Welcome to Berezinsky
Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 85,149 hectares of forest, marsh, lake and river systems in Belarus, 150km north of Minsk. It was established in 1925 when a solitary population of beaver, thought to be extinct in Belarus was discovered and it was given protection by the Council of People’s Commissars, making this the first state game reserve in the Belarussian Soviet Socialist Republic.
The long term protection of the reserve has resulted in a special biodiversity. It plays host to mammals such as brown bear, lynx, wolf, otter, beaver and elk, and since its re-introduction in 1974, a herd of European bison, whilst 230 species of bird have been recorded including wood-grouse, black-grouse and capercaille.
In 1979 Berezinsky was awarded the status of Biosphere Reserve, and in 1995 it was awarded the Diploma of the Council of Europe, which was subsequently renewed in 2000 and 2005. Today the reserve is a fully fledged nature protecting scientific research establishment with a staff of scientists, and can also offer customized wildlife tours or hunting tours.