Аннотация:The Great Eurasian Nature Massive (GEANM) is a complex of low disturbed
and not disturbed nature areas in the limits of Russia (north Eurasia). It lies from
the Pacific Ocean in the East to Fennoscandia in the West. The Valday highland is one
of the fragments of GEANM in the North-West of the European Russia. Due to geologic,
geomorphologic, pedologic, climatic, historic and anthropogenic factors and its location
on the north-eastern border of hemi-boreal zone, the region is characterized by high diversity
of plant and animal species and types of habitats. The majority of them are mentioned
in the Resolution 4th and 6th of Bern Convention and preserved in the National park
“Valdaisky”. That’s why the territory of the national park could be considered
as the European Area of Special Conservation Interest for the Emerald Network.
So the main aim of the research is the survey of priority habitats of the national park.
As a result of geobotanic investigations and space images remote sensing (Landsat 5)
the diversity of habitats was revealed and the map of their spatial distribution was made.
Various types of forests and shrub cover more than 75% of the national park territory.
Picea and Pinus taiga woodland dominate on the came complexes and morainic plains.
Often Pinus and Picea forests with mosses change each other as fire-induced succession.
Eurasian boreal Betula, Alnus and Populus tremula woods usually occupy territory after
coniferous cutting. The areas of former broadleaved-coniferous and deciduous forests
dominated by Quercus robur are occupied by after forest grasslands. Nowadays without
any anthropogenic impact these meadows are overgrown with brush. Riverine Salix
woodland is usually met along riversides.
In inter-hill depressions in the condition of humid moderately warm climate various
types of bogs and moist or wet grasslands are developed: Raised bog complexes,
Boreal bog conifer Sphagnum-Pinus woodlands, Sphagnum-Betula woods, Transition
mires and quaking bogs, Rich fens, Moist or wet grasslands, Meadows, including those
at different stages of overgrowing by forest (nearly 15% of the area).
257 lakes occupy 9,2 % of the Park territory. They are the most attractive for the visitors.
All of them are differed by high diversity of hydro-chemical regimes, macrophytes
composition, vegetation, priority habitats.
Unlike other parts of GEANM, Valdai is located in an area with high population density
and recreational impact. Therefore, monitoring of biodiversity takes on special significance here.