Daursky Nature Reserve
Russian strict nature reserve protecting Siberian steppes and wetlands.
The Daursky Nature Reserve is a Russian strict nature reserve (zapovednik) located in southern Zabaykalsky Krai in Siberia, Russia, near the border with Mongolia. Established in 1987, it protects the dry steppes and wetlands of South Siberia and is part of the World Heritage Site 'The Landscapes of Dauria'. The reserve is contiguous with the Dornod Mongol Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia
- Area
- 222,965.00 ha
- Established
- 1987
- World Heritage Site
- 2017
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Daursky Nature Reserve was established in 1987 to conserve the dry steppes and wetlands of South Siberia. It comprises 222,965 hectares, with a core area of about 49,764 hectares divided into 9 plots, surrounded by a buffer zone of approximately 173,201 hectares. The buffer zone covers the Torey Lakes: Barun-Torey and Zun-Torey. The reserve is part of the World Heritage Site 'The Landscapes of Dauria' and is contiguous with the Dornod Mongol Biosphere Reserve in Mongolia, a vast 8,429,072-hectare area of steppe to the south.
Reader's Guide
The Daursky Nature Reserve is significant for its role in protecting the dry steppes and wetlands of South Siberia, a region of ecological importance. Its vertebrate fauna includes 48 mammal species, 317 bird species, 3 reptile species, 3 amphibian species, and 4 fish species, along with about 800 insect species. Mammals on the IUCN red list found in the reserve include the dzeren (Mongolian gazelle), Pallas cat, and Daurian hedgehog. The reserve also contains a colony of the rare Iris potaninii. Plans to introduce the Przewalski horse in the 1980s were cancelled after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but hopes were rekindled in 2009. A new zakaznik (protected area), the Dzeren Valley, was created nearby to ensure migration of the dzeren between Russia and Mongolia. The reserve's climate is subarctic with dry winters, and it lies in the Daurian forest steppe ecoregion.
Did You Know?
- The reserve was established in 1987.
- Plans to introduce the Przewalski horse were cancelled after the Soviet collapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Daursky Nature Reserve?
It is a strict Russian nature reserve (zapovednik) in southern Siberia, created in 1987 to shield the dry steppes and wetlands of the Daurian forest-steppe ecoregion. It sits in Zabaykalsky Krai and operates under the highest level of domestic environmental protection.
Where is Daursky Nature Reserve located and what borders it?
The reserve lies in southern Zabaykalsky Krai, Siberia, close to the Russian-Mongolian frontier. On its Mongolian side it is contiguous with the Dornod Biosphere Reserve, so the two protected areas form one continuous landscape across the border.
How big is Daursky Nature Reserve?
The whole reserve spans roughly 222,965 hectares (about 551,000 acres). Of that, 49,764 hectares make up the strictly protected core zone and the remaining 173,201 hectares serve as a buffer area with limited human activity.
What is Daursky Nature Reserve's role in the UNESCO World Heritage listing?
It constitutes the Russian half of the World Heritage Site 'The Landscapes of Dauria,' paired with Mongolia's Dornod Biosphere Reserve. Together the two sites safeguard one of the last large, intact dry-steppe-and-wetland mosaics in South Siberia.
Why does Daursky Nature Reserve matter for biodiversity?
It preserves a rare patchwork of Daurian forest-steppe, open grassland, and wetland habitats that support plant and animal communities found nowhere else at this scale. Its zapovednik status bans resource extraction and development inside the core, keeping the ecosystem essentially undisturbed.
More in World Heritage Sites in Russia 1-24
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