Biospheric reserve “Bashkir Ural” is opened in Bashkiria

A biospheric reserve is opened in Bashkiria. The certificate concerning inclusion of the reserve “Bashkir Ural” into the global network of biospheric reserves was presented to the President RB Rustem Khamitov by representatives of Russian UNESCO Commission. The delegation visited Ufa with its secretary Gregory Ordjonikidze at the head.

UNESCO biospheric reserve is one of the forms of specially protected natural territories, having international status of protection. The global network of biospheric reserves is made within the frames of UNESCO program “Man and Biosphere” and the main goal of such reserves is well-balanced interaction of people and nature. At present time there are 610 biospheric reserves in 61 countries, including international and trans-international. This is the 41st biospheric reserve in Russia and there are many of them on Volga banks. “Bashkir Ural” is the only biospheric reserve in Ural region and it unites several specially protected natural territories.

The biospheric reserve “Bashkir Ural” is located on the western hill of South Ural in Republican mountainous-forest zone. Its staff includes five specially protected natural territories: state natural reserve “Shulgan-Tash”, national park “Bashkiria”, natural park “Muradymovskoe Canyon”, natural zoological reserve “Altyn-Solok” and zoological reserve “Ikski”. The lands of three nearby Bashkir regions are also connected to the reserve’s territory, combining all abovementioned zones into one whole. The total area of the reserve amounts to almost 346 thousand hectares.