THE SELYAVA PRESERVE OF THE NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

The State Environmental Institution ” The Selyava Preserve of the National Significance” was established by the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 99 dated February 25, 1993, with a total area of 19 364,83 hectares, in order to preserve the natural state of a unique landscape-lake complex with populations of rare and endangered species of plants and animals listed in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Belarus.

On February 23, 2006, by the decision of Krupskiy District Executive Committee No. 129, in order to ensure the efficient management of the preserve The State Environmental Institution ” The Selyava Preserve of the National Significance” was established on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection initiative and the Institution Charter was approved.

The main tasks of the Institution are:

• The organization and implementation of environmental measures that ensure the conservation of natural complexes and objects of the preserve in the natural state, compliance with the established regime for its protection and use;
• Organization and management of field observations aimed at studying natural complexes and objects, assessing and forecasting the ecological situation, developing scientific bases for nature protection, preserving biological and landscape diversity, reproduction and rational use of natural resources, participation in environmental monitoring;
• Organization and implementation of tourism, recreation and other recreational activities;
• Environmental education of the population and promotion of environmental protection;
• And other types of activities that are not prohibited by the current legislation of the Republic of Belarus.

The main directions in the work of the preserve

There is an administrative building in the village of Proshika (assigned in 2011), the Hunter and Fisherman’s Lodge in the village of Yanovschina (transferred in 2010 for tourist use) on the balance sheet of the establishment. In 2011 the Panskay Bathing Hut Recreation Area was created, which is visited by tourists from all over Belarus, as well as from near and far abroad. In 2012 the Proshika Marshes Ecological Path and two walking ecological routes were created, which are specially equipped for carrying out environmental education and cognitive activities. These routes are often visited by the guests of the preserve and schoolchildren, where they are informed about the importance of specially protected natural areas, plants and animals listed in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Belarus. The events “Clean Shore”, “Birds” and “Ant” are carried out together with the October Village Executive Committee and other land users.

Plans for the development of the preserve are compiled annually. Weekly monitoring of protected plant species is carried out on the territory of the preserve. Meetings with land users and local residents are held to discuss the regime of protection and use of the preserve. All land users are familiarized with the regime of protection of the preserve. Joint raids with the Inspection of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Krupskiy Forestry, the Oktyabrsky Rural Executive Committee, the Krupskiy District Department of Internal Affairs are conducted to protect the preserve.

The types of services that generate revenues from off-budget activities are expanding every year to increase the financial stability of the preserve.