Created to protect representative forests and wetlands of the Polesia region, the area experienced contamination from the Chernobyl disaster.

The reserve is in the administrative district of Narodychi in Zhytomyr Oblast[2] The Polesie is a marshy region along the Prypiat River on the border between Ukraine and Belarus.

The middle of the Uzh River runs along the northern border of the Drevlyans Reserve, as it flows northeast to meet the Prypiat.

[5] Over half of the reserve is forested, with pine, oak, alder, birch, ash, aspen, and hornbeam dominating.

Reserve staff conduct ecological excursions and educational sessions for local school children, and the scientific department hosts visiting researchers.