On the granting nature protection status to the Polesie State Radiation and Ecological Reserve

The Polesie State Radiation and Ecological Reserve (PSRER) has been operating since 1988 within the Belarusian sector of the evacuation (exclusion) zone after the Chernobyl accident. The specific composition of radionuclide fallout, the presence of fuel particles in ecosystems and the high density of radioactive contamination of the soil determined the “reserve” status of PSRER and long-term strategic aspects of its development. The key objectives of creating PSRER are to implement a set of measures to prevent the removal of radionuclides beyond its territory, the study of the state of natural plant complexes, wildlife, radiation and environmental monitoring, and radio-biological and radio-ecological research. At the same time, despite its high conservation potential, PSRER is not a specially natural protected area (SNPA). The article presents the results of analysis of the compliance of the PSRER territory with the general and special criteria for selecting natural territories for SNPA granting, established by Article 16 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On Specially Natural Protected Areas”. There are compelling reasons for giving this natural territory the status of SNPA with the category of a reserve: the territory meets 5 general criteria (criteria 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.7) and all 3 special criteria presented for declaring natural territories a reserve.

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