The Polesie State Radioecological Reserve (PSRER; Belarusian: Палескі дзяржаўны радыяцыйна-экалагічны запаведнік, romanized: Palyeski dzyarzhawny radyyatsyyna-ekalahichny zapavyednik; Russian: Полесский государственный радиационно-экологический заповедник, romanized: Polessky gosudarstvenny radiatsionno-ekologichesky zapovednik) is a radioecological nature reserve in the Polesie region of Belarus, which was created to enclose the territory of Belarus most affected by radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. The reserve adjoins the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine. The environmental monitoring and countermeasure agency, Bellesrad, oversees the agriculture and forestry in the area.

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Polesie State Radioecological Reserve
Палескі дзяржаўны радыяцыйна-экалагічны запаведнік (Belarusian) Полесский государственный радиационно-экологический заповедник (Russian)
OSM map of the reserve highlighting some nearby places in the annotations (as Mazyr, Pripyat, the Chernobyl Plant etc). The map in the corner shows its position (red) within Belarus, showing also the Ukrainian, and contiguous, Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (yellow)
Location	Belarus
Nearest city	Brahin, Narowlya, Khoiniki
Coordinates	51°39′N 29°59′E
Area	2,162 km2 (835 sq mi)
Established	July 18, 1988[1]
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Two years after the Chernobyl disaster, the Belarusian part of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was extended to a more highly contaminated area. Then, a closed-to-the-public nature reserve was established in Belarus with a total area of 1,313 km² (507 sq mi). The reserve was established on July 18, 1988.^[1] Before the disaster, over 22,000 people lived there in 96 settlements. The population was evacuated after the disaster. In 1993 it was expanded by 849 km² (328 sq mi), making it the largest Belarusian nature reserve and one of the largest in Europe.

The reserve hosts many rare and endangered species, which thrive there thanks to the virtual absence of humans. They include European bison, Przewalski horse, moose, brown bear, golden eagle, and white-tailed eagle. It is home to the world's largest population of the European pond turtle. According to PSRER administration, there are 7 reptile, 11 amphibian, 46 mammal, 213 bird and 25 fish species. Of those, 70 are listed in the International Red Book and the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus. Flora includes 1251 registered plants, which is more than two-thirds of the flora of the country, and 18 of the plant species are listed in the Red Book.^[3] It was found that voles have higher rates of cataracts, useful populations of bacteria on the wings of birds in the zone are lower, partial albinism is common among barn swallows, cuckoos have become less common. Serious animal mutations, though, happened only right after the accident.^[4]

Although the reserve was established for the purpose of radiobiological and environmental research, it is of interest to other biologists. Due to the minimal human presence, it is possible to observe the natural development of wildlife in the conditions of Belarus. "In connection with the removal of anthropogenic load and the wealth of flora the ideal conditions for the recovery of the animal world have been created here", states the report of the Committee on the Health Effects of the Chernobyl disaster at the Council of Ministers of Belarus. Some new species, including European bison, have been introduced on the territory of the reserve.

• Mizhrichynskyi Regional Landscape Park
• Pripyatsky National Park
• Zalissia National Nature Park

• Protected areas of Belarus