| Steppic Biogeographic Region | |
|---|---|
 Askania-Nova, Ukraine | |
 | |
| Ecology | |
| Realm | Palearctic |
| Geography | |
| Countries | Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan |
| Oceans or seas | Black Sea, Caspian Sea |
The Steppic Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic region of Europe, as defined by the European Environment Agency .
The Steppic region encompasses parts of Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, and western Kazakhstan. Additionally, it extends further west into Asia. This vast region is characterized by low-lying plains, as well as rolling hills or plateaus. On average, the elevation in this area ranges from 200–300 metres (660–980 ft)
The natural vegetation is mostly grasses such as Elymus repens (couch grass), Stipa (feather grass) and Festuca (fescue), among which are scattered herbaceous plants such as Potentilla (cinquefoil), Verbascum (mullein and Artemisia (wormwood). The humus-rich soils are very fertile, and much of the region has been converted to cultivated land, with few remaining pockets of the original vegetation. [1]
Romania has the only part of the Steppic Region in the European Union. This is a small intensively farmed area. The list of Natura 2000 sites in region was adopted in December 2008, with 34 Sites of Community Importance under the Habitats Directive and 40 Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive. Some sites are in both categories. Together they cover about 20% of the land in the Romanian part of the region. [2]
In physical geography, a steppe is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without closed forests except near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include:
A special area of conservation (SAC) is defined in the European Union's Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), also known as the Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. They are to protect the 220 habitats and approximately 1,000 species listed in annex I and II of the directive which are considered to be of European interest following criteria given in the directive. They must be chosen from the sites of Community importance by the member states and designated SAC by an act assuring the conservation measures of the natural habitat.
Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectively. The network includes both terrestrial and Marine Protected Areas.
Chartronges is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.
A Site of Community Importance (SCI) is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type or of a species and may also contribute significantly to the coherence of Natura 2000, and/or contributes significantly to the maintenance of biological diversity within the biogeographic region or regions concerned.
Montferrer is a commune in the southern part of the Pyrénées-Orientales department in the Occitanie region of southern France. Its inhabitants are called Montferrerois. Historically and culturally, the commune is in the Vallespir, a former viscounty, annexed to France by the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659) and roughly corresponding to the Tech Valley from its source to Céret.
Via Pontica was an ancient Roman road in Thrace along the Black Sea, starting from Byzantium and passing through Deultum, Aquae Calidae, Apollonia, Mesembria, Odessos, Byzone, and Kaliakra ; and then through Kallatis, Tomis, and Istros.
Montaña Palentina is a natural park in the north of the province of Palencia in Castile and León, Spain.
The Satchinez swamps, nicknamed the Banat delta, form an ornithological reserve that spreads over 1,194 ha near Satchinez, in Timiș County, Romania. It was founded in 1942, at the proposal of the Romanian ornithologist Dionisie Linția. The Satchinez swamps concentrate 40% of Romania's avifauna, being the second most important after the Danube Delta.
Many parts of Scotland are protected in accordance with a number of national and international designations because of their environmental, historical or cultural value. Protected areas can be divided according to the type of resource which each seeks to protect. NatureScot has various roles in the delivery of many environmental designations in Scotland, i.e. those aimed at protecting flora and fauna, scenic qualities and geological features. Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designations that protect sites of historic and cultural importance. Some international designations, such as World Heritage Sites, can cover both categories of site.
The Mediterranean Biogeographic Region is the biogeographic region around and including the Mediterranean Sea. The term is defined by the European Environment Agency as applying to the land areas of Europe that border on the Mediterranean Sea, and the corresponding territorial waters. The region is rich in biodiversity and has many endemic species. The term may also be used in the broader sense of all the lands of the Mediterranean Basin, or in the narrow sense of just the Mediterranean Sea.
The Boreal Biogeographic Region is the biogeographic region of Northern Europe that consists primarily of coniferous forests and wetlands.
The biogeographic regions of Europe are biogeographic regions defined by the European Environment Agency. They were initially limited to the European Union member states, but later extended to cover all of Europe west of the Urals, including all of Turkey. The map of biogeographic regions is deliberately simplified and ignores local anomalies. It is intended primarily as a framework for coordinating and reporting overall results of conservation efforts.
The Atlantic Biogeographic Region is the biogeographic region of Europe bordering the Atlantic Ocean and North Sea.
The Continental Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic region of Europe that extend in a broad band from east to west through the center of the continent.
The Black Sea Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic region of land bordering the west and south of the Black Sea, as defined by the European Environment Agency.
The Macaronesian Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic region, as defined by the European Environment Agency, that covers the Azores, the Canary Islands, and Madeira. The name comes from the group of four archipelagos collectively known as Macaronesia that also include Cape Verde, which is not included in the European region.
The Alpine Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic region, as defined by the European Environment Agency, that covers the mountainous regions of Europe.
The Pannonian Biogeographic Region is a biogeographic region, as defined by the European Environment Agency. It covers the lowlands of the Pannonian Basin centered on Hungary.