies. The area of the Almany forest massif is represented by two large open transitional and lowland wetland complexes, Galo and Krasnaje, as well as bogs. The forest vegetation is dominated by pine and birch forests, more than half of which are bog forests. Oak forests also cover a significant area of the Scviga floodplain.
90%
of natural
or slightly modified areas
20
habitats included
in Resolution #4 of the Standing Commission to the Bern Convention
>80
nationally and internationally protected species
Land cover
Forests
Open peatbogs
Rivers and waterbodies
Others
Biodiversity and natural values
Biotopes
The area represents a unique forest and mire complex with an exceptional richness of wetland and forest habitats. About 20 habitats included in Resolution No. 4 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention have been identified here, and the area is particularly important for their conservation in Belarus: Inland sand dunes (2330), Permanently dystrophic lakes, ponds and pools (3160), Free-floating vegetation of eutrophic waters (3150), Transitional mires and quaking bogs (7140), Beds of large sedges usually without free-flowing water, Riverine willow forests (91Е0), Riverine ash-alder forests, wet at high water but not at low water (91Е0), Mixed oak, elm and ash woods of large rivers (91F0), Oak, ash and hornbeam woods on eutrophic and mesotrophic soils (9170), Sphagnum birch woods (91D0), Nemoral and boreal coniferous woods (91D0), Raised bog complexes (7110), etc.
Mammals
There are a few species of mammals rare in Belarus recorded here, such as the Lynx (Lynx lynx) and the Badger (Meles meles). The more common mammal species are the Beaver (Castor fiber), the Otter (Lutra lutra), the Moose (Alces alces) and the Wolf (Canis lupus). The Almany peat bog is one of the last habitats of the European mink (Mustela lutreola).There are a few species of mammals rare in Belarus recorded here, such as the Lynx (Lynx lynx) and the Badger (Meles meles). The more common mammal species are the Beaver (Castor fiber), the Otter (Lutra lutra), the Moose (Alces alces) and the Wolf (Canis lupus). The Almany peat bog is one of the last habitats of the European mink (Mustela lutreola).
Birds
The Reserve’s avifauna includes more than 20 species under national protection and mo-re than 40 under international protection. The largest European population of the Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) nests here, as well as the largest Belarusian populations of the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) and the Crane (Grus grus), the Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa), the Greenshank (Tringanebularia), the Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola) and a number of other species.
More than 80 species included in Resolution No. 6 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention and the Red Data Book of Belarus have been recorded here.
The most important impacts and threats
Logging
Dead wood removal
Old drainage systems
Conservation measures
The area is protected as a landscape reserve of national importance, where drainage, construction, logging and some other activities are restricted. Some of protected species’ habitats are under protection of land users. A management plan has been developed for the area.
In order to improve the protection of this valuable area, it is necessary to compile a detailed inventory of the conservation values (species habitats and biotopes) and to ensure their protection by establishing special protection zones/plots. The zoning of the reserve is appropriate, with demarcation of the strict protection zones and total prohibition of all economic activities in them. In addition, artificial afforestation/reforestation and infrastructure construction should be restricted.
