1. Fire hazard in the southern Moscow region.
The press service of the Forestry Committee of the Moscow region published information on the forest fire situation in the Moscow region for June 10-12. According to this forecast, the territory of our region will be in the Ist class of fire danger, which means that there is no fire hazard: too much moisture, fires are weak and often go out on their own. At the same time, we once again remind you of strict compliance with the requirements of the Fire Safety Rules in forests, the Fire Safety Rules of the Russian Federation and other rules for the protection and use of the environment and natural resources on the territory of the Prioksko-Terrasny State Biosphere Reserve and its protected zone. Violations of the above rules are subject to administrative liability with a fine. Be careful, protect nature, and do not create a threat of forest fires, which may result in harm to the environment, flora and fauna.
2. By electric train to the reserve
Last weekend, on June 8, the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve held an open volunteer day. Open means that anyone could take part (after registering, of course). Many volunteers expressed their willingness to provide any assistance they could in the economic affairs of the reserve. However, it turned out to be very difficult for many to fulfill their desire. The electric train from Moscow, arriving in Serpukhov at 9.30, which the volunteers always use, was unexpectedly cancelled and for many of our helpers, getting to the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve by the appointed time became a more difficult quest. But, despite all the obstacles, on the hot Saturday of June 8, both young people aged 4-7 and older could be seen at the Central Estate, which is not surprising, since at the volunteer events of the reserve everyone will find a task according to their abilities. As always, students from the Serpukhov College arrived in an organized group, their volunteers association is called “Kind Heart” and has already done a lot of good and kind deeds. The day was active and involved a variety of activities! The work was successfully completed in a few hours, after which all the participants were given tea and sandwiches. Although many of the volunteers had been on excursions to the Central Bison Nursery more than once, according to tradition, everyone without exception went to visit the bison. Thanks to everyone who attended the volunteer day and to everyone who couldn’t get there, but were planning to until the last minute! Don’t worry – there will definitely be more events this summer.
3. Two thousand gifts for birthday
The Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve received a record number of gifts for its birthday. An environmental education event dedicated to the 79th anniversary of the reserve’s foundation was held at the Central Estate and in the specially protected natural area last Saturday, June 15. About two thousand people took part in the celebration. And we say “Thank you” to everyone who became a part of it! The event from 11:00 to 19:00 was held in a festival format, where everyone present could find something to do their liking. Guests participated in environmental and creative master classes, as well as sports and adaptive games. Those who decided to leave the party with a gift and registered on the website in advance went to intellectual locations. The Lecture Zone was not empty for a minute: speakers and those who hurried to join the discussion, tasting or become a participant in the round table replaced each other. The creative space was represented by students of the A.A. Buzovkin Children’s Art School, who took part in an organized plein air in the first half of the day, as a result of which they presented the reserve with a professional work – a drawing of a lynx! In the afternoon, the employees of the Museum and Exhibition Center of the urban district of Serpukhov drew friendly caricatures for everyone who wanted. The Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve presented a unique popular science event “Precious Kilometers”, when two teams of a limited number went on bicycles to a specially protected natural area to see with their own eyes the beauty of the Prioksky forest, glades, lakes, and carefully touch the living nature of the reserve. At the end of the holiday, all guests and employees of the reserve were treated to a musical and theatrical performance “Again Spring in the White World”. The event continued with favorite melodies from Soviet films accompanied by the folk group “Orchestra of Russian Folk instruments”. The creative teams worked on stage all day. We thank each participant and the head of the creative group, not only for the excellent performance of dance and vocal numbers, but also for the colorfully conveyed mood and idea of each production.
4. The reserve is 79 years old
Today the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve celebrates its 79th anniversary! The reserve is the same age as the Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the order to create a specially protected area was signed on June 19, 1945. Over its almost eighty-year history, the reserve has become a model of wild nature in the southern Moscow region. The reserve is unique natural landscapes with quiet rivers, swamps, forests and glades, ancient forest-covered “Ponikovsky” and “Turkish” ramparts, an amazing reserve of rare steppe vegetation – “Dolami”. The reserve has become home to many species of animals and plants, some of which are on the verge of extinction due to human activity. Here you can meet elks and roe deer, see traces of foxes and cautious lynxes, and there are so many species of birds here that only an ornithologist can list them all. But the reserve is also the people working in it. Scientific research, excursion activities and environmental education never stop here. The reserve is a center of attraction for people from various fields of activity. Congratulations to the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve on its 79th anniversary and wish it prosperity and preservation of its natural beauty for future generations!
5. Academic Council
Today, June 26, a meeting of the Scientific and Technical Council was held in the reserve. Two issues were discussed: approval of the Nature Chronicle and restrictions on sheep grazing in the protected area. The Scientific Department of the reserve has prepared the next volume of the Nature Chronicle for 2023, which was presented by Deputy Director for Scientific Work Vasily Eduardovich Demidov. The Chronicle contains data on meteorological observations, air and precipitation pollution with ecotoxicants, monitoring of the reserve’s vegetation, censuses of mammals and birds, and the nature of the impact of ungulates on tree undergrowth and shrubs. A summary of the population of the Central Bison Nursery and the number of young bison taken to free habitats is provided. The results of phenological observations and monitoring of anthropogenic impact are presented. A separate volume contains reports on cooperation agreements. The Scientific and Technical Council rated all this work as excellent. Now all that remains is to print the Chronicle and send the volumes to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and the library of the reserve. The issue of limiting sheep grazing in the protected area caused a serious discussion, since sheep have an extremely strong impact on meadow flora with the risk of pasture degradation. Two points were discussed – to completely ban grazing on floodplain meadows, and to ban grazing only in areas where rare flora is found, with a limit on the number of sheep grazing in the rest of the territory. Arguments were given in favor of both points of view. The reserve’s botanist Mikhail Mikhailovich Shovkun presented the results of a detailed survey of the protected area for rare and steppe species (the so-called Oka flora). He also gave examples of changes in meadow flora under conditions of sheep grazing based on existing examples. The votes were divided, and, as a result, the council’s decision was to limit the number of grazed sheep and ban grazing in areas where rare flora grows. In addition, scientific monitoring of pastures where grazing is carried out will be established.
6. Educational and methodological lecture
An educational and methodological lecture on the topics “Features of the implementation of Federal State Control (Supervision) in the field of protection, reproduction and use of wildlife and their habitats”, “Drawing up procedural documents on the facts of road accidents involving animals” was held in the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve on June 26, 2024 for state inspectors in the field of environmental protection. The lecturer was Maxim Dmitrievich Strigunkov, Deputy Head of the Legal Support Department of the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Management of the Moscow region. The lesson was held in order to maintain the level of professional literacy of the inspectorate staff, exchange experience in implementing control (supervision) activities between the federal and regional levels. Important issues related to changes in the current legislation in the field of environmental protection and their practical application were touched upon, with special attention paid to the preparation of procedural documents on the facts of road accidents involving animals and the areas of responsibility of various control bodies. Maxim Dmitrievich has been working in environmental protection since 2007. He is the author of methodological recommendations for inspectors who monitor specially protected natural areas. The Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve Administration expresses gratitude to the Ministry of Ecology and Nature Management of the Moscow region for cooperation.
