Location Republic of Kalmykia Established 1990 | Nearest city Astrakhan | |
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Area 121,901 acres (493.32 km) Governing body Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Russia) | ||
Chyornye Zemli Nature Reserve (Russian: заповедник Чёрные земли) (also) is a Russian 'zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) (In Russian, ""Black Lands""). It was originally created in 1990 to protect the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica). The main part of the reserve is located in the Caspian Depression, northwest of the Caspian Sea. It was originally created in 1990 to protect the saiga antelope (Saiga tatarica). In the meantime the economy of Kalmykia collapsed and the numbers of saiga have crashed due to poaching for meat and horns (Chinese medicine) and desertification caused by overgrazing by domestic animals. The reserve also has colonies of egrets, cormorants, and rare pelicans. The reserve is situated in the Chernozemelsky District of Republic of Kalmykia. It was created in 1990, and covers 1,219 km² in two locations, with a 900 km² buffer zone.
Since 1993, Cherny Zemli Nature Reserve has been designated as one of UNESCO biosphere reserves.