The Site is on the Pripyat River, between the mouths of the Yaselda and Stviga rivers. It is one the largest complexes of floodplain meadows and alluvial floodplain forests in Europe. Among 750 plant species and 155 nesting bird species, the Site also supports many rare and vulnerable species of plants and animals including the globally threatened aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola and lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus. The floodplain supports over 200,000 waterbirds, including over 1% of the biogeographic populations of several species such as the nationally threatened black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa and the ruff Philomachus pugnax. It also provides important spawning grounds for many fish species, such as the globally threatened European eel Anguilla Anguilla and sterlet Acipenser ruthenus. The Site plays a substantial hydrological role in the river basin through groundwater regulation and flood control. Human activities include fishing, forestry, grazing, haymaking, wild bee-keeping and hunting. In addition there are several ecological-educational centres and an ecological path. The main threats relate to unsustainable hunting and the disruption of the natural water regime through river embankment and amelioration works, while overgrowing of the open floodplain meadows and fen mires has led to a decline in rare bird populations. A restoration plan is in place to address these issues.

Last publication date: 08-11-2016