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close| Location | Belarus, Brest |
| Central coordinates | 27o 15.00' East 51o 50.00' North |
| IBA criteria | A1, B2, B3 |
| Area | 93,699 ha |
| Altitude | 128 - 144m |
| Year of IBA assessment | 2005 |
Ornithological information A total of 151 species have been recorded in the IBA, with 25 National Red Data Book species. Olmany wood and mire complex supports a considerable part (10-20%) of the national populations of Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa. One of the most valuable huntable birds breeds, Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, the Polesian population of which is much threatened.
Site description The site is one of the Europe's largest natural bog, transition and fen mire complexes. It is located on the grounds of an active aviation military training area.
Populations of IBA trigger species
| Species | Season | Period | Population estimate | Quality of estimate | IBA Criteria | IUCN Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Stork Ciconia nigra | breeding | 1995 | 10-20 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Short-toed Snake-eagle Circaetus gallicus | breeding | 1995-2001 | 20-30 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus | breeding | 1995 | 10-20 breeding pairs | medium | B3 | Least Concern |
| Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga | breeding | 2001 | 20-30 breeding pairs | good | A1 | Vulnerable |
| Common Crane Grus grus | breeding | 1995 | 30-40 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Great Snipe Gallinago media | breeding | 1995 | 20 breeding pairs | poor | A1 | Near Threatened |
| Eurasian Eagle-owl Bubo bubo | resident | 1995 | 5-6 breeding pairs | medium | B2 | Least Concern |
| Tawny Owl Strix aluco | resident | 1995 | 100 breeding pairs | medium | B3 | Least Concern |
Protected areas
| Protected area | Designation | Area (ha) | Relationship with IBA | Overlap with IBA (ha) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olmany Mires | Zakaznik | 94,219 | is identical to site | 94,219 | |
| Olmany Mires Zakaznik | Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar) | 94,219 | protected area contains site | 94,000 |
|
Habitats
| IUCN habitat | Habitat detail | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | Mixed woodland; Native coniferous woodland | 40% |
| Wetlands (inland) | Fens, transition mires and springs; Raised bogs | 44% |
| Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) | Other urban and industrial areas | 16% |
Land use
| Land-use | Extent (% of site) |
|---|---|
| military | 80% |
| hunting | 5% |
| forestry | 15% |
Other biodiversity 26 mammal species occur on the site, including three National Red Data Book species. European Mink Mustela lutreola, a species threatened in Europe, was recorded here regularly until recently. The Stviga and Lva floodplains support one of the largest populations of Otter Lutra lutra. 687 plant species are found on the site, including 12 National Red Data Book species.
Management considerations The site continues as a military training ground, but the scale and frequency of military activity has declined and this has had a negative impact on the conservation level of the IBA - there has been a sharp rise in unofficial uses of the site's resources. Drainage of the adjacent areas has caused declines in the groundwater table in the IBA, which eventually leads to degradation of natural communities on the site.Burning of vegetation in spring is the main cause of fires. In summer, fires are caused by herdsmen and poachers who break up fire-places on peatlands or in dry forest openings.Illegal forest logging on islands and ridges among the mires may result in their erosion and subsequent loss of shelter for animals. Unlimited collection of cranberries increases disturbance, limits the feeding base for many animals, and results in fires.Uncontrolled hunting results in catastrophic declines in the numbers of Capercaillie, Elk, Wild Boar, and fur animal species.Cattle pasturing in forest habitats leads to degradation of ground vegetation cover, declined feeding base for wild animals, aggravated disturbance, and herd dogs hunting young animals and destroying bird nests.
Protection status National Conservation Status: A national landscape zakaznik, established in 1998International Conservation Status: An IBA, established in 1998 (code BY018, criteria À1, Â2, Â3). Ramsar site designation was granted in 2001 (criteria 1, 2)
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: Al'manskija baloty. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/05/2013
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