World Day of Nature Reserves and National Parks

January 11 is celebrated as the World Day of Protected Areas.

This day was first celebrated in 1997 on the initiative of the Center for Wildlife Conservation (Russia) and the World Wildlife Fund.

The Day of Protected Areas is a very important date, the purpose of which is to remind of the need to preserve nature both at the state and global levels.

In accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus "On Specially Protected Natural Territories", reserves are created for the purpose of ensuring the natural course of natural processes, preserving in their natural state and studying valuable natural complexes and objects. The goals of declaring national parks include the conservation, restoration (reproduction) of valuable natural complexes and objects, their rational (sustainable) use in the process of environmental protection, scientific, educational, tourist and recreational activities.

Currently, Belarus has 1 reserve (Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve) and 4 national parks: "Belovezhskaya Pushcha", "Braslav Lakes", "Narochansky", "Pripyatsky".

The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve (in the Dokshitsky and Lepelsky districts), the "Braslav Lakes" National Park in the Braslavsky district, and partially the "Narochansky" National Park in the Postavsky district are located in the Vitebsk region.

The most favorable conditions for the reproduction of flora and fauna have been created on the territory of these natural areas. This has been achieved through measures to reduce anthropogenic impact, complete or partial prohibition of any economic activity, and restoration work.

The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was established in 1925 to conserve beavers and other endangered animal species, and the first national park was Belovezhskaya Pushcha in 1991.

The reserve is included in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition, the reserve has the status of a wetland of international importance (Ramsar site), a key botanical territory, and an Important Bird Area.