Straddling the border between Poland and Belarus, this forest complex is one of the last remnants of primary mixed forests in Europe. Situated in the transition between the boreal and temperate zones, the biosphere reserve contains several tree species at the limit of their distribution. 

Designation Date: 1993
Surface Area: 191.300 ha
Administrative Division: Brest region, Grodno region

• Nature conservation
• Scientific activity
• Forestry
• Tourism

About 4,000 people live in the biosphere reserve (1993) who are engaged in agriculture, forestry, forest protection as well as in services. A nature museum provides environmental education to visitors of the area.

Straddling the border between Poland and Belarus, this forest complex is one of the last remnants of primary mixed forests in Europe. Situated in the transition between the boreal and temperate zones, the biosphere reserve contains several tree species at the limit of their distribution. Norway spruce (Picea abies) reaches its southern limits of its northern range and the sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is here at its northeastern limit. Notable mammal species include European bison (Bison bonasus), wolf (Canis lupus) and lynx (Felis lynx).

The last big complex of old-aged European mixed primeval forests, effective long-term protection (since XV century) of relict forest pattern and process, high biodiversity, significance as a research site due to its location on the transition zone between Western European mixed hardwood and Eastern coniferous forest ecosystems, the most big nature population of European bison

National park (from 1991)