Voronezhskiy Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, inscribed 1985, in Russian Federation. The Voronezhsky Biosphere Reserve is located in two regions of the Russian Federation, the Lipetsk and Voronezh regions, and five municipalities: the Usmansky, Verhne-Khavsky, Ramonsky and Novousmansky municipal districts, and the Railway urban district of the city of Voronezh. Many rural settlements are located directly on the borders of the biosphere reserve. As a specially protected natural territory, Voronezh State Nature Zapovednik was established in 1923 to protect the beaver. Later, the Zapovednik became a complex reserve and now conserves natural complexes, including island pine forest, in the Russian forest-steppe zone. In 1985, the Zapovednik was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. Within the Zapovednik, a core area and a buffer zone have been designated.