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close| Location | Belarus, Vitebsk |
| Central coordinates | 27o 30.00' East 55o 0.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1 |
| Area | 8,200 ha |
| Altitude | |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information In 2001 two bird species were found, both globally threatened: Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola and Great Snipe Gallinago media. This is the northernmost known point of the Aquatic Warbler's range in Belarus. Other rare species known to occur are Bittern Botaurus stellaris and Common Crane Grus grus.
Site description The area includes Servech Lake and part of the Servech river floodplain. The lake covers 450 ha, and has an average depth of 2.8 m. The waterlogged south-western part of the lake is the origin of the Servech river. The width of the channel varies from 2-5 to 15-25 m within the zakaznik. The floodplain is 1-2.5 km wide. The area is located close to the watershed of the Nioman, Western Dvina, and Dnieper rivers. The Servech river flows into Vileika water reservoir and is one of the main elements defining the water balance of the Vileika-Minsk water system.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola | breeding | 2002 | 200-250 males only | good | A1 | Vulnerable |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Servach | Nature Sanctuary or Partial Reserve (Local) | 1,188 | protected area contains site | 9,268 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Raised bogs; Rivers and streams; Standing freshwater | 77% |
| Forest | Native coniferous woodland | 20% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | 3% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| urban/industrial/transport | 3% |
| Notes: Peat extraction | |
| forestry | 5% |
| agriculture | 5% |
| Notes: cattle pasturing, hay-making, growing of arable crops | |
| fisheries/aquaculture | 1% |
| nature conservation and research | 86% |
Other biodiversity Several rare plant species have been recorded, including Betula humilis, Salix lapponum, Carex lepidocarpa, Carex chordorrhiza, Dactylorhiza ochroleuca and other.
Management considerations Pollution of the lake by nutrients from arable fields on slopes.Burning of vegetation in spring especially in dry years substantially damages the biodiversity. Drainage of the area for peat extraction is a serious threat.
Protection status National Conservation Status: A national hydrological zakaznik. International Conservation Status: A potential IBA
References A.Kozulin, L.Vergeichik, M.Nikiforov and others. Treasures of Belarusian nature.- Minsk, 2002. -160 p.
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Recommended citation BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Servač. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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