Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. One of the Carpathian protected areas established with the aim of preserving the unique mountain landscapes, fauna, and flora of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. It was designated in 1992 on the basis of the Carpathian Nature Reserve. The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve covers 53,630 ha and consists of six detached complexes: the Chornohora, Svydivets, Maramureş, Kuzii, Uhlia-Shyrokyi Luh, and the Narcissus Valley complexes; as well as two partial reserves: Chorna Hora and Yulivska Hora. Since 1992 the reserve has been a part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In 1998, the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve become the first Ukrainian protected area to be awarded a European Diploma by the Council of Europe.

All protected complexes of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve are located in the central and eastern parts of the Ukrainian Carpathians, within the borders of Transcarpathia oblast. They are situated at altitudes ranging from 180 m to 2,061 m and their diverse environments include nearly all landscape formations and biological ecosystems encountered in the region: foothill oak groves, mountain beech, mixed and spruce forests, pine-alder-alpine krummholz, subalpine and alpine meadows, and upland rocky-lichen landscapes. Almost 90% of the reserve’s combined area is covered by forests. More than 1,000 species of vascular plants, 64 species of mammals, 173 species of birds, 9 species of reptiles, 13 species of amphibians, 23 species of fish, and more than 10,000 species of invertebrates are protected in the reserve. Among them there are 64 plant and 72 animal species included in the IUNC Red List of endangered species.

The Chornohora complex, with the total area of 16,375 ha, is located on the southern slopes of the Chornohora mountain range at altitudes of 700–2,061 m. Ukraine’s highest peak—Hoverlia (2,061 m)—and the remaining six mountains that reach the elevations of over 2,000 m are located in this complex. The complex is covered mainly with fir, spruce, and beech-spruce forests and with subalpine and alpine meadows. The local flora includes several rare species, such as the Fillarsky’s pulmonaria, alpine rose, golden root, and others. Protected birds and animals include goldcrest, ring ouzel, lynx, and brown bear. A number of endemic species of invertebrates, such as Carabus transsylvanicus and Duvalius ruthenus, can be found only in the Chornohora complex.

The Svydivets complex, located in the highest part of the Svydivets mountain range at altitudes of 600–1,883 m, covers the total area of 6,580 ha. The highest peaks within the complex are Velyka Blyznytsia (1,883 m) and Mala Blyznytsia (1,880 m). The local climate is optimal for the growth of pure beech stands as well as beech-maple, beech-ash-maple and beech-spruce forests that are found here at higher altitudes than anywhere else in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Elfin woodlands together with subalpine and alpine meadows are situated above the level of the forest zone. Rare arctic and alpine species of plants, such as alpine aster, edelweiss, and narrow-leafed narcissus, grow at high altitudes and represent a particularly interesting feature of the Svydivets complex.

The Maramureş complex, covering the area of 8,990 ha, lies within the Maramureş-Bukovynian Upland. It is located on the northern slopes of the mountain range that extends along Ukraine’s border with Romania. The altitudes vary from 750 m to 1,940 m (Mt. Pip Ivan). The climate and geological structure of the area determine several characteristic features of the local flora. Pure fir forests grow here at altitudes of 1,600–1,700 m—higher than anywhere else in the Ukrainian Carpathians. Alpine and subalpine meadows form combined systems with krummholz. Such rare plants, as white marguerite, great yellow gentian, and the Deyl’s bluegrass, can be found in the alpine zone. The local fauna is similar to that of the Chornohora complex, but some animal species endemic to the rocky-mountain environments, such as snow vole and alpine accentor, are better represented here. Also, the Maramureş complex is the only part of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve in which peregrine falcon can be found.

The Kuzii complex, located on the southern sub-range of the Svydivets mountains at altitudes of 350–1,409 m, covers the area of 4,925 ha. The characteristic features of this complex are determined by is particular climatic conditions and vegetation. Tree species, such as the English oak and Sessile oak, grow here at altitudes reaching 1,100 m—their highest elevation in the Ukrainian Carpathians. The core area of the complex is covered with pure and mixed beech forests. Yew groves are also found on limestone rocks under the cover of maple-beech forests. Local fauna includes spotted salamander, Carpathian newt, Aesculapian snake and such rare species of bats as the Bechstein’s bat, Barbastelle, and greater horseshoe.

The Uhlia-Shyrokyi Luh complex, which covers the area of 15,580 ha, is located on the southern slopes of the Krasna ridge and its offspur Mt. Menchul at altitudes of 400–1,280 m. Large limestone blocks and karst formations are a typical feature of this area which also includes the largest cave in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains. The Uhlia-Shyrokyi Luh complex is famous as the location of the largest expanse of ancient virgin beech forests in Europe. Rare yew and Savin juniper groves can be encountered here as well. The area’s limestone ridge is characterized by the rich flora including a number of rare plants, such as Carpathian harebell, cortusan primrose, and Spanish stonecrop. Rare species of animals, fish, and birds found in the complex include otter, stoat, huchen, black stork, as well as eight rare species of bats, such as greater horseshoe, lesser horseshoe, Schreiber’s bat and Geoffroy’s bat. Unique fauna, comprised of a number of endemic species of invertebrates, in particular Duvalius transcarpathicus, is found in the Uholka karst caves.

The Narcissus Valley complex, covering the area of 257 ha, is located in the eastern part of the Maramureş Basin in the vicinity of Khust. It is situated on floodplains along the ancient river terrace of the Tysa River at altitudes of 180–200 m. It is a completely unique botanical ecosystem and Europe’s largest protected area designed to preserve the massive growth of narrow-leaved narcissus that survived from the postglacial period. More than 400 species of plants are preserved in the complex, including many rare ones, such as short-spurred fragrant orchid, Siberian iris, and white cinquefoil. The fauna of the Narcissus Valley differs greatly from that found in the other complexes of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve and is typical for the Transcarpathian Lowland. It includes such birds as whinchat, concrake and sedge wrabler, as well as various species of amphibians, fish and rodents.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stoiko, S. et al (eds). Zapovidni ekosystemy Karpat (Lviv 1991)
Bioriznomanittia Karpats’koho Biosfernoho Zapovidnyka (Kyiv 1997)
Krichfalushi, V. ‘Zapovidni terytorii Ukraïns'kykh Karpat,’ in Karpova, H. et al (eds). Pryroda Karpats'koho rehionu Ukraïny (Kyiv 1999)

Volodymyr Kricsfalusy

[This article was written in 2008.]