UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory

			Biosphere Reserve Information
			Russian Federation NIJEGORODSKOE ZAVOLJE


	General Description		This Russian biosphere reserve is located in the middle section of the Volga River about 55 km south-west of the city Nizhni Novgorod. Part of the biosphere reserve, ‘Kama-Bakaldino Mires’, is designated as Ramsar wetland, representing the largest peatland complex to the south of the northern taiga zone in Europe. The biosphere reserve comprises large areas of pine forests recovering from logging activities and fires since the 1970s. Some fragments of old growth have been preserved. Within the biosphere reserve, logging, poaching and peat extraction is restricted. After the closure of logging enterprises and some demographic transformation, the population decreased tremendously. Today, about 600 people live in the biosphere reserve (2002) who are employed by the Kerzhenski nature reserve, administrations and public services. Home gardening as well as selling cranberries provides important additional sources of income. During the designation process of the biosphere reserve, consultations took place among the residents of the Rustai settlement. Following their recommendations, earlier planned areas have not been included into the biosphere reserve and the boundaries of the outer transition area were determined. Also during the preparation of the management plan, workshops were conducted with the participation of interested residents.
	Major ecosystem type		Boreal needleleaf forests or woodlands
	Major habitats & land cover types		Pine forests dominated by Pinus sylvestris; bogs with Eriophorum vaginatum, Ledum palustre, Chamaedaphne calyculata etc.; broadleaf - spruce forests characterized by Picia abies, Betula pendula, B.pubescens, Pinus sylvestris, Populus tremula, Tilia cordata and Quercus robur; floodplain systems characterized by Alnus glutinosa, white birch and Salix cineria
	Location		56°30'N; 45°00'E
	Area (hectares)
	Total		57,446
	Core area(s)		30,957
	Buffer zone(s)		10,660
	Transition area(s) when given		15,829
	Altitude (metres above sea level)		+76.3 to +140.5
	Year designated		2002
	Administrative authorities		The Administration of the state nature reserve «Kerzhenski». The director of the biosphere reserve Nijegorodskoe Zavolje reporting to the Ministry of Nature resources of the Russian Federation

	Brief description		Study of the natural course of the ongoing processes in nature and defining inter-connections between the separate parts of nature systems (Chronicle of nature) Optimization of territory management and organizing of work in the nature reserve Nature conservation and sustainable nature use in the biosphere reserve Nature reserve as a testing ground for biocenotic and monitoring researches in the Middle Volga river basin area. Monitoring post for pollution (suspended matter, formaldehyde, NO2, SO2) of the atmosphere (since 1997) Sampling of snow cover including chemical analysis Ecosystem monitoring The monitoring of the natural change of the vegetation in the nature reserve is going on in the course of composing of geobotanic map while reading the aerial photos of 1993 by the method of visual evaluation en route of the condition of vegetation contours. The study of the condition of populations of rare species of plants. Dynamics of the numbers and spatial distribution of the main species of game animals (especially primary and rare species of birds) Study of hydrobionts Study of the effectiveness of environmental awareness raising work by interviewing visitors Study of the needs of the local population by forming a database on the basis of the results of interviews
	*Specific variables...*
	Abiotic		n.a.
	Biodiversity		n.a.
	Socio-economic		n.a.
	Integrated monitoring		n.a.

	Contact address		2, Kostin Street, Office 162 603134 Nizhny Novgorod Russian Federation
	Telephone		(7.831-2) 34 09 51
	Fax		(7.831-2) 34 09 51
	E-mail		kerzheskiy@rambler.ru kerzhensky@kerzhensky.ru

Last updated: 3/1/2007