Rivnenskyi
The Rivne Nature Reserve, located in the north of Ukraine, is the largest nature reserve in the continental part of the country, covering an area of 42,289 hectares. Located in the north of the Rivne region, the reserve covers the territories of Varas and Sarny districts.
Park area 422.915 Sq km.
It consists of four massifs: Biloozerskyi, Somyne, Syra Pogonya and Perebrody. These massifs represent all types of bogs in Ukrainian Polissia, making the reserve unique for the study and conservation of bog ecosystems.
The Rivne Reserve is unique in that all types of bogs typical of Ukrainian Polissia are represented on its territory. The bogs are especially diverse in the Bilozerka area, where lowland (eutrophic) bogs with rich nutrition are well represented. Other areas are dominated by sphagnum bogs: upland (oligotrophic) and transitional (mesotrophic).
The reserve is also an important centre for the conservation of forest ecosystems dominated by pine forests. These forests are a habitat for many rare species of flora and fauna, which underlines the importance of the Reserve for the conservation of biodiversity in Ukrainian Polissia.
The flora of the reserve was formed as a result of glacial activity, which led to the presence of unique relict species. Among them: marsh sheikzeria, cup shamedaphne, lake euphorbia, Lapland willow and some others.
The Reserve’s fauna includes 221 species of vertebrates, of which 25 species are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and 7 in the European Red List. Among them are the European mink, lynx, common lynx, great spotted eagle, bearded owl and black stork.
Due to its uniqueness and richness of natural resources, the Rivne Nature Reserve is a real gem of Polissia that requires constant attention and protection to preserve its unique ecosystems for future generations.
Since the beginning of the russian invasion, the Frankfurt Zoological Society has been trying to help the reserve with partial coverage of operational losses. The FZS also systematically supports biomonitoring, in particular by providing equipment for photo traps and bird watching.
In 2024, the Frankfurt Zoological Society resumed work on the restoration of two marshlands on the territory of the reserve – Syra Pohonya and Somino.
The Syra Pohonya swamp is a unique natural complex of Polissia, which is important for preserving biodiversity and maintaining the water balance of the region. It is home to rare plant species, including sphagnum mosses, cranberries and rosemary, and is a habitat for Red Book animals such as the river otter and black stork. The bog performs an environmental function by absorbing carbon and regulating the water table. The main threats are drainage, land reclamation and illegal peat extraction. To preserve it, environmental monitoring and measures to restore the natural hydrological regime are needed.
The Somino bog, in turn, has a high scientific and environmental value, as it has been preserved in its natural state and is part of the rare bog ecosystems of Polissia. It is studied by botanists, ecologists and hydrologists. The conservation of the Somino bog involves protecting it from drainage, reducing the impact of human activity, and possibly measures to regulate the water level to restore its natural state.
