The Dnipro Basin is of fundamental importance for biodiversity conservation including conservation of populations, species and cenoses. Occupying 4 zones from the Euro-Siberian pine forest zone and up to and including the pre- Mediterranean zone, it plays a great role in sustaining species complexes of different genesis ranging from the boreal taiga to xenophyte steppes to xenothermic pre-Mediterranean forests. The Upper River collects its flow from the great European watershed. This factor coupled with the fact that the Dnipro Basin spans different zones and provinces has given rise to a vast number of populations, species, cenoses and geosystems. Similarly, the Dnipro Basin is of no little significance for fish, namely, for the Dnipro sturgeon population (primarily, Acipenser ruthenus), carp-resembling species, namely, Barbus barbus borysthenicus, and lampreys, namely, Eudontomyzon mariae. The natural biotopes of the Dnipro river valley and slopes of bedrock terraces that have survived to this day – among them local nature reserves and sanctuaries – are considered as a core component of a prospective Dnipro ecological corridor which will be of pan-European significance as a constituent of the continental eco-corridor network which is now being created. Equal pan-European importance is attached to the eco-corridor lying along the Pripiat and Desna river valleys. The distribution of protected species across the Dnipro Basin shows great variability. The richest biodiversity and most landscapes with natural vegetation cover are encountered in the northern regions, notably, the right-bank Polesiye region. The left-bank Polesiye (the Desna Basin) has undergone more anthropogenically-induced changes and has fewer natural biotopes as compared to the right-bank and therefore, has fewer protected animal and plant species. Further south the anthropogenically-induced transformation of landscapes and damming of the Dnipro River have caused radical changes in the Dnipro Basin ecosystems thereby reducing habitats of rare and vanishing species. Fig. 3.1 Distribution of animal species listed in the Red Book across the Ukrainian Dnipro Basin Fig. 3.2 Distribution of plant species listed in the Red Book across the Ukrainian Dnipro Basin The Red Book of Belarus lists 10 plants, 5 insects, 4 fish, 1 amphibian and 1 reptile dwelling in the ponds and watercourses of the Dnipro and Pripiat river basins on the Belarus territory. Unlike other riparian countries, in addition to the national Red Book the Russian Federation has been keeping regional (oblast) lists of protected and rare species found in its administrative regions, each species being entered separately. The Red Book of the Kursk region contains 8 aquatic plant species inhabiting ponds and watercourses of the Seim and Psiol river basins as well as 3 fish, 3 amphibia, 1 reptile, 12 birds and 1 mammal which are part of the fauna of the Dnipro Basin ponds and watercourses. The Red Book of the Smolensk region lists 7 fish, 1 amphibian, 1 reptile, 1 annelid, 2 crustacea, 12 insects, 32 birds, and 3 mammals. The Dnipro Basin is home for more than half of the endangered animal and plant species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Dnipro Basin accommodates 76 rare and vanishing plant species and 66 animal species which are to a varying degree connected with water ecosystems. We cannot argue that life and preservation of numbers of most of these species depend solely on fisheries practices. Still, there is no denying that water quality changes, economic activities carried out in the river floodplains, extraction of fish and feed invertebrates, creation of the artificial favorable environment conducive to the reproduction of species that “suit” fish industry’s needs, and changes in the ratio of the number and area of biotopes to a varying extent pose a threat to rare and vanishing plant and animal species. It is worth noting that as part of our biodiversity research under this Project we have produced the first-ever inventory of fish species inhabiting the Dnipro Basin. The inventory, which includes 90 species, lists 9 introduced species, 9 interventionist species, which have been actively and substantially expanding their areal, and 5 invasive specie, which were accidentally introduced into natural ponds in the course of fish-farming activities or as a result of illegal introduction and do not belong to fish-breeding objects.