Prypiat-Stokhid  

Country: Ukraine
Area: 39,315.5 ha

National protection status: National Park

International protection status: Emerald Network (UA0000044) - Prypiat-Stokhid National Nature Park (38,940.0 ha);  Ramsar Site (776) - Prypiat River Floodplains (37,567.70 ha); Ramsar Site (777) - Stokhid River Floodplains (10,000 ha); IBA (UA005) - Pryp'yat' river valley (12,500 ha).

The national nature park represents a part of the Pripyat River valley, more than 50 km long, preserved in its natural state with numerous channels and oxbow lakes, floodplain marshes and meadows. It also includes the mouth area of the Stokhid River preserved in its natural state. In the north, it borders on protected areas in Belarus (Radastaŭski Reserve).

857

species of vascular plants

26

habitats included into the Resolution No 4 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention

 

333

vertebrate species

 

Land cover

Mires

Forests

Shrubs and meadows

Waterbodies and watercourses

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.

Biodiversity

The area is of great importance for a number of species of flora and fauna. Over 70 local species are included into Resolution No 6 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention. The vegetation of the park includes 857 species of vascular plants. 41 plant species of the park are listed in The Red Data Book of Ukraine: the Lady’s Slipper (Cypripedium calceolus), the Floating watermoss (Salvinia natans),the Sand Jurinea (Jurinea cyanoides), the Waterwheel (Aldrovanda vesiculosa),the Shrubby Birch (Betula humilis), and others.

The local wildlife includes 333 vertebrate species: 30 species of fish, 12 — amphibians, 6 — reptiles, 231 species of birds, and 60 species of mammals. It is of key importance as a nesting place for wetland species, as well as a migration corridor.  Nesting here are globally threatened bird species as the Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola), the Great Snipe (Gallinago media), the Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), and the European Roller (Coracias garrulous). Additionally, the area is of great importance for conservation of wetland bird species, such as the Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus),the Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger), the Whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybridus), the White-winged tern (Chlidonias leucopterus), the Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), the Corncrake (Crex crex), the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), the Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), the Ruff (Philomachus pugnax), the Little crake (Porzana parva), the Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana), the Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus).

The area is inhabited by such mammal species as the European beaver (Castor fiber), the Common Otter (Lutra lutra), the Murin des marais (Myotis dasycneme), the European mink (Mustela lutreola). The territory is an exceptionally important habitat of a number of fish species: the European weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis), the Ziege (Pelecus cultratus), the Spined loach (Cobitis taenia),the European bitterling (Rhodeus sericeus amarus), аs well as of reptiles and amphibians: the European pond turtle(Emys orbicularis), the Crested newt (Triturus cristatus), the Fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina). Rare insect species as follow are identified for the area: Dytiscus latissimus, the Scarce Fritillary (Hypodryas maturna), the Large Copper (Lycaena dispar).

The most important impacts and threats

Logging, dead wood removal

Meadows overgrowing with scrubs

Old drainage systems

The forest habitats and species are threatened by clearcut logging, sanitation felling, deadwood withdrawal, and forest plantation. The wetland ecosystems are degrading due to polder systems existing both in the national park and in its outskirts. The meadow ecosystems are overgrowing with shrubs due to abandoning of hay-making and grazing, as well as threatened by their transformation into arable lands. The entire national park is negatively impacted by household waste pollution, illegal hunting and fishing.

Conservation measures

The area enjoys the conservation status of a national nature park. Zoning has been delineated with different restrictions imposed on economic activities, including strict protection zone where all kinds of economic activities are banned totalling 5,783.1 ha (14,7% of the area).

Detailed inventory of the conservation values is required, as well as their handing over under land-users’ protection. Consistent monitoring of the conservation values, development of a management or conservation plan, strict protection zone extension to at least 20% of the area are desirable.

Our activities in the area

Сameratraps were installed to study current distribution and abundance of big mammals in the project region.

Equipment, like GPS, office equipment, weather stations, etc. was purchased for the NP.

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 Internally Displaced People. Pripyat-Stokhid NP was receiving regular financial support for covering expenditures like fuel, vehicle spares and maintenance, building maintenance, services (rent, telecommunications, etc.) and office supplies.

The project “Polesia – Wilderness Without Borders” is part of the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme and is funded by Arcadia. The project is coordinated by Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS).