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Established: 1994
Size: 36,922 ha (369 km2)
Buffer Zone: 4,844 ha (48
km2)
Contact information:
Krolikov, Vladimir Vasilievich, Director
Russia 175270, Novgorodskaya Oblast, Kholm, ul.
Chelpanova, 27
Tel: (816-54) 5-14-08
Email: rdeysky@mail.ru
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Rdeisky
Zapovednik was created together with Polistovsky Zapovednik to preserve
unique wetland ecosystems in the enormous Polistovo-Lovatskoye Swamp,
the largest sphagnum swamp in northwestern Russia, located in the
Novgorod, Pskov, and Tver regions. The vast and virtually impassable
wetland ecosystem, made up of 15 connected bogs, marshes, and swamps
separated by low ridges and lakes, acts as a giant filter for the
source waters of numerous lakes and streams. The swamp and adjacent
coniferous and broadleaf forests provide important nesting areas
for a number of birds such as black stork, gray heron, and capercaille.
The largest nesting population of Eurasian curlews in Europe is
protected in the reserve. Open marshes of peat moss, sedge and sphagnum
swamps, and bog pine forests with clumps of cotton grass are just
a few of the plant communities preserved in the Rdeisky Nature Reserve,
declared a Wetland of International Importance in 1998.
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Zapovednik Images
Zapovednik Facts
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Zapovednik
Facts:
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Animals
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The remoteness and inaccessibility of the Polistovo-Lovatskoye
Swamp, more than a quarter of which is protected in Rdeisky Zapovednik,
has provided refuge and breeding grounds for a number of game
animals and birds that were nearly hunted to oblivion on surrounding
territories. Moose (Alces alces) can be seen trudging through
the swampy mire on their long legs, while badgers (Meles meles)
burrow dens on dry ridges and plateaus. Alpine hares (Lepus
timidus) can be seen feeding on marsh grasses, keeping a wary
out for the European mink (Mustela lutreola), granted specially
protected status in the zapovednik. Capercaille (Tetrao urogallus)
and northern hazelhen (Tetrastes bonasia) gather in
early spring in leks to mate in forest stands on the edge of the
swamp.
Rdeisky Zapovednik plays a special role in
protecting bird nesting areas. Its remote wetland
habitats and multitude of large and small lakes
provide ideal nesting and resting areas for
thousands of birds each year. The
Polistovo-Lovatskoye Swamp is home to the largest
population of Eurasian curlew (Numenius
arquata) in Europe. These rather large and
extremely wary birds nest in grassy and mossy areas
of lowland lakes. They feed on insects and
sometimes berries and fish. In all, 11 species of
waders nest in rather large populations in the
reserve.
A number of rare birds, which have disappeared
for the most part in other areas of the region,
nest in the midst of impassable swamps. These birds
include black-throated loon (Gavia
stellata), black stork (Ciconia nigra),
golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), great gray
shrike (Lanius excubitor), willow ptarmigan
(Lagopus lagopus), greater spotted eagle
(Aquila clanga), among others. Other birds
that require special conservation measures include
the greater golden plover (Pluvialis
apricaria), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila
pomarina), grey heron (Ardea cinerea),
white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla),
osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and northern
eagle owl (Bubo bubo).
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Vegetation
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Rdeisky Zapovednik protects a quarter of the largest sphagnum
swamp (bog) in northwestern Russia, covering 140,000 ha (1,400
km2). The reserve is adjacent to the Polistovsky Zapovednik,
which protects similar areas to the northeast. Together, the two
reserves protect nearly half of the enormous sphagnum swamp ecosystem.
Mostly flat, except for ridges and low plateaus alternating with
marshy depressions and lakes, the enormous wetland was once the
bottom of a lake in the post-glacial period. Ridges are no more
than 4-10 meters high and run from 25 to 200 meters wide. Plant
communities in marsh areas are dominated by sphagnum (peat) moss
vegetation, swamp thickets, and sedge grasses. Several species
of peat moss (Sphagnum palustre, S. lindbergii, S. tenellum)
have specially protected status in the reserve. Cranberries (Vaccinium
oxycoccus) grow on raised mounds in the swamp, while cowberries
(V. vitis-idaea) and bilberries (V. myrtillus) prefer
slightly drier ground under the shade of pine trees. English and
round-leaved sundew (Drosera anglica, D. rotundifolia)
and mountain raspberry (Rubus chamaemorus) are also common
species.
Ridges and swamp edges are flanked with
coniferous and broadleaf forests. Here, the orange
trunks of Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
tower skyward. Norway spruces (Picea
excelsa) find room among the pines. Birches
(Betula spp.) fill gaps where disturbances
have occurred. Black alders (Alnus
glutinosa), not afraid to get their feet wet,
cling to hummocks in the swampy mire.
Other interesting plant species preserved in the
zapovednik are double buttercup (Trollius
europaues), hepatica (Hepatica nobilis),
and remote sedge (Carex remota). A number of
species from the orchid family, which thrive near
peat bogs and wood edges, are found in the reserve.
Among those relatively common but protected in the
Novgorod Region are meadow orchid (Dactylorhiza
incarnata), moorland spotted orchid (D.
maculata), common spotted orchid (D.
fuchsii), fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia
conopsea), greater and lesser butterfly orchids
(Platanthera chlorantha, P. bifolia), and
common twayblade (Listera ovata). Baltic
marsh orchid (D. baltica) and bird's nest
orchid (Neottia nidus-avis), found in the
reserve, are rare throughout Russia.
Mineral islands within the vast swamp are
perhaps some of the most intact plant communities
in northwestern Russia. Thanks to their
inaccessibility, these relics of virgin vegetation
have been spared human pressures and are of great
importance for botanical research. Some of the
islands are of rather large proportions and even
have their own unique plant and animal communities.
Some scientists claim that remnant oak forests
still remain on some of the islands.
Preliminary research in the relatively new
reserve has identified 327 species of plants, of
these nine are listed in the Russian Red Book. Two
dozen species are rare for Novgorod Region.
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Geographical
Features
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Rdeisky Zapovednik is in the western part of
Novogorod Oblast on the territory of the Poddorsky
and Kholmsky administrative districts. It lies
adjacent to the Polistovsky Zapovednik to the
northeast. Rdeisky Zapovednik is located on the
left bank of the Lovata River, which gets its
source from the Polistovo-Lovatskoye Swamp. The
average altitude of the swamp is 98-100 meters
above sea level.
Surface waters consist of rivers, lakes, and
small creeks of various types, whose headwaters
come from the swamp. The largest rivers are the
Polist and Lovat rivers. The rivers for the most
part have low banks and winding channels. There are
almost 50 large lakes in the wetlands of the
Rdeisky and Polistovsky zapovedniks, and numerous
small creeks. The lakes drain the adjacent
swamplands.
The climate in the region is continental but
fairly humid, characterized by excess moisture,
mild summers, warm autumn weather, mild winters,
and cool spring temperatures. The average annual
level of precipitation is 660 mm, which mostly
falls in the summer months. The average annual
temperature in the region is 4.9oC.
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Conservation
Status
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Wetland scientists began to study the
Polistovo-Lovatskoye Swamp in the beginning of the
20th century. Botanists came to research plant
communities much later. In the early 1970s, Mark
Kostrov, a historian from Novgorod wrote about the
enormous, wild, and impassable swamp on the border
of Novgorod, Tver, and Pskov oblasts. Fifteen years
later, Alexander Mishenko, a young ornithologist,
moved by Kostrov’s writings, traveled to the
area to compile the first list of birds in the
Polistovo-Lovatskoye Swamp. Mishenko, together with
Olga Sukhanova, lobbied the idea of creating a
protected area to the local environmental
committee. Their proposal was accepted, and in the
early 1990s, other ornithologists came to plan the
borders of the new protected area. In 1994, two
nature reserves were created to preserve the unique
wetland ecosystems &emdash; Polistovsky and Rdeisky
zapovedniks. Yuri Fedorov, a dedicated activist in
the regional environmental committee, played a
major role in creation of these reserves.
Due to the impassible nature of the enormous
swamp, natural ecosystems were amazingly well
preserved even late into the 20th century. One of
the only exceptions is the network of drainage
canals that was built in the southwest (in Pskov
Oblast) and southeast (in Novgorod Oblast) of the
swamp. Today, these canals are being actively used
by beavers, which are effectively helping to
restore hydrological regimes of the wetland
ecosystems.
Peat production also impacted part of the swamp
ecosystems. Fortunately, peat extraction was
brought to a halt in 1994 in the southern part of
the Polistovsky Zapovednik, as well as in the
northern part of the Rdeisky Zapovednik and on
adjacent territories. However, there is a
possibility that peat production will resume
outside the borders of the reserves. If extraction
were to resume, the hydrological regime in the
entire Polistovo-Lovatskoye wetland ecosystem would
be compromised. Other threats to wetland ecosystems
include uncontrolled recreation, especially the use
of all-terrain vehicles, as well as illegal fishing
and hunting.
Today, the main objectives of the reserve are to
protect natural ecosystems of the
Polistovo-Lovatskoye Swamp and its associated
biodiversity, to monitor natural processes in the
ecosystem, to research plant and animal
communities, and to build environmental awareness
in the region.
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References
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Wetlands International. Wetlands in Russia, Volume 2.
AEME Publication, Moscow 1999.
Zabelina, N.M, L.S. Isaeva-Petrova, and L.V. Kuleshova. Zapovedniks
and National Parks of Russia. Logata. Mosow, 1998.
Text prepared by Laura Williams.
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