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close| Location | Belarus, Vitebsk |
| Central coordinates | 28o 7.00' East 56o 5.00' North |
| IBA criteria | B2 |
| Area | 29,654 ha |
| Altitude | 131 - 169m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2000 |
Ornithological information A total of 164 breeding bird species have been recorded, including 36 species listed in the National Red Data Book. Osveia Lake is one of the largest breeding and post-breeding grounds in Belarus for numerous huntable waterbird species: Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Pochard Aythya ferina, and Coot Fulica atra. The Lake and the surrounding areas have a high value for large concentrations of waterbirds during spring and autumn migration.
Site description The site is a large complex of lakes, forests, and transition and bog mires. The core of the IBA is Osveia Lake which defines much of the hydrology and climate of northern Belarus.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Pochard Aythya ferina | breeding | 1988 | 400-600 breeding pairs | good | B3 | Least Concern |
| Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris | breeding | 1988 | 40-60 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Osveiski | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 45,200 | protected area contains site | 22,600 |
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| Osveyskiy | Nature Sanctuary or Partial Reserve | 22,600 | protected area contains site | 22,600 |
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Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Mixed woodland | 30% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Raised bogs; Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation | 50% |
| Grassland | 6% | |
| Shrubland | 4% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| forestry | 50% |
| hunting | 30% |
| nature conservation and research | 20% |
Other biodiversity A total of 16 National Red Data Book plant species have been recorded. Some rare plants include hybrids of Black Alder and Grey Alder (Alnus glutinosa and A. incana), tall-stalk forms of Betula pendula var. carelica, a large population of Yellow Pondlily Nuphar pumila, as well as a rare insectivorous plant Waterwheel Aldrovanda vesiculosa.Four mammal species found on the site are listed in the National Red Data Book of Belarus.
Management considerations Human-caused eutrophication of the lake caused by discharge of waste waters and nutrients from agricultural fields and peat extraction sites, municipal facilities, husbandry farms, as well as by atmospheric precipitation.Disturbances in the hydrological regime caused by peat extraction. Declining water levels in the lake results in a poorer water quality, rapid overgrowth of the lake, shrinking fish resources, and less value for waterbirds. Commercial fishing could be reducing fish resources in the lake.
Protection status National Conservation Status: A national landscape zakaznik was established in 2000 on the basis of the former hunting zakaznik.International Conservation Status: An IBA was established in 1998 (code BY001, criteria Â2, Â3).Ramsar site (criterion 1, 5, 6).
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: Asvieja. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013
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