«More than 270 protected habitats of wild animals and growing sites of wild plants belonging to Red Book of Belarus species have been inventoried in Minsk Oblast. During the survey, more than 50 new habitats and growing sites of protected species were identified, which will be placed under protection in accordance with the established legal procedure. An inventory of historical habitats and a search for new habitats of the Siberian flying squirrel were conducted in Gorodok and Surazh districts. Three new habitats of this rare species were identified. Nine occupied nests were recorded, and 12 draft habitat protection documents were prepared. Six of them have already been approved by the Gorodok District Executive Committee,» Pavel Geshtovt said.
Scientists have prepared feasibility studies for the establishment of a new national-level wildlife reserve in Belynichi District, Mogilev Oblast, and Berezino District, Minsk Oblast. They have also prepared justifications for transforming the national-level nature reserves Stiklevo, Yukhnovsky, Volmyansky, and others. Work has been carried out to transform 39 geological natural monuments of national importance in Braslav, Postavy, and Glubokoye districts of Vitebsk Oblast, and a number of natural monuments of local importance in Mozyr, Kirovsk, and Bobruisk districts. Field surveys formed the basis for management plans for the Krasnoselskie (or Belarusian) Maldives natural monument in Volkovysk District and the Snovsky Park in Nesvizh District.
During the 2026 field season, the species composition and structure of fish communities in small rivers of the Neman and Western Dvina River basins were studied for the first time. The surveys also produced material for subsequent morphological and molecular genetic analysis.
Scientists are monitoring wild animals belonging to Red Book of Belarus species. Work was carried out at 17 monitoring sites covering species such as the black stork, lesser and greater spotted eagles, Eurasian eagle-owl, black-tailed godwit, golden plover, and common kingfisher. Surveys were also conducted at 20 new monitoring sites covering species including the aquatic warbler, corncrake, common crane, Eurasian pygmy owl, and great snipe.
Scientists are also tracking the spread of non-native and invasive species. The spread of non native species was studied at 15 monitoring sites in the Dnieper, Pripyat, and Neman River basins, while non native fish species were trapped at seven monitoring sites in major river basins. «It has been established that the range of such a highly invasive and aggressive species as the brown bullhead is expanding eastward. Previously, it was found in Ivanovo and Pinsk districts, but it has now been detected in Mozyr District,» he said.
Field studies also identified non native species of beetles and hemipteran insects. Scientists discovered a non native species of Mediterranean origin, the linden (mallow) bug. This species poses a threat to linden trees.
