Cheremskyi
Country: Ukraine
Area: 2,975.7 ha
National protection status: Strict Nature Reserve
International protection status:
Emerald Network sites (UA0000024) - Cheremskyi Strict Reserve (2,949 ha); Ramsar Site (2272) - Cheremske Bog(2,957.7 ha); IBA (UA006) - Cheremske mire (3,000 ha).
The strict nature reserve is located between the Pripyat, the Styr and the Stokhid rivers. This wetland complex includes mesotrophic mires, swamp forests and two glacial karst lakes. The forests dominate in the reserve, covering 64% of the area. There are swamp forests (pine, birch and black alder), as well as spruce forests located outside the spruce range. Part of the forests in the reserve was replaced by forest plantations. In the central part of the protected area is one of the largest and best preserved transitional mires of Ukraine – the Cheremske sedge-sphagnum mire. All three types of mires are represented within the area: fens, transitional (dominant) and bogs. Mires cover 34% of the area. Water bodies and watercourses occupy about 1% of the area.
760
vascular plant species
20
habitats included
in Resolution #4 of the Standing Commission to the Bern Convention
>70
nationally and internationally protected species
Land cover
Forests
Mires
Waterbodies
Others
Biodiversity and natural values
Biotopes
The area is rich in diverse wetland and forest habitats. More than 20 habitats from the Resolution No 4 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention have been identified here, for instance, Permanent oligotrophic lakes, ponds and pools (3140), Floating frogbit rafts (3150), Floating water-soldier rafts (3150), Floating bladderwort colonies (3150), Floating Aldrovanda vesiculosa communities (3150), Permanent dystrophic lakes, ponds and pools (3160), Transition mires and quaking bogs (7140), Sphagnum birch woods (91D0), Oak – ash – hornbeam woodland on eutrophic and mesotrophic soils (9170), Enclave Norway spruce forests, Nemoral bog conifer woodland (91D0), Raised bog complexes (7110), etc.
Fauna
According to preliminary data, vertebrates include 18 species of fish, 12 species of amphibians, seven species of reptiles, 141 species of birds and 42 species of mammals.
More than 50 species are listed in the Resolution No 6 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention, including the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), the Great Snipe (Gallinago media), the Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), the Short–toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus), the White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), the Three-Toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the Gray-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), the Hazel Grouse (Bonasa bonasia), the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus).
Rare species of insects have been registered here, including Stephanopachys linearis, Phryganophilus ruficollis, Boros schneideri,the Great Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), the Danube Clouded Yellow (Colias myrmidone), Cucujus cinnaberinus, the Large Copper (Lycaena dispar), Dytiscus latissimus, the Water Beetle (Graphoderus bilineatus), the Ornate Bluet (Coenagrion ornatum), and others.
The territory is a key habitat of a number of fish species: the Lake minnow (Phoxinus percnurus), the European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus amarus), the Spined loach (Cobitis taenia), the European weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis), аs well as of reptiles and amphibians: the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis),the Crested newt (Triturus cristatus),the Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina).
Flora
The natural flora of vascular plants of the reserve comprises 760 species. 100 species of mosses, 53 species of lichens, and 133 species of fungi have been registered here. It is important habitat for such rare plants as the Waterwheel (Aldrovanda vesiculosa), the Eastern pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), the Fen Orchid (Liparis loeselii), the Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus), the Dicranum Moss (Dicranum viride), the Garland-flower (Daphne cneorum), the Lake quillwort (Isoetes lacustris), etc.
The most important impacts and threats
Forest felling and dead wood removal
Poaching
Unregulated mushroom and berry picking
Wildfires
Conservation measures
The area is protected as a strict nature reserve. Compiling a detailed inventory of the conservation values is necessary, as well as prohibition of all types of logging, including sanitary logging, and planting of trees. Updating of the management plan and its subsequent implementation is recommended.
Our activities in the area
A management plan for the area was developed. Сameratraps were installed to study current distribution and abundance of big mammals in the project region. The feasibility study for restoration of the Cheremske Bog has been developed.
Equipment, like GPS, office equipment, weather stations, etc. was purchased for the nature reserve.
Since the beginning of the war, funds were raised for the support of Polesian PAs that have been directly affected by the war or need support in accommodation of Internally Displaced People. Cheremskyi SNR was receiving regular financial support for covering expenditures like fuel, vehicle spares and maintenance, building maintenance, services (rent, telecommunications, etc.) and office supplies.
