Nature
Flora
The vegetation zones that are typically observed in other mountain ranges with a similar character, are significantly different in Bieszczady. The coniferous upper forest and the dwarf pine zone are both missing due to climate conditions.
The plant world of this region is very rich. In the park 778 vascular plant species have been recorded, of which 29 are endemic or species characteristic of East Carpathian flora like white cow-wheat Melampyrum saxosum, Eastern Carpathian monkshood Aconitum lasiocarpum or Carpathian catchfly Silene dubia. The vascular plant flora has high proportion of mountain species (184 species) including 30 alpine and 42 subalpine species. There are also 250 moss species, 75 liverworts species, more than lichen species, ca. 30 slime mould species and ca. 1000 fungi species.
Fauna
Several species of mammals and birds that are recognised as rare or extinct in other parts of Europe inhabit the area of the Bieszczady Mountains including the European bison, which was re-introduced in 1963, as well as brown bear, lynx, wildcat, wolf, deer and wild boar. The park is refuge for 231 species of vertebrate species among them are 1 agnathan, 10 fish, 11 amphibians, 7 reptiles, 144 birds and 58 mammals. The Park is a paradise for birdwatchers, interesting species include the Ural owl, water pipit, white-backed woodpecker, black stork, corncrake, river warbler, lesser spotted eagle.
Among several thousand of invertebrate animals there are 21 species new to science first described in the Bieszczady Mountains, 48 species endemic to the Eastern Carpathians and 14 species endemic to the South-eastern Carpathians.
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