What is "zakaznik"

Zakaznik (, transliterated: zakaznik, zakazniki; , transliterated: zakaznyk, zakaznyky; Belarusian: заказнік, заказнікі, transliterated: zakaznik, zakazniki) is a type of protected area in Russia and some other former Soviet republics such as Belarus and Ukraine that meets World Conservation Union's ( IUCN) category III, or more frequently category VI criteria.

Zakazniks are the areas where temporary or permanent limitations are placed upon certain on-site economic activities, such as logging, mining, grazing, hunting, etc. They correspond to sanctuary in UNESCO World Heritage terminology and literally mean preserves or reserve (from the Russian zakaz - order, reserve).

Many zakazniks have traditionally been managed as game reserves. Some protect complex ecosystems, colonies of birds, or populations of rare plants. They range in size from 0.5 ha to 6,000,000 ha.