Voronezhsky Reserve

This zapovednik is situated in Voronezh and Lipetsk regions within Oksko-Donskaya plain on the ancient terraces of the Voronezh river. It covers northern part of the Usman forest, one of the forest islands in the forest-steppe of Central-Chenozemny region. It was created in 1927. The area is 31.1 thousand ha. Territory is within the plain with the heights 90-160 m above sea level. River network is made up of tributaries of the Voronezh, Usmanka and Ivnisa rivers. Relief comprises flood plain terraces and flood plain itself.

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Pine forests with oaks and oak forests prevail there. In the eastern part of the zapovednik on the watershed of the Voronezh and Usmanka rivers native oak forests are concentrated. The flood plains are covered by alder forests. Flora of the zapovednik represents 970 species of high plants (four of them are in the Red Data Set Book of Russia, 191 species of mushrooms, 134 species of moss and 124 species of lichens.

Many animal species also occur in the zapovednik, they represent in general European type of fauna with habitats in broad-leaved forests and less in coniferous forests of south taiga and steppe zones. There are 199 species of birds, 58 species of mammals, 16 species of amphibian and reptiles in the area of the zapovednik.

One of the main objects for conservation is beaver. During last years number of beavers in the local population increased and the zapovednik became the main source of animals to spread them in their original habitats. Activity of beavers is important for the river regime and dynamics of the near-river ecosystems of the zapovednik. Red deer is the most abundant of hoofed animals and also wild boars, elks and roes are usual . The number of robbers is high, there are such species as badgers, foxes, racoon dogs. Two species of the martens - pine marten and stone marten live here, polecats, stoats and weasels. Wolf is also the common species for this area. Forest species prevail among rodents, but sometimes one can see steppe species. There are a lot of bats.

Mammals - desman; birds - saker falcon, imperial eagle, short-toed eagle, and also met here golden eagle, white tailed eagle and fish hawk; 12 species of insects are included in the Red Data Set Book of Russia. The zapovednik is the "island" of natural ecosystems surrounded by agricultural areas. It has a status of biosphere one.

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