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European Diploma for Protected Areas renewed for Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve in Belarus

Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve

VITEBSK, 25 March (BelTA) - The European Diploma for Protected Areas has been renewed for the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. The resolution was drafted following the annual meeting of the Group of Specialists on the European Diploma for Protected Areas held in Strasbourg last week, BelTA learned from the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve.

The European Diploma of the highest category A was first awarded to the reserve on 11 September 1995 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. It confirms that a conservation institution has an exceptional value in terms of conservation and boasts a high level of management. If all criteria are met, the diploma is renewed every five or ten years. The last time the ten-year document was issued to the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was in 2010. European experts visited the reserve with an inspection mission in June 2019. “The members of the group noted that the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is a model holder of the European diploma and that the document must be renewed for the territory,” the reserve said.

The experts also gave some recommendations. Taking into account the results of the research on the influence of the M3 motorway on the fragmentation of the reserve, plans are in place to set up at least three wildlife crossings for large animals. Viaducts will be planted with local plant species in order to make them look natural and encourage animals to use them. Another goal is to update the reserve territory management plan by 2021 in order to ensure its long-term protection and add concrete provisions in view of climate change.

Another holder of the European Diploma for Protected Areas in Belarus is the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park.

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