Prospective Nature National Park “Mzhanskyi”

Abstract

The prospective conservation area is located in the south of the forest-steppe physical-geographic zone, in the Valky-Zmiiv district of the Central Russian forest-steppe province. This territory is characterized by a high habitat diversity: the Mozh (Mzha) riverbed, wet floodplain meadows with former riverbeds and parcels of marsh vegetation, peat bogs, alder woods and dry meadows. A number of rare and endangered species inhabit this area. The Floating fern (Salvinia nutans (L.) All.) is included in the Appendix I of the Berne Convention (Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats). Four orchid species, such as Early marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata (L.) Soo, Common spotted orchid D. fuchsii (Druce) Soу, Western marsh orchid D. majalis (Rchb.) P.F.Hunt et Summerhayes), as well as one feather grass species (Stipa borysthenica Klokov ex Prokudin) are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Thirty-five vertebrate species out of 150 recorded from the prospective park’s territory, are also listed in the RDB of Ukraine. In ancient times, the area in question was at the center of historical and cultural events. Here passed the border of Slavic settlements that determined the origin of the river’s name - Mzha ("boundary"). In the 17th century, the Great Abatis Border, a system of defensive structures from the nomads’ invasions, was built on this land.