The Site is a large, well preserved marsh area in one of the most waterlogged parts of Europe’s continental biogeographic region. Its hills and wetter depressions are unique in Ukraine and Central Europe, as they are more characteristic of northern taiga wetlands, with oligotrophic communities of pine, sphagnum mosses, cottongrass, sedges and pod grass. The Site supports over 600 native plant species and 675 animal species and is an important breeding ground for many waterbirds. Some of these are of national importance, such as the Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata, European roller Coracias garrulus and western capercaillie Tetrao urogallus. The Site represents a relict boreal refuge for insects and supports rare boreal butterfly species such as Oeneis jutta. The wetland plays an important role in flood protection and in maintaining hydrological regimes; however the clearing and excavation of melioration channels in the surrounding areas every 10 to 15 years cause a sharp outflow of water. The Site provides important revenue for local communities, who collect berries within the Site and in adjacent areas. The Rivnensky Nature Reserve of which the Site is a part has an education centre, and organizes annual events focused on the importance of environmental conservation and the value of bogs including the wetlands of the Syra Pogonia Bog.

Last publication date: 13-12-2016