Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve - the largest mountain forest reserve in Europe and one of the oldest reserves in Russia, founded in May 1924, a total area of ​​280 thousand hectares. Reserve occupies the land of Karachai-Cherkess Republic, the Republic of Adygea and the Krasnodar Territory. A huge role in the organization of the Caucasian Reserve played HG Shaposhnikov, former forester forestry Kuban Belorechensk hunting.

In February 1979 the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve was granted the status, and in 1999 its territory was included in the World Heritage List.

In the Caucasian State Nature Biosphere Reserve is home to about 89 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles, 248 - birds, 9 - amphibians, 21 species of fish, 1 species of cyclostomes, over 100 species of molluscs and more than 10 thousand. Insect species. Flora of the Caucasus Nature Reserve has about 3 thousand. Species. The dominant families, Asteraceae (223 species), cut (108), bluegrass (114), legumes (82) and many others. Forest flora includes more than 900 species, some of which can be found in mountain meadow zone. Total on the territory of the reserve there are over 800 species of alpine plants. Trees and shrubs there are 165 species, including evergreen deciduous -16 species of deciduous - conifer and 142 - 7 species.

For the flora of the Caucasus Nature Reserve is characterized by the presence of the representatives of the ancient and species with limited distribution. Every fifth plant reserve - endemic or relic. The peculiarity of the flora of the reserve give orchids (about 30 species), ferns (more than 40), an evergreen species and other ornamental plants. 55 species of the reserve are listed in the Red Book of Russia.

Special unique mountain landscape of the reserve impart numerous lakes (more than 120). Some areas of the reserve is a karst landscape with a lot of caves, are not uncommon and glaciers.