Nature of Brest Region

The Brest region is a land of beautiful nature, the center of Belarusian Polesia, characterized by the predominance of wetlands: open lowland bogs, lakes and rivers, floodplain meadows, and willow shrubs.

The modern flora of the region includes over 1400 species of plants. Most of them are herbaceous plants (1243). The natural vegetation cover occupies over 55% of the region's area.

Forests cover 36.9% of the area. The largest part is occupied by pine forests (60%). Also common are birch (16.8%), black alder (15.1%), oak (3.8%), and spruce (3.2%) forests.

Meadows cover about 600 thousand hectares, with lowland meadows accounting for more than 60% of the total area. Floodplain meadows make up 25%, dry meadows about 10%. The region contains many unique natural complexes and monuments. The most valuable territories and sites are protected.

To preserve biological and landscape diversity, about 600 habitats of 77 rare species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus are monitored.

The region has established 48 nature reserves, and 72 sites have been declared natural monuments.

In terms of its natural potential, the Brest region is unique. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is part of the global network of biosphere reserves and is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

Five of the seven Ramsar-listed wetlands in the Republic are located in this region: Sporovsky, Middle Pripyat, Olmansky Bogs, Zvanets, and Dikoje.

Specially protected natural areas and sites occupy 13% of the total area of the region, compared to the national average of 7.9%. Only in the biological reserve "Pribuzhskoye Polesie" grow rare plants such as marsh shield fern and royal fern. Only here, in the last fifty years, have rare animals like the gray long-eared bat (colony) and the garden dormouse been found. This is also where the highest concentration of giant trees in Belarus is observed (excluding Belovezhskaya Pushcha).

Among the natural monuments are 22 old parks, mostly located on former estates. Their artificial origin and deliberate maintenance in the past now give them great ecological value. They are of interest in terms of flora and fauna – park biocenoses are rich in introduced tree and shrub species. Their long existence has created favorable conditions for rare and endangered species.

Unique centuries-old oak specimens grow in the region. They have aesthetic, historical, cultural, educational, and scientific value.

The forests are rich in wild products. Estimated biological reserves of berries and mushrooms in Brest forests: cranberries – 466.7 tons, raspberries – 204.4 tons, bilberries – 3329.2 tons, blackberries, stone brambles – 7.2 tons, blueberries – 396.3 tons (total berries – 4403.8 tons); porcini mushrooms – 2716 tons, chanterelles – 1403.6 tons, honey mushrooms – 701.7 tons (total mushrooms – 10142.9 tons).

Forests, meadows, bogs, water bodies, fields, and settlements are home to 298 bird species, 7 species of reptiles, and 12 species of amphibians.

The region's modern fauna includes species of broadleaf forests: bison, roe deer, red deer, wild boar, marten; semi-aquatic animals – beaver, otter, mink, forest polecat; reptiles – pond turtle, slowworm, tree frog; birds – pheasant, short-toed eagle, osprey, eagle owl, bearded and tawny owl, green woodpecker, etc. Rare birds such as the little bittern and the world’s smallest eagle – the pygmy eagle – can be found. Birds show the greatest diversity – 112 nesting species have been recorded, which is 49.5% of all nesting birds in Belarus.

The region is one of the largest habitats of the globally endangered aquatic warbler in Europe. The estimated population ranges from 940 to 1550 singing males.

Over 50 species of fish inhabit lakes and rivers: bream, grass carp, bighead carp, crucian carp, common carp, catfish, tench, pike, etc. In 2004, exotic fish – piranhas – were reported in the Bereza district for the first time in history.

Common hunting game includes red deer, wild boar, roe deer, brown hare, fox, duck, and migrating geese.

Old forts of Brest Fortress host the largest wintering site of bats in Belarus and Europe: soprano pipistrelle, northern bat, Brandt's bat, fringed myotis, brown long-eared bat, pond bat – all listed in the 3rd edition of the Red Book of Belarus (2004). The "Barbastella" reserve was created – the first specialized bat hibernation reserve in Belarus. This is also home to the largest Belarusian population of the world’s smallest plant – Wolffia. Belarus has 16 native bat species, all protected by the Bonn and Bern Conventions; 6 are Red Book-listed and all are found in Brest Region. The most diverse bat fauna is in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, including Belarus's only known northern bat maternity colony, existing for 50 years – a unique record.

To stabilize and increase populations of main game species, wildlife monitoring is conducted, hunting restrictions enforced, and measures against poaching and rabies in wild animals are carried out. The populations of red deer (926), wild boars (4960), and roe deer (6227) are growing, and beaver colonies can even be found in Brest Fortress.

The ecological situation in Brest region is affected by inherited and current industrial impacts. Major pollution sources include motor vehicles (83%), energy, and industrial facilities. Over four years, stationary source emissions dropped from 33.5 to 29.0 thousand tons. Mobile source emissions remained stable despite more vehicles. Measures to reduce emissions are ongoing. In 2002, a gas pipeline was laid in Drogichin, Ivanovo, Luninets, Pinsk, and Stolin districts. Gasification of fuel-using systems cut emissions by 3 thousand tons in 2003 compared to 2002. Full transition to gas will cut annual emissions by 10–12 thousand tons.

The region's river network belongs to the Black and Baltic Sea basins. There are 450 water bodies (36,302.7 ha), and over 4000 rivers and canals with a total length of 15,000 km. Springs are being surveyed. The most valuable ones are protected as hydrological monuments.

The region has the largest granite deposit used for construction gravel (Mikashevichi). The Stolin district has unique clay deposits allowing for bricks with frost resistance over 100 cycles.

The region has one regional and four local environmental education centers for students, operating under a regional program. Brest State University and Technical University offer ecology courses and train ecologists.

In 2001, the LAD national TV channel began airing the series “World of Nature.” The first 6 episodes featured Brest’s nature, starting with the film about “Vygonoshchanskoye” – the largest forest-bog-lake complex in natural state on the main European watershed.