Protection status

The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (CBR), with the total area of 57880 ha, consists of six detached massifs and a regional landscape park “Stuzhytsia”, botanical preserves of national significance “Chorna Hora" and “Yulivska Hora". The protected massifs are located at an altitude of 180 - 2061 m.a.s.l. in the western, central and eastern sectors of the Ukrainian Carpathians

From the general area of 57880 ha, the Carpathian biosphere reserve got from the state 31995 ha in the direct land-tenure. The rest of the territory - 25885 ha, was included to the reserve without the withdrawal from the previous land-users.

The territory of the biosphere reserves envisages its functional zoning. After the expansion of the reserve's territory in 1997, its area has increased in nearly 19 th. ha. The functional zoning within new borders will be carried out in the period of 1998-1999. Today, the project on the reserve's territory regulation, in particular its zoning, is being worked out. And in connection with this, it is impossible to indicate the area distribution in regard to the zones, at the present moment. For the period of January 1, 1997 the territory of the reserve, with the total area of 38930 ha, was divided into zones, as follows: reserve /core/ (A) - 19989 ha, buffer (B) - 10870 ha, anthropogenic landscapes (C) - 8071 ha.

The differenciated regime of nature protection was established for the biosphere reserve, according to the functional zoning. Any economic interference into the course of natural processes in the reserve (core) zone is forbidden. In the buffer zone, established to avert the negative impact on the reserve nucleus, the economic activity is strictly limited. The zone of anthropogenic landscapes, where the traditional use of nature and recreation is conducted, is subjected to the constant control over the observation of the fixed regulations and limitations. These principles will be also used, while zoning the newly attached territories.

In zone A - the reserve carries out, in general, scientific and nature-protective tasks. Therefore, visiting of this territory is limited. In the reserve, besides the staff workers, may also work the specialists from different scientific-research institutions, and also students of the higher establishments, who do their educational-productive practical work here.

The territory of zone A of the reserve is distributed between seven forestries - Chornohirskyi, Kuziy-Svydovetskyi, Trebushanskyi, Kevelivskyi, Maramoroskyi, Uholskyi and Shyrokoluzhanskyi, which include about 10-12 rounds. A forest ranger is attached to each round, and is responsible for the protection of the given territory. The entry (drive) to each massif is equiped with the control-passing posts (CPP) and special facilities. The entrance and exit from the territory is carried out through the above mentioned posts, in accordance with the corresponding permits. There is a daily duty of the forest guard in the CPP. In separate periods of the increased fire danger, and in separate CPP, the whole year round, the day-and-night duty is placed. The forest guard conducts in all forestries the regular patrolling of the territory, in accordance with the specially determined routes.

The protection system of the buffer zone and zone of the anthropogenic landscapes differs, to a great extent, from the specific protection of the reserve (core) zone. It lies, mainly, in the observation of special measures, aimed to limit the economic use of natural resources in these zones.

In the Carpathian biosphere reserve, beside the traditional zones (A, B and C) was additionally distinguished the zone of regulated protected regime. Its main task consists in renovation of the disturbed natural complexes and returning of them to the natural state. Besides this, the zone provides the reserve with certain economic needs - firewood, timber, hay, etc.

There are 3 autonomous objects, with the special status, which form part of the reserve:

- Botanical preserve of national significance “Chorna Hora” - established in 1974, in the area of 823 ha, aimed to preserve oak, hornbeam-oak, oak-beech and beech-oak forests. The oak forests are formed by durmast oak (Quercus petraea), occasionally by Quercus polycarpa and Quercus dalachampii. In general, vegetation of this territory is of the forest-steppe nature, which is not typical for the Ukrainian Carpathians. The preserve became part of the Carpathian biosphere reserve in 1997.

- Botanical preserve of national significance "Yulivska Hora" - established in 1974, in the area of 176 ha, aimed to preserve the oak-groves, formed by many heat-loving Balkan and Mediterranean species. The unique for Ukraine phytocoenoses of Qercus cerris (sole habitat in Ukraine), Q. polycarpa and Tilia argentea are found here. The preserve became part of the Carpathian biosphere reserve in 1997.

- Regional landscape park "Stuzhytsa". It was established on the basis of the forest preserve of the same name and of national significance in 1993. Its total area is nearly 14 th. ha, from which 4250 ha subordinates to the CBR. The valuable beech virgin forests are protected in this territory. The beech-tree, in the form of elfin woodland, forms the upper forest line here. Location of the park in the border with Poland and Slovakia makes good preconditions for the organization of the international trilateral biosphere reserve "Eastern Carpathians".