Central Forest Nature Reserve

Central Forest Nature Reserve
Russian: Центрально-Лесной заповедник (Also: Tsentralno-Lesnoi)
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Staroselsky Mokh swamp
Location	Russia
Nearest city	Nelidovo
Coordinates	56°27′18″N 32°58′36″E / 56.45500°N 32.97667°E / 56.45500; 32.97667Coordinates: 56°27′18″N 32°58′36″E / 56.45500°N 32.97667°E / 56.45500; 32.97667
Area	21,000 ha (81 sq mi)
Established	4 May 1930; 1 April 1960
www.clgz.ru

Central Forest Nature Reserve (Russian: Центрально-Лесной заповедник) (also, Tsentralno-Lesnoi) is zapovednik (strict ecological reserve) in the north-west of Russia, located in Andreapolsky and Nelidovsky Districts of Tver Oblast, in the upper course of the Mezha River. It was established on 4 May 1930. The nature reserve is created to protect the conifer forest in the upper course of the Western Dvina River. Since 1985, it is classified as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The nature reserve is located at the south-western part of the Valdai Hills, close to the divide between the drainage basins of the Atlantic (the Western Dvina and the Lovat) and the Caspian Sea (the Volga). It includes a part of the lake district which is formed at the divide. The landscape within the nature reserve is mainly hilly, with a large area occupied by swamps. The altitude varies between 220 metres (720 ft) to 270 metres (890 ft).

The area is covered by forest, with spruce being the most common tree, followed by silver birch, common aspen, and grey alder. The latter three species mainly grow in the areas damaged from timber logging in the 1950s. The reserve lies at the southernmost limit of the area where dwarf birch grows.

As of 1988, 55 mammal species could be found in the reserve. These include Eurasian brown bear, lynx. red fox, moose, wild boar, and roe deer. Eurasian beaver was reintroduced in 1936. There were 195 species of birds, 6 species of amphibians, and several reptile species as well.