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BY017
Mid Prypiac'
Location Belarus, Brest,Gomel
Central coordinates 27o 0.00' East  52o 15.00' North
IBA criteria A1, A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, B3
Area 98,676 ha
Altitude 120 - 150m
Year of IBA assessment 2005

Akhova Ptushak Belarusi



Ornithological information Throughout the history of scientific research in the Mid-Pripyat Reserve, 182 bird species, including 155 breeding species, have been recorded. 52 National Red Data Book species are registered in the area, of which 39 breed. The Pripyat floodplain hosts constant and large populations of the following globally threatened species: Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, Corncrake Crex crex, Great Snipe Gallinago media, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, and Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus. For 27 bird species, the area supports more than 1% of their national populations. The floodplain of the Pripyat river has a special international value for several waterfowl species during their spring migration. The overall number of geese that migrate along the Pripyat floodplain is estimated at 50,000 individuals. The figure for Wigeon Anas penelope is estimated to be 30,000.

Site description The site is the largest floodplain tract of the main waterway of the Polesie region, i.e. the Pripyat river. The site is located between the mouths of the Yaselda and the Stviga rivers, and has preserved its naturalness well. The IBA is about 120 km long and 4-14 km wide. Natural vegetation covers about 92% of the IBA. The site is very important for its primeval floodplain forests and meadows.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Bean Goose Anser fabalis passage  1995  2,000-10,000 individuals  good  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons passage  1995  10,000-30,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus passage  1995  50-250 individuals  poor  B1i  Vulnerable 
Greylag Goose Anser anser passage  1995  200-500 individuals  medium  B1i  Least Concern 
Gadwall Anas strepera breeding  1995  600-800 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope passage  1995  10,000-20,000 individuals  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos breeding  1995  10,000-15,000 breeding pairs  medium  B1i  Least Concern 
Garganey Anas querquedula breeding  1995  6,000-10,000 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Common Pochard Aythya ferina breeding  1995  1,500-2,000 breeding pairs  medium  B1i  Least Concern 
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca breeding  1995  50-150 breeding pairs  poor  A1  Near Threatened 
Black Stork Ciconia nigra breeding  1995  50-70 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia breeding  1995  300-500 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus breeding  1995  50 breeding pairs  -  B3  Least Concern 
Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga breeding  2001  13-20 breeding pairs  good  A1  Vulnerable 
Corncrake Crex crex breeding  1995  500-2,000 breeding pairs  poor  A1  Least Concern 
Little Crake Porzana parva breeding  1996  300 breeding pairs  -  B3  Least Concern 
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana breeding  1996  700 breeding pairs  -  B3  Least Concern 
Great Snipe Gallinago media breeding  1995  1,000 breeding pairs  good  A1  Near Threatened 
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa breeding  1986  500-1,000 breeding pairs  poor  B2  Near Threatened 
Common Redshank Tringa totanus breeding  1986  1,000 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Little Gull Larus minutus breeding  1996  50-100 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Little Tern Sterna albifrons breeding  1986  150-250 breeding pairs  medium  B1i, B2  Least Concern 
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus breeding  1995  3,000-7,000 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i  Least Concern 
Black Tern Chlidonias niger breeding  1995  500-1,000 breeding pairs  medium  A4i, B1i, B2  Least Concern 
Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo breeding  1990  10-20 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Tawny Owl Strix aluco resident  1990  300 breeding pairs  medium  B3  Least Concern 
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus resident  1996  30-60 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
European Roller Coracias garrulus breeding  1986  30 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Near Threatened 
Sand Martin Riparia riparia breeding  1986  20,000-30,000 breeding pairs  medium  B2  Least Concern 
Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola breeding  1996  150-400 males only  medium  A1  Vulnerable 

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
Mid-Pripyat Zakaznik 90,447 protected area contains site 90,447  
Mid-Pripyat State Landscape Zakaznik Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) 90,447 protected area contained by site 90,447  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Alluvial and very wet forest  38%
Grassland Humid grasslands; Steppes and dry calcareous grassland  42%
Wetlands (inland) Fens, transition mires and springs; Standing freshwater  20%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
forestry 5%
hunting 5%
agriculture 14%
fisheries/aquaculture 10%
not utilised 60%

Other biodiversity Eleven plant species listed in the National Red Data Book can be found. These include very rare, formerly unknown to be occurring in the Polesie region, such as Three-toothed Saxifrage Saxifraga tridactilis, Fen Violet Viola stagnina, and Small-flowered Bittercress Cardamine parviflora. The Pripyat floodplain supports considerable populations of several mammal species. It hosts the largest Belarusian breeding centres of Beaver Castor fiber, Otter Lutra lutra, Water Vole Arvicola terrestris, and Foumart Mustela putorius. The swampy forests and shrub stands are concentration grounds for Elk Alces alces and Wild Boar Sus scrofa. The Mid Pripyat has favourable conditions for various amphibians and reptiles (16 species), including the rare Fresh-water Turtle Emys orbicularis, Running Toad Bufo calamita, and Tree Frog Hyla arborea. The Pripyat is one of the main fishing rivers in Belarus. 37 fish species are known to occur in the river and its floodplain waters.

Management considerations Disturbances in the hydrological regime Most of the problems pertaining to Mid-Pripyat have been brought about by extensive drainage of wetlands, embankment and canalization of the Pripyat and its tributaries to guard against floods. Narrowing of the floodplain and the elevated water level resulted in the loss of valuable habitats, over-wetting of forests, shrinking of fish spawning grounds, and changes in the flora and fauna. Burning of vegetation has serious consequences for vegetation and animals, especially in years with no floods. Forest cutting without account of their value for biodiversity is a serious threat. Overgrazing Natural vegetation communities on numerous parts of the floodplain suffer from pasture digression resulting from overgrazing. This leads to changes in the vegetation structure of meadows, and the destruction of young forests.Changes in traditional economic activities The cessation of hand hay-making has been widely observed on the site for the last several years. As a result, open floodplain meadows and fens have become rapidly overgrown with willow shrubs.Water pollution. The main pollution sources in the Pripyat catchment are heat-producing, wood-processing, paper-production, light and food enterprises, as well as agriculture (arable farming, cattle breeding) and municipal economic activities. Almost all indicators of water quality have declined considerably.

Protection status National Conservation Status: A Mid-Pripyat National Landscape zakaznik was established in 1999. International Conservation Status: An IBA was established in 1998 (code BY017, criteria A1, À4, Â1, Â2, Â3).The area was designated with Ramsar site status in 2001 (criteria 1, 2, 5, 6, 8).

Related state of the world's birds case studies

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: Mid Prypiac'. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 19/06/2013

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