Forested Belarus: Exploring The Country's Green Landscape

Belarus is one of the top ten forest states in Europe, with around 40% of its territory covered in forest. This amounts to 8,351.9 thousand hectares, with reserves, national parks, sanctuaries, and natural monuments accounting for 1,350.2 thousand hectares. Belarus' forests are home to 28 types of trees and around 70 types of shrubberies, including birch, pine, conifers, and oak. The country's unique natural environment also includes several lakes in the northern regions and the Polesye marshland around the Pripyat River in the south.

Belarus is among the top ten forest states in Europe

The country's forested landscape is characterised by a mix of birch, pine, conifers and oak trees, with the Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Minsk and Brest regions being particularly well-endowed. The abundance of forests in Belarus is not only a source of natural beauty but also a vital contributor to the country's economy and ecological balance. The annual gain in timber exceeds its annual cutting, maintaining a favourable ecological balance.

The forests of Belarus are state-owned and carefully managed to ensure sustainability. The country has a long tradition of forest conservation and regeneration, with initiatives like the annual Forest Week and the cloning of arboreal-dumetosous varieties to reduce growing times. These efforts have resulted in a net increase in forest area, contributing to biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration.

Belarus is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including rare species such as the European bison and the greater spotted eagle. The country's unique natural environment, including its forests, lakes and marshlands, has led to the establishment of several National Parks and conservation projects. These protected areas, recognised and supported by UNESCO, safeguard the rich biodiversity found within Belarus' forest ecosystems.

The forests of Belarus serve multiple purposes, from providing recreational spaces for anglers and nature enthusiasts to supplying raw materials for the timber industry. The forestry sector is a significant economic contributor, employing thousands of people in forestry and logging industries. The country's forest services and goods are exported to over 25 countries, highlighting the global reach of Belarus' forest resources.

The Gomel Region is the most forested territory in Belarus

Belarus is one of the top ten forest states in Europe, with around 40% of its land covered by forests. As of early 2024, the Gomel Region was the most forested territory in the country, with 46.9% of its land covered by forests.

The Gomel Region, also known as Gomel Oblast or Homyel Voblasts, is the largest south-eastern region of Belarus. It is comprised of 21 districts and 2 city municipalities, with 278 selsovets and 17 cities and towns. The region has a population of over 1,300,000 people and its administrative center is Gomel, the second-largest city in the country.

Gomel Oblast is located on the Eastern European plain and features eroded hills and uplands. It is home to the Pripyatsky National Park, which makes up 2% of the territory of the region, and eleven wildlife preserves of national importance, covering 2.1% of the region. The region also has 414 rivers and 429 lakes.

The processing industry in Gomel Oblast includes alcohol, alcoholic beverages, wine, beer, and soft drinks, as well as vegetable drying and canning. Agriculture is also an important sector, with meat and dairy farming, vegetable and potato growing, and flax growing in the eastern part of the region.

Gomel Oblast has a well-developed scientific and technology sector, with institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, higher educational institutions, and R&D institutes. It also has excellent road infrastructure, with major international highways connecting Europe, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. The region accounts for 90% of the country's rail cargo transportation and about half of passenger rail traffic.

The Gomel Region is a significant tourist attraction, offering various types of tourism such as cultural, educational, sport, gastronomic, religious, hunting, industrial, recreational, and agro-ecotourism. The local brand, the Golden Ring of Gomel Oblast, is the main tourist route that runs through nine settlements and includes 17 tourist facilities.

Belarus's forests are a source of timber and medicinal resources

Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe with a land area of 80,153 square miles. As of 2020, forests occupy 43.19% of the country's land area, with the latest figure being 40.2% in 2023. This amounts to 8,351,900 hectares, including reserves, national parks, sanctuaries, and natural monuments, which account for 1,350,200 hectares. The Gomel Region is the most forested territory in Belarus, with 46.9% forest cover, followed by the Vitebsk Region (41.9%), the Mogilev Region (39.3%), the Minsk Region (38.3%), the Brest Region (36.6%), and the Grodno Region (36%).

The forests of Belarus are a source of pride for the country and are classified as state property. They are comprised of diverse tree species, including pines, oaks, birches, aspens, and other hardwood trees. The forestry industry in Belarus is significant, with over 5,000 enterprises and more than 146,000 people employed in the sector. The industry provides timber for local and international markets, with production steadily rising since 2013 due to high demand from the construction and furniture manufacturing sectors.

The Belovezhskaya Pushcha forest, a pristine old-growth forest, is a true pride of Belarus. The oldest trees in this forest are 600 to 800 years old. Belarusian forests have diverse tree species, and their timber is used for various purposes, including construction and furniture manufacturing. The country's forests are also a source of medicinal resources, with certain plant species possessing medicinal properties.

Belarus's forests play a crucial role in the country's economy and environmental sustainability. They are carefully managed and protected by the authorities due to their importance. The country's forestry industry is well-developed, contributing to both the local and global markets. Additionally, the forests provide a habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species, contributing to the country's rich biodiversity.

The country has five nationally recognised and protected National Parks

Belarus is one of the top ten forest states in Europe, with around 40% of its territory covered by forests. The country has five nationally recognised and protected National Parks:

Belavezhskaya Pushcha

Located in the Brest region, 340km southwest of Minsk, Belavezhskaya Pushcha is home to ancient oak trees that date back over 500 years, as well as venerable ash, pine and fir trees. The park also boasts significant populations of rare animal and bird species, including the world's largest population of European bison and the greater spotted eagle. Recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1992 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1993, the area has a long history of conservation work.

Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve

The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, located in the Vitebsk region, was established in 1925 to protect rare animal species in the north of the country. Just 120km from Minsk, the reserve is part of UNESCO's Biosphere Reserves World Network. It consists of forests, bogs, reservoirs and meadows, and is home to more than half of the known species of Belarusian flora.

Braslav Lakes National Park

This park was established in 1995 among the lakes of the Vitebsk region in the northwest of Belarus. Covering over 69,000 hectares, the park is home to more than 800 species of plants, 20 of which are close to extinction. It also hosts 189 species of birds and 10 amphibian species. The ancient town of Braslav, dating back to the 11th century, is scenically sited in the middle of the park.

Narachansky National Park

Narachansky National Park, in the Minsk region, was established in 1999. Over a third of its 94,000 hectares are forest, home to the majority of the country's pine trees. The park is a popular recreational reserve, well-known for its large, well-stocked lakes, natural springs, and 18 sanatoria and recuperation centres.

Pripyatsky National Park

Located in the Gomel region in the south of the country, 250km from Minsk, Pripyatsky National Park covers more than 85,000 hectares. The park has been home to a reserve on the flood plains of the Pripyat River since 1969, and European bison were introduced in 1987. The park is also home to 11 amphibian species.

The Belarus Red Book protects rare and vanishing plant and animal species

Belarus is a country of thick forests, with around 40% of its territory covered in trees. The Belarus Red Book is a list of plant and animal species threatened with extinction or at risk of being threatened due to the systematic extermination of their representatives. It was established in 1979 and has been republished several times, with new species added and others removed as their threat status changes. The Red Book also contains a "blacklist" of species that are no longer found in Belarus.

The Red Book of Belarus includes four categories of threat to the flora and fauna of the country:

• Category I includes species threatened with complete extinction in the near future, which can only be repopulated with human help.
• Category II includes species whose numbers are gradually declining and may become fully extinct in the future, although there is no current direct threat.
• Category III includes species that may hypothetically become extinct in the future.
• Category IV consists of species not included in the first three risk groups.

The Belarus Red Book currently protects 303 plant species and 202 animal species. Some of the most famous plants on the list include the lady's-slipper orchid, the European white water lily, and Pulsatilla pratensis. The animals in the Red Book are not limited to the well-known aurochs, which can be seen in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and other national parks. Even animals that seem to be more common are under threat, such as the lynx, the short-eared owl, and the Siberian flying squirrel.

The Republic of Belarus has a plain relief, with a land area of 20.8 million hectares. Belarusian soil is rich in natural resources, with more than 4,000 mineral deposits found in the country. Belarus is self-sufficient in potash and table salt, ceramic clay, building sand, building stone, fresh and mineral water. The country also has significant reserves of underground freshwater, found at depths of several to 200 meters.

Forests are a valuable resource and a point of pride for Belarus, with forestry being one of the key industries of the Belarusian economy. The oldest trees in the country can be found in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, a pristine old-growth forest where some trees are 600 to 800 years old. This park is also home to ancient oak, ash, pine, and fir trees, as well as significant animal and bird populations, including the world's largest population of the rare European bison and the greater spotted eagle.

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