Roztochya Biosphere Reserve

Roztochya Biosphere Reserve is a protected natural area in Lviv Oblast comprising forests, grasslands, wetlands, and farmland along the northwestern edge of the Podillia Upland. The reserve consists of several components including Nature Reserve Roztochya, Yavorivskyi National Nature Park, and Ravske Roztochya Regional Park.

The reserve was established in 1984 and later recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests. This designation highlights the international importance of preserving the forest ecosystems found here.

The region shows traditional ways of living where people continue farming, raising livestock, and fishing in the transition zones around the reserve. These practices are visible in the landscape and reflect how local communities have worked with the land for generations.

Visitors can join guided tours through specific areas of the reserve to explore the different protected zones. It helps to plan your visit timing as accessibility varies depending on the season and weather conditions in the region.

The area forms an ecological corridor where plant species from three distinct regions meet: Polesia, Podillia, and the Carpathians. This unusual location allows you to observe natural transition zones between three major European ecosystems.