Science and research in the National Park
Research within the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is based on the method of stable long-term studies as well as on other types of investigation. The scientific research has a broad scope. Scientists aim to grow knowledge on the distribution of flora and fauna, on natural processes in the natural ecosystems of Pushcha and on the understanding of interrelations and interactions between separate ecosystems and other natural objects. Further objects of study are question on how to define natures requirements in order to develop measures for conservation of natural values within the protected area as well as the question which kind of limitations which should be respected while exploiting natural resources, while managing the forest and in respect of recreational and economic use of the forest area.
The research is set up and carried out by the Scientific Department of Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, which employs about 20 scientific biological researchers. The expertise present within this theme focuses on knowledge of forest ecosystems and the ecological groups of flora and vegetation, ungulates, large predators, avifauna, insects. The Scientific Department takes care of a herbarium.
The Department is involved with the propagation of nature protection and ecological education.
The scientific and research tasks are mainly financed from the state budget. Experts representing other organizations and institutions from the Republic of Belarus and foreign countries work in accordance with agreements. They are involved to perform scientific investigations and to render scientific and methodical assistance within the National Park. For these purpose contracts are made up to collaborate with specific research institutes and organizations focused on biological matters within the Republic of Belarus, as well as with biological faculties of Belarussian universities and non-governmental organizations with a specialization in nature protection, such as the Belarus Bird Protection Society. The research in the cross-border area of Belovezhskaya and Bialowieza Forest is based on a close and long-term cooperation with scientific institutions located within Puszcza Bialowieska, the Polish part of the forest. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is cooperating with scientific institutions and organizations of nature protection in other foreign countries as well.
One of the most significant events in the view of nature conservation based on scientific research has been the implementation of the GEF Project "Belovezhskaya Pushcha Forest Biodiversity Conservation" in 1992 to 1995. The project resulted in the development of a new plan for the management and conservation of the forest's biodiversity. In order to realize this goal methodical approaches were developed. A number of important actions was carried out, one of them being an estimation of the impact of economic activities on the natural forests of the Pushcha performed within the forest itself as well as on surrounding agricultural lands. Modern conceptual approaches to environmentally clean agricultural management in the Buffer Zone were offered and new approaches and technologies in order to protect the character of wilderness of the forest, while the international network of contacts of the National park were extended in a considerable and profound way. The scientific department was equipped with modern computer technologies for mapping with GIS (Geographic Information System) and with analytical equipment, such as chemical and meteorological stations. The employed experts of Pushcha improved their skills through an educational training in leading centers of the United States of America and they took part in seminars on nature protection in various foreign countries. The project, which was funded by the World Bank, made the Scientific Department a modern and technically well-equipped base to work on solving difficult ecological problems of Belovezhskaya Pushcha inherited from the past.
Further, the Scientific Department of the National Park was consistently engaged in investigations covering the main topics on inventory and biodiversity conservation, studying natural processes in the ecosystems of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, monitoring flora and fauna, keeping records of nature, etc. The results of these studies are published in both national and foreign scientific journals. In addition, a lot of work is being done in the Scientific Department to popularize Belovezhskaya Pushcha and to promote the ideas of nature conservation.
More information about the science is given on the website of the National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha".
* Based on information from the article by Heorhi Kazulka & Vasiliy Zhukov "The State National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is the oldest Natural Reserve in Europe”, published in the book "Belovezhskaya Pushcha at the Turn of the Third Millennium. Materials of the Scientific and Practical Conference dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Formation of the State Reserve "Belovezhskaya Pushcha". - Minsk, 1999. - pp. 16 - 33. (In Russian)
(With some modern data added.)
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