Asvieja (199)
Belarus, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Asvieja
Central coordinates: Latitude: 56.0833, Longitude: 28.1167
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 131 to 169
Area of KBA (km2): 296.74631
Protected area coverage (%): 86.75
KBA classification: Global/Regional TBD
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The site is a large complex of lakes, forests, and transition and bog mires. The core of the IBA is Osveia Lake which defines much of the hydrology and climate of northern Belarus.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance because it meets one or more previously established criteria and thresholds for identifying sites of biodiversity importance (including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and Key Biodiversity Areas)
Additional biodiversity: A total of 164 breeding bird species have been recorded, including 36 species listed in the National Red Data Book. Osveia Lake is one of the largest breeding and post-breeding grounds in Belarus for numerous huntable waterbird species: Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Pochard Aythya ferina, and Coot Fulica atra. The Lake and the surrounding areas have a high value for large concentrations of waterbirds during spring and autumn migration. Non-bird biodiversity: A total of 16 National Red Data Book plant species have been recorded. Some rare plants include hybrids of Black Alder and Grey Alder (Alnus glutinosa and A. incana), tall-stalk forms of Betula pendula var. carelica, a large population of Yellow Pondlily Nuphar pumila, as well as a rare insectivorous plant Waterwheel Aldrovanda vesiculosa.Four mammal species found on the site are listed in the National Red Data Book of Belarus.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The surface of the largest Belarusian eutrophic lake Osveia becomes rapidly overgrown with surface vegetation. Most of the IBA is covered by bogs and transition mires, mixed with pinewoods, birch, and black alder forests. A few mineral islands are scattered across the mires. Forest vegetation covers about 30% of the IBA's overall area, shrubs 4%, meadows 6%. There are few fens. Peat extraction, commercial and amateur fishing, limited forestry, commercial and amateur collection of mushrooms and berries, as well as regulated hunting are the main economic uses. Osveia Lake has outstanding sapropel reserves which can exploited and mined.
Land use: forestry (50%) | hunting (30%) | nature conservation and research (20%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 6 | |
| Shrubland | 4 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 50 | |
| Forest | 30 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human-caused eutrophication of the lake caused by discharge of waste waters and nutrients from agricultural fields and peat extraction sites, municipal facilities, husbandry farms, as well as by atmospheric precipitation.Disturbances in the hydrological regime caused by peat extraction. Declining water levels in the lake results in a poorer water quality, rapid overgrowth of the lake, shrinking fish resources, and less value for waterbirds. Commercial fishing could be reducing fish resources in the lake.
Additional information
References: A.Kozulin, L.Vergeichik, M.Nikiforov and others. Treasures of Belarusian nature.- Minsk, 2002. -160 p.