The Polistovsky Reserve was created to preserve and study the natural course of natural processes and phenomena of the genetic fund of flora and fauna of selected species and communities of plants and animals, and typical and unique ecological systems. The territory of the Polistovsky Reserve includes the western part of Polistovsko-Lovatskaya bog system, the largest raised bog system in Europe consisting of 15 fused raised bogs. More than 20 major lakes and many rivers of the bog system are a part of basins of the rivers Polist and Lovat; they occupy the central part in regulation of the hydrological regime of the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation. The raised bog system of the Polistovsky Reserve is the unique and largest in Europe natural filter. The raised bog is constantly accumulating organic matters. Various types of contaminants (radionuclides, heavy metals, chlororganics) are recorded by organic matters of the raised bogs and remain in the soil with peat. Thus, the ‘exit' from the wetland massif of the Polistovsky Reserve is fed practically by distilled water (not counting humic acids), which then comes into the basins of the North-West region: Lake Ilmen, the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland. As a result of combustion of carbon materials massive amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere every day; this leads to the accumulation of ÑÎ2. For this reason, we can observe a so-called ‘greenhouse effect' and global climate changes. The uniqueness of plant communities in raised bogs of the Polistovsky Reserve is that the absorbed carbon remains forever in biogeocoenose. We estimate that annually more than 800 million m3 of CO2 remains in our raised bogs in the form of peat. Thus, raised bogs are the only natural system counteracting the accumulation of ÑÎ2 in the atmosphere. The unique ecosystem of raised bog coenoses of the Polistovsky Reserve provides maintenance of biological diversity, including populations of several species of rare plants and animals listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. This Reserve is a place of the largest known in the forest zone of Europe local populations of Eurasian Curlew. There is a usual nesting place for the Southern Golden Plover, Whimbrel and Grey Shrike. The bog system is the largest in the North-West of Russia Naturå Reserve of some endangered bird species: European Black-throated Diver, Golden Eagle, Central Russian Ptarmigan. Raised bogs of the Polistovsky Reserve are extremely vulnerable ecological systems, since a change in hydrological regime, peat digging and even the use of tracked vehicles can lead to irreversible changes in the ecosystem. Therefore, the Reserve accepts the most rigorous security regime - the prohibition of any activity and outsiders' presence on the territory. The Polistovsky Reserve has direct border on the East with the Rdeysky State Naturå Reserve with the similar significance (both reserves are located in Polistovsko-Lovatskaya bog system).
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The Polistovsky Reserve was created to preserve and study the natural course of natural processes and phenomena of the genetic fund of flora and fauna of selected species and communities of plants and animals, and typical and unique ecological systems. The territory of the Polistovsky Reserve includes the western part of Polistovsko-Lovatskaya bog system, the largest raised bog system in Europe consisting of 15 fused raised bogs. More than 20 major lakes and many rivers of the bog system are a part of basins of the rivers Polist and Lovat; they occupy the central part in regulation of the hydrological regime of the North-West Federal District of the Russian Federation.