Raw materials, nature management

The main mineral and raw materials of the Vitebsk region are dolomite, sapropel, clay, construction sand, sand and gravel material, peat, mineral and fresh groundwater.

The region accounts for 100 percent of the republican dolomite reserves, about 70 percent of sapropel reserves, 40 percent of clay reserves, 33 percent of sand and gravel material reserves, 12 percent of construction sand reserves, and about 30 percent of peat reserves.

Dolomite is mined by OJSC "Dolomit" at the Ruba deposit in the Vitebsk region. The explored reserves amount to about 909 million tons. The raw material is used for the production of dolomite flour, crushed dolomite, mineral powders for roofing felt, asphalt concrete pavements, and other materials.

Sapropel reserves in the region are estimated at 2.2 billion m3, of which 1.6 billion m3 are in lakes and 628 million m3 are under peat deposits. 63 clay deposits have been explored with total proven reserves of 143 million m3. The largest of them are Lukoml-1 in the Chashniksky district and Zapolye in the Shumilinsky district.

The region has over 100 deposits with explored reserves of sand and gravel mixture and sand amounting to 296 million m3.

There are 3238 peat deposits and their plots in the territory of the region, with a total area of 421.2 thousand hectares, or 10.5 percent of the region's territory. 23 peat deposits (56 plots) with an area of 33987 hectares and industrial peat reserves of 114579 thousand tons, or 8 percent of the peat deposits' territory in the region, have been included in the developed fund.

The network of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) in the Vitebsk region includes:

"Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve"

2 national parks – "Braslav Lakes" and "Narochansky" (partially),

25 reserves of republican significance,

86 monuments of republican significance,

63 reserves

141 natural monuments of local significance.

The area of SPNA is 392.9 thousand hectares, or 9.81% of the region's area.
By the decision of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee dated December 1, 2015, No. 749 "On the declaration of the biosphere reserve "Osvensky – Krasny Bor" – the first biosphere reserve in the republic.
Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was established on January 30, 1925, and is the very first officially registered specially protected natural area in the region. It has the status of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and has been awarded the European Diploma of the Council of Europe for Specially Protected Natural Areas.
8 specially protected natural areas (Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, republican significance reserves "Osvensky", "Yelnya", "Kozyansky", "Servech", "Drozhbitka-Svina", and local significance reserves "Vileyty" and "Golubitskaya Pushcha") are included in the list of wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites). Of the 12 specially protected natural areas of the Republic of Belarus designated for inclusion in the "Emerald Network of Europe", 5 are located in the Vitebsk region (Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, national parks "Braslav Lakes", "Narochansky", reserves "Yelnya", "Osvensky").
The largest заказники (nature reserves) include: "Krasny Bor" (Verkhnedvinsk and Rossonsky districts), with an area of 35,023.3 hectares, "Kozyansky" (Polotsk and Shumilinsky districts), with an area of 26,060 hectares, "Osvensky" (Verkhnedvinsk district), with an area of 30,567.38 hectares, "Yelnya" (Miory district), with an area of 25,301 hectares.
By area, Lake Osvyeyeskoye (4,795 hectares) ranks second in Belarus. The majority of deep-water lakes are located in the Vitebsk region. The deepest lake in Belarus (53.6 m) is Lake Dolgoye (Gluboksky district). In the заказники (nature reserves) "Richy" (Braslav district) and "Ginkovo" (Gluboksky district), the depth of the lakes is 51.9 m and 43.3 m, respectively.
To manage specially protected natural areas, seven state nature protection institutions have been established: "Osvensky", "Yelnya", "ECO-ROSY", "Korytinsky Mok", "Kozyansky", "Golubov Sad", and "Braslav-Richy".
Vitebsk region, unlike other regions of the republic, is the most water-rich. The water resource potential of the Vitebsk region is represented by large reserves of surface and groundwater.
The region is crossed by two large transboundary rivers – the Western Dvina and the Dnieper, about 610 medium and small rivers with a total length of 9240 km, whose resources average 19.1 km³ per year. About one-fifth (16.5 percent) of the region's territory in the southeast belongs to the Dnieper basin, and 80 percent belongs to the Western Dvina basin, one of the main rivers of the Republic of Belarus.
Our region is also distinguished by a large number of lakes – 2300, with a total area of over 936 km² and a water volume of 3243 million m³.
The largest lakes in the region are Lake Osvyanskoye with an area of 52.6 km² (second place in the republic after Lake Naroch), Lake Lukomskoye – 37.7 km², Lake Dri svyaty – 36.1 km², Lake Ne shcherdo – 24.6 km², Lake Snudy – 22 km², and others. In Braslav and Ushachi districts, a large accumulation of lakes of various sizes and depths forms extensive lake systems. The Braslav lake system includes 31 lakes, and the Ushachi system includes 60 lakes.
The deepest lakes in the region are Lake Dolgoye in Glubokoye district (53.6 m); Lake Richi in Braslav district (51.9 m); Lake Ginko vo in Glubokoye district (43.3 m).
The clearest lakes in the republic are Lake Glubokoye in Polotsk district (transparency 9.5 m); Lake Voloso South in Braslav district (transparency 8.3 m).
According to environmental monitoring data, the ecological state of surface water bodies in the basins of the Western Dvina and Dnieper rivers is generally assessed as quite favorable, and the water quality remains stable with a tendency towards some improvement.
On the territory of the region, 56 deposits of fresh groundwater have been explored, with approved operational reserves of 826.05 thousand m³/day. Of these, 32 are operating deposits with approved operational reserves of 681.59 thousand m³/day, and 24 are undeveloped with approved operational reserves of 144.46 thousand m³/day.
In the region, 29 mineral groundwater fields have been explored, including 18 developed and 11 undeveloped, with approved balance reserves of 22193.90 m³/day. The balance reserves of developed fields amount to 19756.90 m³/day, and undeveloped fields – 2437.00 m³/day.
Water resources are used for household and drinking water supply, industrial water supply, hydropower, recreation, fish farming, and irrigation.
According to the State Water Cadastre, the withdrawal of surface water and extraction of groundwater in 2018 amounted to 170.053 million m³, including from surface water bodies – 77.308 million m³, and from groundwater – 92.745 million m³. 147.026 million m³ of wastewater were discharged into the environment, including: into surface water bodies – 140.342 million m³, of which insufficiently treated – 0.068 million m³.
Water extraction and bottling in the Vitebsk region are carried out by:

OJSC "Vitebsk Distillery "Pridvinye" (extraction, bottling)

UP "Polotsk Beverages and Concentrates" OJSC "Belmolod" (extraction, bottling)

KTUP "Vitebsk Universal Base" urban-type settlement Ushachi (extraction and bottling)

Private subsidiary medical and preventive unitary enterprise "Sanatorium Lyottsy", Vitebsk district (extraction, bottling)

State Enterprise "Belarus Torg", Production Shop of Mineral and Drinking Water "BOROVAYA", village Budachi, Dokshitsky district (extraction, bottling)

Branch of Lukomlskaya GRES RUP "Vitebskenergo", health resort complex "Sosnovy Bor" (extraction)

Branch "Children's Sanatorium "Rosinka", post office Perebrodye, Miorsky district (extraction)

State Institution "Sanatorium "Lesnoye", post office Zamostochye, Dokshitsky district (extraction)

State Institution "Sanatorium "Borovoye", urban-type settlement Begoml, Dokshitsky district (extraction)

RUP "Dorvodokanal" of Belarusian Railway, Lyottsy station, Vitebsk section (extraction)

State Institution "Lepel Military Sanatorium of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus" (extraction)

ZAO "Rikor" (extraction)

SOOO "Vitebsk Plant of Non-alcoholic Beverages" (bottling)

OOO "Nasha Voda Plus" (bottling)
The main part of the forests of the Vitebsk region (87.7%) is managed by the Vitebsk State Production Forestry Association, which is part of the system of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus and is the territorial body for forest management.
On the rights of legal entities, the association includes 19 state forestry institutions (forestries).
The total area of the forest fund managed by the Vitebsk State Production Forestry Association is 1661.3 thousand hectares, including forest-covered land – 1453.05 thousand hectares.
The total standing timber stock in the association is 298.74 million cubic meters, including mature and overmature stands – 74.3 million cubic meters, of which coniferous species – 30.7 million cubic meters.
Middle-aged stands prevail in the total area of forest-covered land – 527.2 thousand hectares (36.3%). Mature and overmature stands of tree species in the forest-covered area, which determine the size of the calculated logging area and forest revenue, amount to 289.95 thousand hectares (20%).
A significant area of the association's forests – 762.6 thousand hectares (52.5%) is represented by soft-leaved tree species (alder, birch, aspen), growing in typical forest conditions for them – in lowered areas with excessive moisture.
The average age of the stands is 53 years.
The calculated logging area for the association is – 3165.2 thousand cubic meters of wood. The annual timber resource is equal to 4.0 million cubic meters of standing timber.
As of January 1, 2021, the land fund of the region amounts to 4006.2 thousand hectares (19.3% of the land fund of the Republic of Belarus). Agricultural lands account for 34.2% of its structure – 1371.1 thousand hectares, of which arable lands are 22.6% – 891.6 thousand hectares, forest lands of the state forest fund are 43.1% – 1727.4 thousand hectares, woody and shrubby vegetation is 9.1% – 364.7 thousand hectares, swamps are 4.8% – 190.7 thousand hectares, under water is 3.5% – 139.6 thousand hectares, under roads and other transport routes is 1.5% – 61.3 thousand hectares, under streets and squares and other public places is 0.5% – 18.2 thousand hectares, under buildings is 1.6% – 65.7 thousand hectares, other lands, including disturbed lands, are 1.7% – 67.5 thousand hectares.
Agricultural organizations occupy 40.2% – 1612.5 thousand hectares, peasant (farmer) farms – 1.4% – 57.2 thousand hectares, citizens – 4.0% – 159.5 thousand hectares.
About half (45.6%) of all land resources and 99.5% of agricultural lands are owned and used by agricultural organizations and citizens, producers of agricultural products.
The total score of cadastral valuation of arable lands is 25.7, and of agricultural lands – 23.8.