KUZIYSKYI PROTECTED MASSIF

It is located on the southern offspurs of the Svydovets range at an altitude of 350 - 1409 m.a.s.l. The total area of the massif is 4925 ha, which is completely located within the forest zone. The highest summit is the Lysyna Mountain (1409 m). The ridge of Jurassic marble limestones, forming the numerous rocky outputs, lies on the southern part of the massif. This region is distinguished both by the climatic conditions and by its vegetation character. The overall distribution of the oak-beech forests ends here. Under the influence of warm air, that comes from the Maramoroskyi valley, there were formed specific conditions here, which promote distribution of the heat-loving species in considerable altitudes. Thus, such species as Quercus robus and Q. petrea reach the altitudes of 1090 m. That is the highest habitat of these species in Ukraine. Special attention should be paid to the seats of Taxus baccata, which are preserved on the limestone rocks under the cover of maple-beech forests. The main area of the massif is occupied with the beech forests, represented by the pure and mixed phytocoenoses. Here and there, on the higher hypsometric levels, the zonal spruce forests are spread.

Fauna of the Kuziyskyi massif is formed by species, typical for the Ukrainian Carpathians forests. The amphibia are represented by spotted salamander (Salamandra salamandra), Carpathian triton (Triturus montandoni), common frog (Rana temporaria) and yellow-bellied toad (Bombina variegata). The peculiar microclimate of the massif’s southern part is favourable for Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima), found only in separate localities of the reserve. Among the predatory mammals, the following species are found: common red fox (Vulpes vulpes), pine-marten (Martes martes). The species of bear, lynx, wild cat (Felis silvestris) and badger (Meles meles) are found occasionally. The desarted adits and tectonic caves, located in the massif’s teritory, serve as refuges for 8 species of cheroptera, four of which are rare species - Bechstein’s bat (Myotis bechsteini), barbastelle (Barbastella barbastellus), greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and lesser horseshoe bat (Rh. hipposideros).