Servač (18509)
Belarus, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d
Year of last assessment: 2005
National site name: Servač
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.0000, Longitude: 27.5000
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 88.6488
Protected area coverage (%): 88.39
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The area includes Servech Lake and part of the Servech river floodplain. The lake covers 450 ha, and has an average depth of 2.8 m. The waterlogged south-western part of the lake is the origin of the Servech river. The width of the channel varies from 2-5 to 15-25 m within the zakaznik. The floodplain is 1-2.5 km wide. The area is located close to the watershed of the Nioman, Western Dvina, and Dnieper rivers. The Servech river flows into Vileika water reservoir and is one of the main elements defining the water balance of the Vileika-Minsk water system.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: In 2001 two bird species were found, both globally threatened: Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola and Great Snipe Gallinago media. This is the northernmost known point of the Aquatic Warbler's range in Belarus. Other rare species known to occur are Bittern Botaurus stellaris and Common Crane Grus grus. Non-bird biodiversity: Several rare plant species have been recorded, including Betula humilis, Salix lapponum, Carex lepidocarpa, Carex chordorrhiza, Dactylorhiza ochroleuca and other.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The lake is severely overgrown with reeds: the riparian strip of surface vegetation is 15-120 m wide. In the west and north the banks of the lake gradually turn into fen. The floodplains of the lake and the river are sedge fen mires. It is a mosaic of vast open fens and overgrown fen tracts. In some parts the fen turns into a transition mire. A tract of coniferous, broad-leafed and mixed forests joins the mire in the north-west. Peat extraction, forestry, cattle pasturing, hay-making, growing of arable crops are the main land-uses.
Land use: agriculture (5%) | fisheries/aquaculture (1%) | forestry (5%) | nature conservation and research (86%) | urban/industrial/transport (3%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Forest | 20 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 3 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 77 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Pollution of the lake by nutrients from arable fields on slopes.Burning of vegetation in spring especially in dry years substantially damages the biodiversity. Drainage of the area for peat extraction is a serious threat.
Additional information
References: A.Kozulin, L.Vergeichik, M.Nikiforov and others. Treasures of Belarusian nature.- Minsk, 2002. -160 p.