Another peatbog was restored under the joint project of the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environmental Facility on renaturalization and sustainable management of peatlands in Belarus. The depleted Obol–1 peatland in Shumilino district of Vitebsk region was the eighths one in the row of degraded peatbogs rehabilitated under the UNDP/GEF project.

On 15 May 2009, aspecial commission headed by Shumilinsky Leshoz state forestry officially accepted the performed work. The event was attended by Mr. Antonius Broek, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus.

According to Mr. Alexander Kozulin, the UNDP project Scientific Coordinator, the re–waterlogging strategy is aimed at creating conditions for development of transitional and raised mires through increasing ground water level in the whole area by cascaded decking of main canals.

Mr. Antonius Broek noted the importance of the restoration of Obol–1 peatland for local population in terms of preservation of the area nature potential and development of eco–tourism in the region as well as contribution to fighting climate change. The peatland water level raising will allow to reduce the incidence of peatlands fires, peat mineralization and carbon dioxide emissions.

Renaturalization and stabilization of the hydrological regime of the project area will increase the ecological potential of the Obol and Western Dvina interfluve, improve habitat conditions of rare species of animals and birds included into the Red Book of Belarus such as badger, bittern, black stork, serpent eagle. Moreover, necessary conditions will be created for raising numbers of important for hunting animals and birds such as elk, hog, heathbird, and snipe. The local population will be able to resume traditional economic activities, for example seasonal harvesting of berries, mushrooms, fishing. The whole area will become a more attractive target for eco–tourism.

The re–waterlogging construction project was developed by Belgiprovodkhoz state enterprise and implemented by Sumiliskiy design and installing enterprise. The rehabilitation works cost BYR 150 million. The total re–waterlogged area is 1,096 ha.

The Ministry of Forestry of Belarus is the executing agency of the UNDP/GEF project on rehabilitation of degraded peatbogs and depleted peatlands.

For additional information please refer to Alexei Tchistodarsky, UNDP/GEF project information specialist, at tel. in Minsk (017) 294 90 69.

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