The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (CBR), with a total area of 58,035.8 ha, represents nearly the whole landscape and biogeographical diversity of the Ukrainian part of the East Carpathians. The reserve consists of eight isolated massifs. The protected massifs are located at an altitude of 180 – 2,061 m a.s.l. in the central and eastern parts of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Practically undisturbed by human activity, foothill oak-groves, mountain beech, mixed and spruce forests, subalpine and alpine meadows with mountain pine-green alder mossy crooked woodlands and rocky-lichen landscapes are represented here. More than 1,300 species of vascular plants, 314 species of vertebrate animals, and nearly 3,200 species of invertebrates are protected by the reserve. 201 plant and fungi species, 108 animal species, which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (2009) are also found here. Also, a significant part of the flora and fauna species are covered by the international nature conservation conventions that are in force in Ukraine: Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats – 284, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS, Bonn) – 86, and the Washington Convention (CITES) – 67.

Almost 21,000 hectares of primeval beech forests are protected in the territory of CBR as part of the pan-European UNESCO World Heritage Property "Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe" (since 2007), including the Uholka-Shyrokyi Luh massif of CBR, which is the largest primeval beech forest site in Europe.  

Three wetlands from the territory of the reserve are candidates for the status of Ramsar sites. The Carpathian Biosphere Reserve since 2016 is a part of the Emerald Network of Europe.