Dunes, sometimes five meters high, and stretches of sand as far as the eye can see… In Central and Eastern Europe, these unique landscapes on the continent have become, against all odds, precious nature reserves. Near Kherson, Ukraine, the Oleshky Sands form a semi-arid zone and the largest expanse of sand on the continent, covering 1,600 km² – including 8,000 hectares in a protected area. Formerly a secret military zone during the Soviet period, this land is now close to the front line, at the heart of the war that is raging in the country.
A “mosaic of ecosystems”
The story goes that this desert was formed in the 19the century with the arrival of thousands of sheep which would have grazed on all the vegetation. Winds, fires and deforestation have completed its erosion. In the XXe century, thousands of hectares of forests will be planted around the area in order to curb desertification, while preserving the sand dunes in its center.
Same process in the region of Vojvodina, in the north of Serbia. Two centuries ago, during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a sandy area on the banks of the Danube was reforested with black locusts, because the wind carried the sand there to Vienna. In 2002, the “sands of Deliblato”, as they are nicknamed, became a national natural park of 350 km² in order to protect the specificity of the place. Patches of trees and bushes were then cleared to revitalize the steppe. “We want to conserve this mosaic of ecosystems, with forests, dunes and meadows of steppe vegetation for grazing”explains Ivana Vasic, forest engineer at Vojvodinasume, a public company that manages the region’s forests and nature reserves.
From desolate land to biodiversity hotspot
About 25% of the park remains strictly protected, while the rest is given over to environmentally friendly economic activities such as ecotourism. An educational center has been set up, making it possible to discover specimens such as the immortelle des sables, a herbaceous plant with yellow flowers. “Involving the locals is an important aspect of conservation”says Ivana Vasic, pointing to other benefits: “For example, the farms present in the park make it possible to maintain this revitalized area and reduce the risk of fire. »
In Poland, the biologist Magdalena Moron fights for the protection of the landscape of her childhood, the Bledow desert, a Natura 2000 reserve of 200 km² located in Upper Silesia. “There are only 700 hectares of wind-blown sand dunes left, or 5% of this ancient sand desert”, she says. The northern part is a military base, while the southern part of the park is open to the public. “We want to keep the desert aspect of the place, which was almost completely covered”, she explains, as industrial pollution and invasive plantations continue to threaten the herbaceous plants typical of sandy areas. Long seen as a desolate land, the Bledow desert is proving to be a high place of biodiversity to be preserved: “The fauna and flora are unique there, we must protect them. »