Site: Zeya-Bureya plain

Designation date: 13-09-1994

Coordinates: 49°55'N 127°39'E

Elevation: 110 m - 120 m

Area: 31,600 ha

Location: The site is located in Amur Region, 43 km northwest of the city of Blagoveshchensk (regional centre), 33 km east of the village of Tambovka.

Criteria: 1 ,2 ,3

Importance: The area harbours rare animal and plant species including the rare bird species Grus japonensis, G. vipio and Ciconia boyciana. Three plant species listed in the Russian Red Data Book and seven species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Far East occur at the site. About 15,000 geese and 1,500 ducks migrate through the area in spring. Up to 8,000 migrating ducks and 50-60 cranes have been counted in autumn. Breeding waterbirds include around 300 pairs of ducks.

Wetland Types: Ts ,O ,M (dominant types shown in bold)

The site encompasses extensive floodplains of the Rivers Zeya and Bureya. The lower portions of the floodplains include islands and beaches; the higher-level floodplains contain a complex of levees, oxbow lakes and marshes. Above the floodplains, there are two terraces.

Biological/Ecological notes: Wet meadows with herbs Calamagrostis sp. and Carex sp. are the most widespread. Other dominant herbs include Calamagrostis purpurascens, Lycopus sp., Lythrum sp., Valeriana sp. and Sanguisorba sp. Meadows at the high-level floodplain show a rich diversity (c. 60 species) and an abundance of flowering plants, such as Lilium sp., Iris ensata and Paeonia lactiflora. On the terraces, dry meadows with Calamagrostis epigeios and various herbs are found. These are not large in area. Patches of oak forests occur along the Bureya River. Grass fens are situated in depressions underlain by clays. The herbage is 40-50 cm high. These communities are dominated by Calamagrostis neglecta, Carex lasiocarpa and C. meyeriana. The mouths of the rivers and shores of the lakes are overgrown with reed Phragmites, which is up to two metres, as well as with Typha sp., Sagittaria sp., Acorus calamus, Menyanthes sp. and Lycopus sp. Aquatic plants include Potamogeton sp., Lemna sp., Nymphaea tetragona and Trapa natans.

Hydrological/Physical notes: The plains are composed of the Neogene and Pleistocene silty-loam lacustrine sediments. The soils are predominantly of the meadow types, with a high humus content (5-12%). At lower places, gley soils occur, with an underlying layer of clay. The high-level floodplain is covered by forests on soddy-alluvial and brown soils. The Zeya and Bureya Rivers are left tributaries of the Amur River. The Zeya is 1,208 km long and has a catchment area of 230,000 sq. km. The Bureya is 630 km long and has a catchment of 69,800 sq. km. The rivers are mainly fed by rain. The level of water may rise considerably after monsoon rains in summer. The area has a monsoon temperate climate (a continental variant). The mean air temperatures are 20.5°C in July and -25.5°C in January. The warm period, when the temperature is above zero, lasts for 100-110 days. The growing period for vegetation is 140-160 days. Annual precipitation varies from 550 to 600 mm, with only 15% falling in winter. The snow cover is not deep, and the ground freezes to 1.5-2 m.

Human Uses: The majority of the land belongs to the users with collective proprietary rights. Part of the area is taken on lease by the Social-Ecological Union. Territorial jurisdiction resides with the Administration of Amur Region; functional jurisdiction resides with the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection. Agriculture, grazing and sport fishing are the predominant activities in the area.

Conservation Measures: The borders of the Ramsar site coincide with those of the Muravjevsky Wildlife Refuge ('zakaznik'). Within the refuge borders, the Muravjevsky Nature Park has been established by the Social-Ecological Union. The Social-Ecological Union gives great emphasis to education matters. A number of educational actions have been carried out with the help of international conservation organisations. It has been proposed to increase the staff of the zakaznik to four rangers.

Adverse Factors: No adverse factors affecting the site have been reported.

Site Management: Regional Environmental Committee, 135 Lenin Str., Blagoveshchensk, 675023, Russia.

External Link:

Based on the 1997 Ramsar Information Sheet.