Chyornye Zemli Nature Reserve

Chyornye Zemli Nature Reserve
Russian: заповедник Чёрные земли
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Saiga in Chyornye Zemli Nature Reserve
Location of Reserve
Location	Republic of Kalmykia
Nearest city	Astrakhan
Coordinates	46°2′0″N 46°8′0″E / 46.03333°N 46.13333°E / 46.03333; 46.13333Coordinates: 46°2′0″N 46°8′0″E / 46.03333°N 46.13333°E / 46.03333; 46.13333
Area	121,901 hectares (301,220 acres)
Established	1990 (1990)
Governing body	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia)
Website	http://zapovednik-chernyezemli.ru/

Chyornye Zemli Nature Reserve (Russian: заповедник Чёрные земли) (also) is a Russian 'zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) (In Russian, ""Black Lands""). It was originally created in 1990 to protect the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica). The main part of the reserve is located in the Caspian Depression, northwest of the Caspian Sea. It was originally created in 1990 to protect the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica). In the meantime the economy of Kalmykia collapsed and the numbers of saiga have crashed due to poaching for meat and horns (Chinese medicine) and desertification caused by overgrazing by domestic animals. The reserve also has colonies of egrets, cormorants, and rare pelicans. The reserve is situated in the Chernozemelsky District of Republic of Kalmykia. It was created in 1990, and covers 1,219 km² in two locations, with a 900 km² buffer zone.^[1][2]

Since 1993, Cherny Zemli Nature Reserve has been designated as one of UNESCO biosphere reserves.

See also

• List of Russian Nature Reserves (class 1a 'zapovedniks')
• National parks of Russia
• Protected areas of Russia

References

• Center for Russian Nature Conservation, Cherny Zemly Zapovednik
• Chernye Zemli Nature Reserve (Russian)

External links

• Map of Chyornye Zemli Reserve, OpenStreetMap