Fedir Hamor
Director
Fedir Hamor is a Doctor of biological sciences, professor, honoured naturalist of Ukraine, honoured tourism worker of Ukraine, editor-in-chief of all-Ukrainian ecological popular scientific magazine "Green Carpathians". He began his working activity as a student of a forester. Since 1987 he is a head of Carpathian reserve.
Carpathian biosphere reserve was formed in 1993 on the base of existing natural reserve. Its area is 53,6 thousand ha and represents all landscape and biological variety of Ukrainian Carpathians from foothills to sub-alpine and alpine areas. The reserve is a member of the international network of UNESCO biosphere reserves, it was awarded the European diploma (1997, 2002) by European Rada, its primordial forest was nominated for the Ukrainian-Slovak contest "Beech primordial forests of Carpathians" to be included in the list of objects of world cultural and natural legacy.
There is the highest top of Ukraine on its territory - Hoverla mountain (2061 m.), its sign is the Center of Europe, Valley of narcissuses, the biggest beech primordial forest area in Europe. Edelweiss and "red rue" grow in the reserve, great populations of Carpathian brown bear, lynx, forest cat, golden eagle and a lot of other rare and endangered species of plants and animals are guarded here. Unique Museum of mountains ecology and history of nature preservation in Ukrainian Carpathians functions in Rakhiv, on the central farmstead of reserve. Information on geological past and nature of the Carpathians, the history of origin and development of human society in the region is quartered on 1200 square meters of expositional area. Also there is the original culture of Ukrainian highlanders and vivid customs and traditional ceremonies in the exposition.
Over 30 km of Zakarpattya tourist way and 18 ecotourist routes on the highlands and other picturesque places of Carpathians were developed on protected mountain ranges.
There are the ancient objects of wooden architecture and authentic hutsul culture and way of life saved in biosphere reserve. A network of ecologic and educational centers, minihotels, restaurants and farmsteads of Association of rural "green" tourism is at the services of tourists, on the central farmstead of preserve there are 2 conference halls (for 30 and for 80 persons), cafes with hutsul and European cuisine, hotel and tent grounds. Acquaintance pedestrian tours in the company of skilled guides and transporting services are also provided here.

P.O.Box 8, 77 Krasne Pleso Street, 90600 Rakhiv, Zakarpattya region
tel.: +38 (03132) 2-21-93;
fax: +38 (03132) 2-26-59
e-mail: cbr@rakhsv.ukrtel.net; http://www.cbr.nature.org.ua
Page 140