Reserves of the Penza region. State natural reserve "Privolzhskaya forest-steppe"

In the watershed between the Volga and the Don there is a natural reserve "Privolzhskaya forest-steppe". In 1924, it was created to preserve the northern steppes and wooded areas and was called Penza. In 1927, having added plots from other provinces, the reserve was given the name Sredne-Volzhsky. In 1937 the name was changed to Kuibyshev, and it was considered a reserve until 1951.

Further, under the government's decision, it was transferred to the management of state farms, which led to the loss of most meadow areas. Only in 1989 the reserve was created again on the basis of five large plots of land: three large steppes - Poperechenskaya, Kucherovskaya and Ostrovtsovskaya, and two forest areas - Borok and Upper Sury. The territory of the reserve is 8373 hectares. Around it, the land belongs to the buffer zone, in which its economic use is limited. In such a vast territory of the middle Volga, naturally, the spectrum of natural conditions is different. Basically, these are mixed forests and virgin steppes unique in flora and soil composition.

The soil

Very picturesque view of the reserve because of the different forms of relief. This is an ancient river network, and marshy lowlands, and ponds. The main wealth of the reserves of the Penza region is the soil. The buffer zone of the Kuncher steppe is plowed agricultural fields. If you can get here by transport, then the Ostrovetskaya and Poperechenskaya steppes have neither dirt roads, nor water bodies. The soil cover of steppes and forests is diverse. So-called gray soils predominate in forest areas. Chernozem soils predominate in steppe massifs, and the reference meadow soils have a humus layer from 80 to 100 cm.

Flora

The nature of the reserve is forests and steppes. Forest-forming species include pine and oak. Steppes are subdivided into meadow, shrubby, marshy meadow. The steppe is always associated with feather grass. It is especially beautiful in June and July, when the silvery wands of the feather grass croak in the wind and revive the steppe. At the same time, it is all in the colors of herbs. The vegetation world of the reserve is extensive and is represented by horsetails, flocks, gymnosperms and angiosperms, numbering 850 varieties, eight of which are listed in the Red Book. Lichens in the steppes of the Middle Volga region of 108 species. There are 119 species of fungi common in the protected area. In the wooded zone there are 72 species of mosses. In the Red Book, four species of feather grass grow in the reserve.

Fauna

The fauna of the reserves of the Penza region includes over 800 different types of insects. There are amphibians in rivers and marshes, which are 11 species in the reserve. In the forests and meadows of the protected zone live lizards, vipers, frogs. The avifauna of the region is represented by 154 species of birds. Among the rare recorded steppe harrier and bustard. On the territory of the reserve, their quails are made up by a quail, a corncrake, a tit crested and a three-fingered woodpecker.

The world of mammals of the reserve "Privolzhskaya forest-steppe" is represented by 44 species. Rare representatives of this class include otter, lynx, ermine. On the slopes of gently sloping ravines there are fox burrows. The forest-steppe zone of the reserve determines the composition of the fauna, which includes species of animals typical for forests and for fields. These include the voles, mole rats, jerboa. In winter, hundreds of wood grouses and black grouses, wild boars and moose live in the forests. They are hunting and commercial species, and they are allowed to hunt in winter.

Kucherovskaya and Poperechenskaya steppes

Along the south-western part of the Kucherovsky forest-steppe there is an asphalt road connecting the villages of Shatkino and Staryi Chirchim. A network of dirt roads runs at the borders of the forest, which allows the local population to enter the reserve and makes it difficult to protect this territory. On the western border of Kuncher's forest-steppe there flows a stream, originating from beating springs in the beams. On the territory of the steppe there is a pair of swamps. The southern slopes of the steppe are dominated by relict grass - a desert oat.

The steppe of Poperechensky is far from roads and settlements. There are no reservoirs either. The only primer leads to the village of Transverse. To patrol the territory of the reserve around it there is a dirt road. This steppe is on the plateau between the rivers Archada and Hopyor.

Ostrovtsovskaya forest-steppe

Let's talk about her. Ostrovtsovskaya steppe of the reserves of the Penza region is considered the most beautiful. It is far from civilization. The southern and eastern part of the steppe is bordered by a deep girder. The steppe is dotted with a multitude of streams that run to the river Hopper. At different times of the year the steppe has its own unique outfit. In spring, it is colored with white and pink almonds and thorns. In the grass, the lilac heads of irises and the spring goricvet are seen. In summer the steppe is colored with wild mallow flowers and lilac oregano. White chamomiles look bright spots among the silver waves of feather grass. Summer is a wonderful time for insects fluttering over meadow flowers. They are just being studied by scientists, and such as deer and beetle bug are listed in the Red Book.

Borok and the Upper Suras

In the wooded part of Borka, pine predominates. In addition, in the protected area grow rowan, maple, viburnum, buckthorn, bird cherry. The forest belt area runs along the above-floodplain route of the Kadad River. Forest range Borok bears the water conservation value of the reserved area. Mass felling of trees in this part of the forest did not take place due to the awarding of the status of a natural monument to Borku in 1965. Inhabitants of the forest living on the riverside are muskrat and river beaver. Rarely in the forest you can see squirrels, wild boars and roe deer. Feathers are represented in the protected area by the shore swallow, kingfisher, river tern. Nesting grounds and birds of prey are seen: a kite, a goshawk, a hitch.

The second forest area from the reserves of the Penza region is the Upper Sura, which is located on the highest part of the Volga Upland. This forest area is the largest of the five, belonging to the reserve. Here, in the forest belt of the oldest pine plantations, the river Sura originates. This forest plot is not rich in water. There are keys and a couple of lakes. One of them is Lake Svetloye, to which leads a hiking trail. This excursion route was initiated by the employees of the reserve, and they are accompanied by them. Through the forest area stretches a large number of unpaved roads, intended for patrolling the reserve.