Pushcha Radzivila National Park
This area is part of one of Europe’s largest transboundary forest and peat bog complexes – the Almany/Olmany Mires. It also includes a stretch of the Stvyha River valley, about 20 kilometers long. This section of the river is completely natural. Its marshy riverbed forms numerous oxbow lakes and side channels. The landscape is dominated by forest and wetland ecosystems, interspersed with sandy dune complexes. The forests are primarily pine, with birch and black alder common in the boggy areas. The floodplain of the Stvyha River features rare floodplain oak forests. Unfortunately, some of the pine forests in drier areas have been affected by logging, especially near settlements.
The reserve is part of a unified protected system, bordering both the Almany Mires landscape reserve in Belarus and the Rivnenskyi Strict Nature Reserve in Ukraine.
Country: Ukraine
Area: 24,265.0 ha
National protection status: National Park
International protection status: Partly within Emerald Network (UA0000339) - Poznan-Blazhove.
457 species
of vascular plants are recorded in the area
20 key nabitats
habitats included in Resolution #4 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention are found here
>30 species
occurring here are nationally and internationally protected
Land cover
Forests
Open peatbogs
Others
Biodiversity and natural values
Habitats
The area is characterised by the diversity of forest and wetland habitats. More than 20 natural habitats requiring specific protection under the Resolution No. 4 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention have been identified here:
Aquatic Habitats
- Permanently dystrophic lakes, ponds and pools (3160) – Brown-water, acidic water bodies,
- Free-floating vegetation (e.g., Floating frogbit rafts, Floating water soldier rafts);
Wetland Habitats
- Transitional mires and quaking bogs (7140),
- Beds of large sedges (usually without free water);
Grassland Habitats
- Open non-Mediterranean dry acid and neutral grasslands, including inland dune grasslands (2330),
- Mat grass swards (6230) – Nutrient-poor acidic grasslands,
- Dry heaths (4030);
Woodland Habitats
- Sphagnum birch woods (91D0),
- Nemoral coniferous swamp woods (91D0).
Biodiversity
The flora of the area includes 457 species of vascular plants, of which at least 12 species are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
The flora and fauna of the area includes at least 30 species listed in Resolution 6 of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention. The site is of particular importance for the conservation of such species as the Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga), the Hazel Grouse (Bonasa bonasia), the Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Woodlark (Lullula arborea), the Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), the Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus), the Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix tetrix), the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), the White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), the Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), the Crane (Grus grus), the Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), the Little Crake (Porzana parva), the Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana), the European Pond Turtle (Emys orbicularis), the Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus), the Fire-bellied Toad (Bombina bombina), the Capricorn Beetle (Cerambyx cerdo), the Eastern Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens), etc.
The following species are common in the area: the European Beaver (Castor fiber), the Lynx (Lynx lynx), the Otter (Lutra lutra), the Wolf (Canis lupus).
The most important impacts and threats
Logging, dead wood removal
Wildfires
Old drainage systems
Illegal mining, including amber
Protection and conservation needs
Zonation is established for the park with various limitations of economic activities, including the strict protection zone (with the total ban thereof) which occupies 32,1% of the area.
The recommended measures for making the conservation efforts in the area more efficient are:
- Compilation of a detailed inventory of natural values with subsequent handing them over under land-users’ protection;
- Spatial extension of the park;
- Systemic monitoring of the conservation values;
- Development of a management or conservation plan for the entire area.
Our activities in the area
Expansion and consolidation of nature conservation areas
Pushcha Radzivila National Park was officially established at the start of 2022, following years of groundwork and advocacy under the Polesia – Wilderness Without Borders initiative, coordinated by the Frankfurt Zoological Society and partners. The park protects over 24,000 hectares of highly valuable wetland, forest, and mire ecosystems in Ukraine’s Rivne region, securing formal legal status for landscapes long recognised for their natural significance. Its designation improves connectivity between existing protected areas, linking with the Rivnenskyi Strict Nature Reserve in Ukraine and the Almany Mires Reserve in Belarus, and strengthens the conservation framework across the heart of Polesia. The creation of the park also brings new opportunities for sustainable tourism and community engagement in nature conservation.
Biodiversity monitoring
In support of Pushcha Radzivila National Park’s early monitoring efforts, FZS contributed to initial ecological studies that informed both the park’s design and its expansion planning. Building on that foundation, FZS provided the national park with a suite of advanced monitoring tools, including camera traps, binoculars, GPS units, mobile phones, and other essential field equipment to strengthen wildlife and habitat observation. A structured monitoring programme has been developed, complemented by targeted SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) training to ensure systematic, high-quality data collection. The deployment of camera traps and the introduction of acoustic monitoring help document species presence and trends over time, providing essential insights to guide conservation decision-making.
Operating cost support
To help Pushcha Radzivila National Park maintain continuous on-the-ground management, the Frankfurt Zoological Society provides sustained support for core operational expenditures. This includes funding for fuel, vehicle servicing and repairs, and other routine costs that enable park rangers to conduct patrols, monitoring, and general management activities effectively across the protected area.
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).