"Osviysky" заказник

The sanctuary is also home to 4 species of mammals included in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus (brown bear, badger, lynx, European bison).

16 species of plants listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus have been identified within the sanctuary. Among the rare plants, mention should be made of hybrid forms of common alder and grey alder, tall-stemmed forms of Karelian birch, a large population of small yellow pond lily, and the rare relict insectivorous plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa.

Landscapes

The "Osvyeysky" Sanctuary is located within the subzone of subtaiga (mixed forest) landscapes and is part of the Pozerie Province of lake-glacial moraine-hilly-lake landscapes. In terms of orography, the territory of the sanctuary corresponds to the northern and northeastern extremities of the Osvyeyskaya ridge.

Within the sanctuary, there are elevated, medium-height, and low-lying natural-territorial complexes, landscapes dominated by wetlands, as well as aquatic complexes, which indicates the complex landscape organization of the territory. Genetically, almost all types of landscapes characteristic of Belarusian Pozerie are found in its territory. The landscape structure of the sanctuary is given a special character by complexes dominated by wetlands, which occupy 20% of its territory, while they account for only 5.7% in Belarusian Pozerie.

The following landscape complexes are considered Unique:

Flat-concave lake-swamp lowland of Lake Osvyeyskoye, composed of lowland, transitional, and raised bogs, slightly affected by anthropogenic activity. Within its boundaries, there are peat deposits unique in their thickness, ranging from 2.8 to 6.3 m.

Small and medium-hilly kame-kettle-lake elevation of the White and Lisno lake catchment area - its uniqueness lies in the combination of afforested kame massifs, drained lake basins with wetlands, and large and small lakes.

Lakes of the Sanctuary.

"Osvyeyskoye" - area 5706 ha, the second largest natural body of water in the Republic of Belarus, picturesque island, depths: average – 2.5 m, maximum – 10 m. The Vydryanka River and a melioration canal flow into it, and the outflow is through the Degtyarevka canal.

"Lisno" - area 1602 ha, depths: average – 2.6 m, maximum – 6.5 m. The Degtyarevka canal, the Staraia River, and several streams flow into it, and the Svlna River flows through the lake.

"Beloye" (Kotlyarovo) – area 520 ha, average depth – 3.3 m.

Fish inhabiting the lakes: commonly found – bream, roach, tench, pike, perch, carp, rarely – zander, burbot, ide.

Tourist potential of the "Osvyeysky" reserve

Ecotourism.

Thanks to the large number of birds and animals, including those listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus, the interesting landscape of the area, and large natural water bodies, the reserve attracts the interest of domestic and foreign scientists and nature lovers.

Routes of the reserve.

The following routes have been developed on the territory of the reserve: the water-hiking route "Osvyeysky Cruise", a water excursion on Lake Osvyeysky, the water excursion "Lisnyansky Cruise", and the car excursion "Safari Tour" through the territory of the reserve.

Together with the Sebezh National Park, the first cross-border water ecological trail in Belarus and Russia, "The Merchant Novinsky's Trade Route," has been developed.

The route is designed for 3 days, starting in the village of Kortsenki (Russia) Sebezh National Park (Russia) - 1st night in the village of Lisno (Belarus) Osvyeysky Reserve (Belarus) - 2nd night in the village of Volotsnya (Russia) Sebezh National Park (Russia) - finish in the village of Ozyaryavki (Russia) Sebezh National Park (Russia). The route length is 45 km.

Hunting and fishing

In the northern part of the Verkhnedvinsk district, there is the hunting and forestry enterprise GLHU "Verkhnedvinsky Leskhoz", as well as the "Krasny Bor" Hunting Estate, which organize hunting events for Belarusian and foreign hunters. Amateur fishing is permitted on the lakes of the reserve in accordance with the "Rules of Amateur Fishing of the Republic of Belarus".

All large lakes are leased, but no fee is charged for fishing.

On the lakes Beloye (Kotlyarovo), Lisno, and Osvyeyskoe, boats with engines up to 15 hp can be used.

Rest areas and parking spaces for vehicles are created and equipped for fishing enthusiasts.

Cross-border specially protected natural area

"Zapovednoye Poozerye"

The agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on the creation of the cross-border specially protected natural area "Zapovednoye Poozerye" was signed by the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Sergey Donskoy and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus Andrei Khudyk.

The agreement was signed at the All-Russian Forum on Specially Protected Natural Territories to unite the efforts of the two countries in preserving the unique biological and landscape diversity of the Vitebsk and Sebezhskoye Pozerie, adjacent to the Russian-Belarusian state border. The new territory "Zapovednoye Pozerie" includes the "Sebezhsky" National Park (Russian Federation, Pskov Region), the "Krasny Bor" Republican Landscape Reserve (Republic of Belarus), and the "Osvseysky" Republican Landscape Reserve (Republic of Belarus).

A Joint Russian-Belarusian Commission has been established to coordinate the activities for the implementation of the Agreement.

The creation of "Zapovednoye Pozerie" has improved cooperation in environmental protection and monitoring, scientific research, biodiversity conservation, as well as the development of environmental education and ecotourism.

"Zapovednoye Pozerie" unites the efforts of specialists from both countries in joint environmental monitoring of natural ecosystems, monitoring of flora and fauna, including populations and groups of rare and endangered wild animal species inhabiting and migrating within the borders of the transboundary specially protected natural territory.

Projects in the Reserve Area

"Restoration of the hydrological regime of the disturbed Osvseyskoye bog in the Verkhnedvinsk district of the Vitebsk region". (2009 – 2011)

Estimated construction cost – 74,497 thousand rubles.

The construction project was carried out within the framework of the Undp-Gef project "Renaturation and sustainable management of peatlands to prevent land degradation, climate change, and ensure the conservation of globally significant biodiversity".

Design organization - Rup "Belgiprovodkhoz".

Contractor - up "Verkhnedvinskoye Pms"

International project "Development of ecotourism to promote a green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth".

The project is implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus with the support of the "Russia-UNDP Trust Fund for Development".

The pilot territories of the project are: "Osvyeysky" заказник, "Krasny Bor" заказник (Vitebsk region), "Ozyory" заказник (Grodno region), "Naliboksky" заказник (Grodno and Minsk regions).

Project Budget: 1,200,000 US dollars

Implementation Period: March 2021 – March 2024

For Investors

Investment Project "Development and Implementation of Vermitechnology for the Disposal of Vegetation Residues of Floating Mats for the Purpose of Cleaning the Main Spawning Grounds of Lake Osvyeyskoye".

Within the framework of the project, it is planned to partially clean the lake from floating mats, process the floating mats using earthworms (vermicomposting), and obtain humus.

Estimated project cost: 1000 million rubles (350 thousand US dollars).

Contact Information: State Environmental Institution "Osvyeysky" Republican Landscape заказник, 211454 Vitebsk region, Verkhnedvinsk district, Chapayevsky settlement, house 7, tel. 802151-61758, Osvejski@vitobl.by

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