We all remember well the catastrophe that occurred in Ukraine on April 26, 1986 - the explosion of the fourth block of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The explosion is the world's largest technological disaster.

As scientists point out in the aftermath of the Chernobyl explosion in Ukraine, more than 2300 settlements were located in the territory of 12 oblasts. As a result, a 30-kilometre exclusion zone and the zone of absolute (mandatory) resettlement.

However, despite the high level of pollution, there is a process of recovery of ecosystems and biodiversity in general. And exactly 30 years after the catastrophe the Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve was created.

The Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve (here and after the CHBR) is an atypical object of the nature reserve fund of Ukraine. Even Ukrainian legislation does not contain the definition of radiation and ecological biosphere reserve. The CHBR presupposes an additional function that is not typical for classical biosphere reserves.

From the analysis of the Decree of the President “On Creation of a Chernobyl Radiation and Ecological Biosphere Reserve” the following functions are assigned to the CHBR:

• the nature conservation function (preservation in the natural state of the most typical natural complexes of Polissya and natural diversity of landscape; the gene pool of animal and plant life);

• the scientific research function (ecological monitoring of the environment; inventory of flora and fauna, ecosystems, development of scientific recommendations for conservation and reproduction of rare species of flora and fauna; restoration of natural ecosystems; preparation of scientific materials and recommendations);

• the informational and educational function (dissemination of knowledge and raising awareness about the biological and landscape diversity of the CHBR; formation of ecological consciousness and education of respect for nature);

• the barrier function of the exclusion zone and the zone of unconditional (mandatory) resettlement.

There is still a sharp debate about the creation of this protected area of Ukraine. How the status of the biosphere reserve will affect the exclusion zone is too early to speak. It is a kind of experiment, the consequences of which we will be able to observe in the future.