Place of residence
The history of the landscape formation in this area is connected with the boulder-period. It defined its unusual variety (10 typological landscape structures). During spring flood the level of water rises up to 4 meters, causing overflows that can stretch for miles, flooding forests and meadows and oxbow lakes. It forms blue endless space of water.
Forests cover about 146,000 hectares of the national park. Most of them are pine forests. There is an interesting mix of birches, ash trees and hornbeams in groves of broad-leaved forests. There are even maple and lime forests. Many of them are very old and untouched with a surprising variety of wildlife.
Flood-plain forests arouse special interest and attraction among the diversity of natural complexes of the park. They were formed due to permanent flooding. They have a unique structure and composition for the whole East European Plain. A lot of old hollow trees provide shelter for many species of animals and birds, including eagle-owls, white-tailed eagles, greater and lesser spotted eagles and black storks. There are many wild boars due to the rich nutritive bases under the layer of 100 - 180-years-old oak forests.
Many long, narrow and shallow oxbow lakes are bordered with trees and bushes of flood-plain forests. These lakes join the Pripyat during high waters and floods.
There are four functional areas in the national park. The most important one is the central area, which includes a large sector of swamps with mineral hills. These islands tower above moss and give shelter to many endangered birds of prey. All the life forms are strictly protected in this area. Only scientific research and monitoring are allowed. The protected area is surrounded by a zone of controlled usage. There is also guarding there but access restrictions are not so strict. Local people are allowed to pick up mushrooms and berries. Sanitary felling, pasturing and tourism are also permitted. However, the use of natural resources is severely restricted. In the northern part of the park there are recreational areas intended for tourism, recreation and health improvement. The park is surrounded by the area, which softens the impact of human activity outside the protected areas. Agricultural and forestry economic activities are permitted in this zone, and their methods are strictly compatible with environmental standard. Agriculture is fully systematized.
