Black Sea Biosphere Reserve

Black Sea Biosphere Reserve

Black Sea Biosphere Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Ukraine, whose territory consists of several parts, representing different landscapes of the seaside in south Ukraine: forest-steppe, sand-steppe, desert-steppe and sea solonchak. It is located in Kherson and Mykolaiv regions of Ukraine. The main purpose of its creation was the preservation and protection of unique natural complexes located on its territory, and scientific activity.

The total land area is 36621 acres and water area – 233354 acres. The fauna of the reserve has about 3,500 species. The greatest diversity is of insects, they are numbering over 2200 species and 160 species of arachnids, and 65 — mollusks.

In the reserve you can find more than 300 bird species, as it makes a special emphasis on the preservation of rare species. Here the following species are nesting: Oystercatcher, Kentish plover, Common Eider, black-winged stilt, nosy merganser, Pallas's gull, white-tailed eagle, bustard, pink pelican, and more. The number of birds specimens amounts to over 120 thousand in Tendrivska and Yagorlytska Bay during winter. The reserve is a basic nesting place for Pallas's gull in Europe.

The reserve is a scientific and research center of environmental education in the region therefore a recreational activity in its territory is not conducted.