Four Antique Kurgans in Herson Declared Natural Monuments

Four historical kurgans located within the borders of the Berislav city community in the Herson region, situated in the south of Ukrayna, have officially been granted the status of botanical natural monuments of local importance. The kurgans in question are named "Tavanska Storozha", "Şirbskiy Dozor", "Cizil Velikiy", and "Cizil Malıy". This important decision was made to protect rare plant species and undisturbed steppe (quasi-virgin step) ecosystems in the region. With the relevant decision signed by Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Herson Regional Military Administration, these historical and natural areas have gained a legal shield of protection. Thus, it is aimed to transfer both the kurgans, which are cultural heritage, and the unique flora they host to future generations.

The total area of the newly protected natural monuments covers approximately 0,807 hectares. Despite this status change, the lands where the kurgans are located will remain in the possession or use of their current owners or users. It was explicitly stated that no expropriation or nationalization of any land will be carried out by the official authorities. This situation reveals a model that necessitates cooperation between landowners and nature conservation authorities. Without demanding land from the owners, it is planned to take only the necessary measures to protect the natural values of these areas and the plant species listed in the Red Book.

Within the scope of the decree, a number of important tasks and deadlines have been assigned to the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Department of the Herson Regional State Administration. The Department was obliged to approve the regulations governing the statuses and protection principles of the natural monuments in question within one month from the date the decision was published. Additionally, these four kurgans must be officially registered in the State Register of Nature Protection Areas and Objects of Ukrayna. In the following stage, these areas will be handed over to the relevant protection institutions to establish an actual protection regime in the field. It is aimed to complete all these bureaucratic and administrative steps quickly so that the areas can gain the value and legal protection they deserve as soon as possible.

In addition to the bureaucratic processes, physical arrangements in the field will also begin soon. In accordance with the relevant regulation, it is planned to determine and mark the actual boundaries of these protection areas on-site within the next three-month period. Following the boundary determination work, official state information signs containing the fact that the areas are natural monuments and the protection rules will be erected in the region. These signs aim to inform both the local people and visitors, preventing the unconscious destruction of the area. At the same time, the Berislav City Military Administration was tasked with acting jointly with the landowners to guarantee the special protection of the regions where the species listed in the Red Book of Ukrayna are located.

This development also reveals that the region has not only natural but also a deep historical and archaeological heritage. A joint study conducted recently in the Herson region by both Ukrainian and Canadian scientists observed the devastating impact of the war on such historical sites. The researchers had detected serious traces of trenches, shelters, and explosions caused by the war in 12 antique kurgans they examined in the region. The existence of such traces and destruction proves how essential it is to protect the kurgans and the natural life on them, even in peacetime. Now, with these new protection decisions taken, it is aimed to secure both the natural biodiversity and the remaining parts of the historical fabric in these lands.