In the system of environmental protection measures, the most important area is the withdrawal of certain territories and water areas from economic use or the restriction of economic activity on them. These measures are designed to promote the conservation of ecosystems and species of biota in a state closest to natural, the conservation of the gene pool of plants and animals, as well as landscapes - as standards of nature, for scientific and educational purposes.
This direction of nature conservation is implemented on the basis of the existing, legally established, network of protected natural areas (PAs). It contains a number of categories of protected areas of varying environmental significance. The number of these categories is increasing as a result of the development of forms of combination of economic and environmental human activities, as well as due to the emergence of new negative consequences of irrational exploitation of natural resources and major man-made disasters (for example, the establishment of a special restoration regime in the Polesie Radiation-Ecological Reserve in Belarus and in the territory East Ural radioactive trace).
The most important feature of the difference between protected areas is the degree to which reserved areas are excluded from economic circulation. Categories of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) are identified that have the greatest spatiotemporal stability and therefore are of greatest importance for the conservation of individual areas.
In Russia, the main legislative act regulating relations in the field of organization, protection and use of specially protected natural areas is the Federal Law “On Specially Protected Natural Areas”, in force since March 1995.
In accordance with this Law, specially protected natural areas are areas of land, water surface and air space above them, where natural complexes and objects are located that have special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational, health value, which are withdrawn by decisions of state bodies authorities wholly or partially from economic use and for which a special protection regime has been established. Protected areas are classified as objects of national heritage.
In order to protect specially protected natural areas from adverse anthropogenic impacts, protective zones or districts with a regulated regime of economic activity may be created on adjacent areas of land and water. All protected areas are taken into account when developing territorial integrated nature protection schemes, land management and regional planning schemes, and projects for the economic development of territories.
The Russian system of main protected areas is quite close to the international classification of protected areas proposed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1992. Taking into account the peculiarities of the regime of specially protected natural areas and the status of environmental institutions located on them, the following categories of protected areas are distinguished:
- state natural reserves (including biosphere ones);
- National parks;
- natural parks;
- state nature reserves;
- natural monuments;
- dendrological parks and botanical gardens;
- medical and recreational areas and resorts.
According to the current legislation, the Government of the Russian Federation, the relevant executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local governments can establish other categories of specially protected natural areas (for example, green zones of settlements, urban forests, city parks, monuments of landscape art and others). Protected areas may have federal, regional or local significance.
The territories of state natural reserves and national parks are classified as specially protected natural areas of federal significance. Territories of state reserves, natural monuments, dendrological parks and botanical gardens, as well as health resorts and resorts can be of both federal and local significance.
In Russia, state nature reserves, national parks, state nature reserves, and natural monuments have priority for the conservation of natural heritage and biological diversity. These categories are most widespread and traditionally form the basis of the state network of specially protected natural areas.
Balancing protected areas with intensively exploited natural lands is possible only with an appropriate share of protected areas of different categories in the total area, sufficient to compensate for the loss of natural areas as a result of irrational use of natural resources. This share should be significantly larger than at present. The more significantly the natural landscapes of a country (region, locality) are transformed, the greater the proportion of protected areas should be. The share of protected ecosystems (extensively exploited areas and protected areas) should be greatest in polar deserts, tundras and semi-deserts, as well as in areas with high altitude zones. Foreign researchers recommend that 20-30% of the total area be allocated for protected areas, and 3-5% of the total area for protected areas. For Russia, the optimal value is 5-6%.
The uniqueness and high degree of preservation of the natural complexes of Russian protected areas make them an invaluable asset to all humanity. This is confirmed by the fact that a number of protected areas of various levels are included in the UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.
State nature reserves
Nature reserves (according to the international classification - strict natural reserves) are zonal representative areas of the biosphere that are forever removed from the sphere of economic use, possessing the properties of a natural standard and meeting the tasks of biosphere monitoring.
In the territories of state natural reserves, protected natural complexes and objects (land, water, subsoil, flora and fauna) of special environmental, scientific, environmental and educational significance are completely withdrawn from economic use.
In accordance with the Law, state natural reserves are environmental, research and environmental educational institutions aimed at preserving and studying the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique environmental systems
State nature reserves that are part of the international system of biosphere reserves for global environmental monitoring have the status of biosphere reserves.
The foundations of the modern network of state natural reserves were laid at the end of the 19th and 20th centuries by the ideas of outstanding natural scientists: V.V. Dokuchaev, I.P. Borodin, G.F. Morozov, G.A. Kozhevnikov, V.P. Semenov - Tien-Shansky and many others. The creation of nature reserves of national importance began in the then Russian Empire. In 1916, a regime of special protection of the Kedrovaya Pad tract was established and institutionalized in the current territory of the reserve of the same name. In the same year, the first national reserve was created - Barguzinsky, on the shore, which is still successfully functioning today.
The network of state nature reserves is constantly expanding. Since 1992, 20 new reserves have been created, the territories of 11 have been expanded, and the total area of reserves in Russia has increased by more than a third.
As of January 1, 2003, there were 100 state nature reserves in the Russian Federation with a total area of 33.231 million hectares, including land reserves (with inland water bodies) - 27.046 million hectares, which is 1.58% of the entire territory of Russia. The main part (95) of state natural reserves are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Natural Resources, 4 - in the system of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 - in the system of the Ministry of Education of Russia. Nature reserves are located in 66 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.
The system of Russian state nature reserves has wide international recognition. 21 reserves (highlighted on the map) have the international status of biosphere reserves (they have the appropriate UNESCO certificates), (Pechora-Ilychsky, Kronotsky, Baikalsky, Barguzinsky, Baikal-Lensky) are under the jurisdiction of the World Convention for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage, 8 fall under the jurisdiction of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, 2 (Oka and Teberdinsky) have diplomas from the Council of Europe.
In accordance with environmental legislation, state nature reserves are designed to solve the following tasks:
a) protection of natural areas in order to preserve biological diversity and maintain protected natural complexes and objects in their natural state;
b) organization and conduct of scientific research, including maintaining the Chronicle of Nature;
c) implementation of environmental monitoring within the framework of the national environmental monitoring system, etc.
In the territories of state natural reserves, any activity that contradicts the listed tasks and the regime of their special protection is prohibited, i.e. disrupting the natural development of natural processes and threatening the state of natural complexes and objects. It is also prohibited to lease out lands, waters and other natural resources in reserve areas.
At the same time, in the territories of nature reserves, it is allowed to carry out measures aimed at preserving natural complexes in their natural state, restoring and preventing changes in their components as a result of anthropogenic influences.
Territories of so-called biosphere testing grounds may be added to the territories of state natural biosphere reserves for conducting scientific research, environmental monitoring, as well as testing and implementing methods of rational environmental management that do not destroy the natural environment and do not deplete biological resources. The protection of natural complexes and objects in the territories of state natural reserves is carried out by a special state inspection.
National parks
National parks (NP), the next highest category of protected areas, are a special territorial form of nature conservation at the federal level. They are considered as environmental institutions, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of special environmental, historical and aesthetic value. Therefore, they are used, along with environmental protection, for recreational, scientific, educational and cultural purposes.
The entire global diversity of national parks corresponds to a single international standard, enshrined in the decision of the General Assembly of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1969: “A national park is a relatively large area: 1) where one or more ecosystems are not significantly changed as a result of exploitation and human use where animal and plant species, geomorphological areas and habitats are of scientific, educational and recreational interest or where landscapes of amazing beauty are located; 2) in which the highest and competent authorities of the country have taken steps to prevent or eliminate all exploitation and exploitation of its entire territory and to ensure effective compliance with the regulations regarding the ecological and aesthetic features that led to its formation; 3) where visitors are allowed to enter with special permission for inspiration or educational, cultural and recreational purposes.”
The oldest national park in the world is Yellowstone (USA), created in 1872, i.e. almost 130 years ago. Since that time, the number of NPs on Earth has grown to 3,300.
In Russia, the first NPs - Losiny Ostrov and Sochi - were formed only in 1983. In a relatively short time, the number of Russian NPs reached 35, which is almost one third of the number of reserves, the system of which was formed over 80 years.
National parks include areas of land, its subsoil and water space with all objects located within their boundaries, which are withdrawn from economic exploitation and transferred for use to a national park (the lands and water areas of other land users may be included here).
The definition of NP is enshrined in the above-mentioned Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On Specially Protected Natural Territories” (1995). National parks are environmental, environmental, educational and research institutions, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of special ecological, historical and aesthetic value, and which are intended for use for environmental, educational, scientific and cultural purposes and for regulated tourism.
National parks of Russia are subordinated to a single governing body - the Ministry of Natural Resources (with the exception of Losiny Island, which is subordinate to the authorities of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation).
All Russian NPs have a single list of main tasks: conservation of natural complexes, unique and standard natural sites and objects; restoration of damaged natural, historical and cultural complexes and objects, etc.
In addition to the main tasks common to all NPs, each park, due to the specifics of its location, natural conditions and the history of the territory’s development, also performs a number of additional functions. For example, NPs near large urban agglomerations and/or in popular tourist and recreational areas are designed to preserve a relatively weakly modified natural environment and historical and cultural objects from the influence of industry, forestry and/or agriculture, as well as to prevent the degradation of ecosystems under the influence of mass recreation and tourism. Such problems are solved by Losiny Ostrov, Nizhnyaya Kama, Russian North, and a number of other national parks.
The map “Specially Protected Natural Areas” shows that in a number of cases the territories of NPs and state reserves are adjacent. Such NPs, to a certain extent, distract some of the visitors who want to enter the reserve for purely recreational purposes. In national parks they can find the necessary recreational conditions and satisfy their cognitive needs.
In order for the national park to more successfully fulfill many tasks, which sometimes may contradict each other, a differentiated protection regime is established on its territory depending on natural, historical and other conditions. For this purpose, functional zoning of the entire territory of the national park is carried out. In accordance with the Federal Law, up to 7 functional zones can be allocated in a national park. Some of them are basic, characteristic of all NPs without exception. These areas include:
- a protected area, within which any economic activity and recreational use of the territory is prohibited;
- educational tourism, designed to organize environmental education and familiarization with the sights of the national park. Sometimes this zone is combined with a recreational zone intended for recreation;
- visitor services, designed to accommodate overnight accommodations, tent camps and other tourist service facilities, cultural, consumer and information services for visitors. Often it is combined with an economic zone, within which economic activities necessary to ensure the functioning of national parks are carried out.
Along with these main ones, many NPs have a specially protected zone, which differs from a protected area in that strictly regulated visits are allowed here. In some NPs, a zone for the protection of historical and cultural objects is especially allocated if they are located compactly.
Along with the fact that each functional zone has its own regime for the protection and use of natural resources, there are types of economic activities prohibited throughout the entire territory of the NP. This is exploration and development; construction of main roads, pipelines, high-voltage lines and other communications; construction of economic and residential facilities not related to the activities of the NP; allocation of gardening and summer cottage plots. In addition, final felling and through-cutting are prohibited. It is prohibited to remove items of historical and cultural value from the territory of parks.
If the NP is located in an area inhabited by an indigenous population, it is allowed to allocate special areas where traditional extensive natural resource management, handicrafts, etc. are permitted. Related types of use of natural resources are coordinated with the park administration.
As already noted, when organizing an NP, the entire territory or part of it is withdrawn from its previous economic use and given over to the park.
In each NP, scientific research is carried out in accordance with the tasks assigned to it. Their topics are very diverse: from inventory of flora and fauna and environmental monitoring to specific problems of bioenergy, population ecology, etc.
Thanks to the high degree of preservation of natural complexes and their special value, as well as serious scientific research, Russian NPs have received international recognition. Thus, the Yugyd Va NP is included by UNESCO in the List of World Natural and Cultural Heritage, Vodlozersky - in the List of Biosphere Reserves of the Planet.
A visit to the NP is carried out in the form of so-called ecotourism. It differs from the usual by a system of interrelated tasks that are solved during a visit to a protected area: environmental education, improving the culture of the relationship between man and nature, instilling a sense of personal responsibility in everyone for the fate of nature.
As the map shows, NPs are distributed extremely unevenly throughout Russia. More than half of the NPs are concentrated in the European part of the country. In the regions of the Far North and Far East, not a single NP has yet been created. In the vast territory of Siberia, the Far East and the Far North, the creation of new NPs is required, and work on their design is being carried out very actively.
State nature reserves and natural monuments
Wildlife sanctuaries were originally just a form of protection for their inhabitants. They were created for a certain period of time necessary to restore depleted hunting resources. To date, the range of their activities has been significantly expanded.
According to the Federal Law, state natural reserves are territories (water areas) that are of particular importance for the preservation or restoration of natural complexes or their components and maintaining the ecological balance.
Depending on the specific tasks of protecting the natural environment and natural resources, state nature reserves can be landscape (complex), biological (botanical or zoological), hydrological (swamp, lake, river, sea), paleontological and geological.
Complex (landscape) reserves are designed to preserve and restore natural complexes (natural landscapes) as a whole. Biological (botanical and zoological) are created to preserve and restore the numbers of rare and endangered species (subspecies, populations) of plants and animals, as well as economically, scientifically and culturally valuable ones. To preserve the sites of finds and accumulations of remains or fossilized specimens of fossil animals and plants that have special scientific significance, paleontological reserves are created. Hydrological (marsh, lake, river, sea) reserves are designed to preserve and restore valuable water bodies and ecological systems. To preserve valuable objects and complexes of inanimate nature (peat bogs, deposits of minerals and other minerals, remarkable landforms and associated landscape elements), geological reserves are created.
Territories (water areas) can be declared state natural reserves both with and without withdrawal from users, owners and possessors of these areas.
In the territories of state natural reserves and their individual sections, any activity that contradicts the goals of creating the reserves or causes harm to natural complexes and their components is permanently or temporarily prohibited or limited. In the territories of reserves where small ethnic communities live, the use of natural resources is allowed in forms that ensure the protection of the habitat and the preservation of their traditional way of life.
There are state natural reserves of federal and regional (local) significance. Wildlife sanctuaries of federal significance are distinguished by a stricter protection regime, complexity, and unlimited validity. They perform the functions of conservation, restoration and reproduction of natural resources, maintaining the overall ecological balance.
In the Russian Federation there are about 3,000 state nature reserves with a total area of over 60 million hectares. As of January 1, 2002, there were 68 federal reserves with a total area of 13.2 million hectares. These include the largest state nature reserve - Franz Josef Land (within the archipelago of the same name) with a total area of about 4.2 million hectares.
Although state nature reserves are a category of protected areas of a lower level than nature reserves and national parks, their role in nature conservation is very great, which is confirmed by giving them the status of international environmental organizations (19 state nature reserves at the federal and regional levels are under the jurisdiction of the Ramsar Convention).
Natural monuments- unique, irreplaceable, ecologically, scientifically, culturally and aesthetically valuable natural complexes, as well as objects of natural and artificial origin. Depending on the environmental, aesthetic and other value of protected natural complexes and objects, natural monuments may have federal or regional significance.
World Natural Heritage sites are highlighted on the map. As of January 1, 2002, the Russian Federation included 6 natural sites with a total area of 17 million hectares in the UNESCO List of Natural Heritage Sites: Virgin Komi Forests, Lake Baikal, Volcanoes, Golden Mountains of Altai, Western Caucasus, Central Sikhote-Alin.
Virgin forests of Komi, the object includes the territories of the Yugyd Va National Park, the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve and the buffer zone between them, and is the largest array of primary forests, with an area of 3.3 million hectares, remaining in Europe.
Lake Baikal, is a huge area with an area of 3.15 million hectares, which makes this site one of the largest on the entire UNESCO List. This area includes the unique lake itself with an island and smaller islands, as well as the entire natural immediate environment of Lake Baikal within the boundaries of the 1st catchment, which has the status of a “coastal protective strip”. About half of the entire area of this strip is occupied by protected areas of the Baikal region (Barguzinsky, Baikalsky and Baikal-Lensky nature reserves, Pribaikalsky, Transbaikalsky and partly Tunkinsky national parks, Frolikhinsky and Kabansky reserves).
Volcanoes of Kamchatka– a so-called cluster-type object, consisting of 5 separate territories with a total area of 3.9 million hectares. It includes the territories of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve; Bystrinsky, Nalychevsky and South Kamchatka natural parks; Southwestern tundra and South Kamchatka reserves. This is the only region in the world where such a number of active and extinct volcanoes, fumaroles (smoking fissures of volcanoes), geysers, thermal and mineral springs, mud volcanoes and cauldrons, hot lakes and lava flows are concentrated in a relatively small area.
Included in the region Golden Mountains of Altai included the Altai Nature Reserve; a three-kilometer security zone around; Katunsky Reserve; Belukha natural park, Ukok peace zone with a faunal reserve regime. The total area of the facility is more than 1.6 million hectares. It is located at the junction of two large physical-geographical regions: Central Asia and Siberia and is characterized by uniquely high biodiversity and contrasting landscapes from the steppes to the nival-glacial belt. The region is of key importance in the conservation of many endemic and endangered wildlife, most notably the snow leopard.
Western Caucasus is a territory (total area of about 300 thousand hectares), unique both in its richness of natural objects and biodiversity, and in its beauty. Among geographers, biologists and ecologists around the world, it is famous primarily for its mountain forests with a large participation of relict and endemic flora, as well as the richness and diversity of fauna.
Central Sikhote-Alin– it includes the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve and the Goralia Reserve. A number of neighboring territories of other protected areas may in the future also be included in this object.
Included in the World Heritage List Curonian Spit National Park. This is a narrow sandy strip separating the Curonian Lagoon from its open waters. Despite the high landscape value of this object from scientific, environmental and aesthetic points of view, in 2000 it was accepted into the List as an object of cultural heritage rather than natural.
Article 2. Categories of specially protected natural areas, features of their creation and development
1. When making decisions on the creation of specially protected natural areas, the following are taken into account:
a) the importance of the relevant territory for the conservation of biological diversity, including rare, endangered and economically and scientifically valuable objects of flora and fauna and their habitats;
b) the presence within the boundaries of the relevant territory of areas of natural landscapes and cultural landscapes that are of special aesthetic, scientific and cultural value;
c) the presence within the boundaries of the relevant territory of geological, mineralogical and paleontological objects of special scientific, cultural and aesthetic value;
d) the presence within the boundaries of the relevant territory of unique natural complexes and objects, including single natural objects that are of special scientific, cultural and aesthetic value.
3. The laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation may establish other categories of specially protected natural areas of regional and local significance.
4. Specially protected natural areas may have federal, regional or local significance and be under the jurisdiction of federal executive authorities, executive authorities of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and local self-government bodies, respectively, and in the cases provided for in Article 28 of this Federal Law, also under the authority of state scientific organizations and state educational organizations of higher education.
5. State nature reserves and national parks are classified as specially protected natural areas of federal significance. State nature reserves, natural monuments, dendrological parks and botanical gardens can be classified as specially protected natural areas of federal significance or specially protected natural areas of regional significance. Natural parks are classified as specially protected natural areas of regional significance.
6. State authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation coordinate decisions on the creation of specially protected natural areas of regional significance, on changing the regime of their special protection from:
a) the authorized federal executive body in the field of environmental protection;
b) federal executive authorities in the field of national defense and state security, if it is assumed that within the boundaries of specially protected natural areas there will be lands and other natural resources provided for the needs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other troops, military formations and bodies.
7. Subjects of the Russian Federation have the right to co-finance the fulfillment of expenditure obligations of the Russian Federation arising in the exercise of powers related to the creation and development of specially protected natural areas of federal significance from the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in accordance with the budget legislation of the Russian Federation.
8. Local government bodies create specially protected natural areas of local importance on land plots owned by the relevant municipality. If the created specially protected natural area will occupy more than five percent of the total area of land plots owned by the municipality, the decision on the creation of a specially protected natural area is coordinated by the local government body with the state authority of the relevant constituent entity of the Russian Federation.
9. Local government bodies decide the issues of use, protection, protection, reproduction of forests of specially protected natural areas, provided for by the Federal Law “On the General Principles of Organization of Local Self-Government in the Russian Federation”, in accordance with the provisions on the relevant specially protected natural areas.
10. To prevent adverse anthropogenic impacts on state nature reserves, national parks, natural parks and natural monuments, protection zones are established on adjacent land plots and water bodies. The regulations on the protective zones of these specially protected natural areas are approved by the Government of the Russian Federation. Restrictions on the use of land plots and water bodies within the boundaries of the protective zone are established by the decision to establish a protective zone of a specially protected natural area.
11. Decisions to establish, change, or terminate the existence of protective zones of specially protected natural areas specified in paragraph 10 of this article are made in relation to:
a) protective zones of state natural reserves, national parks and natural monuments of federal significance by the federal executive body in charge of these specially protected natural areas;
b) protective zones of natural parks and natural monuments of regional significance by the highest official of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation (the head of the highest executive body of state power of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation).
Information about changes:
Article 2 was supplemented by paragraph 12 from August 4, 2018 - Federal Law
12. A mandatory appendix to the decision to create a specially protected natural area is information about the boundaries of such a territory, which must contain a graphic description of the location of the boundaries of such a territory, a list of coordinates of characteristic points of these boundaries in the coordinate system used to maintain the Unified State Register of Real Estate.
Information about changes:
Article 2 was supplemented by paragraph 13 from August 4, 2018 - Federal Law of August 3, 2018 N 342-FZ
13. The form of a graphic description of the location of the boundaries of a specially protected natural area, requirements for the accuracy of determining the coordinates of characteristic points of the boundaries of a specially protected natural area, the format of an electronic document containing the specified information, are established by the federal executive body exercising the functions of developing state policy and legal regulation in the field of maintaining the Unified State Register of Real Estate, carrying out state cadastral registration of real estate, state registration of rights to real estate and transactions with it, providing information contained in the Unified State Register of Real Estate.
Information about changes:
Article 2 was supplemented by paragraph 14 from September 1, 2018 - Federal Law of August 3, 2018 N 342-FZ
14. The main types of permitted use of land plots located within the boundaries of specially protected natural areas are determined by the regulations on the specially protected natural area. The regulations on a specially protected natural area may also provide for auxiliary types of permitted use of land plots. In the case of zoning of a specially protected natural territory, the main and auxiliary types of permitted use of land plots are provided for by the regulations on the specially protected natural territory in relation to each functional zone of the specially protected natural territory.
In cases where the permitted use of land plots within the boundaries of a specially protected natural area allows construction on them, the regulations on the specially protected natural area establish the maximum (maximum and (or) minimum) parameters of the permitted construction and reconstruction of capital construction projects.
The specified types of permitted use of land plots and the maximum parameters of permitted construction and reconstruction of capital construction projects do not apply to cases of placement of linear objects. At the same time, it is not allowed to place linear objects within the boundaries of specially protected natural territories in cases established by this Federal Law, and in the case of zoning of a specially protected natural territory - within the boundaries of its functional zones, the regime of which, established in accordance with this Federal Law, prohibits the placement of such linear objects.
TASS DOSSIER. On September 29 - October 1, 2017, the All-Russian Forum on Specially Protected Areas will be held in Sochi (Krasnodar Territory).
It is held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation and is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the system of Russian nature reserves. It will become one of the most important events of the Year of Ecology in Russia.
History of Russian nature conservation
The first state reserve in Russia was created in 1917 on the northeastern shore of Lake Baikal. Expeditions led by Georgy Doppelmair in 1913-1915 revealed that fur hunters had almost completely exterminated the sable population in these areas.
By the decision of the Irkutsk Governor-General Alexander Piltz in May 1916, it was decided to ban any hunting in parts of the Barguzin district. By decree of the tsarist government of January 11, 1917 (December 29, 1916, old style), the Barguzinsky Sable Reserve was created. Its first director was Konstantin Zabelin. Currently, the reserve is part of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Reserved Podlemorye" together with the Transbaikal National Park.
On September 16, 1921, the decree “On the protection of natural monuments, gardens and parks” was signed, which entrusted the People’s Commissariat of Education with the task of creating nature reserves and national parks. They prohibited hunting, fishing and other use of natural resources. In the 1920-1930s, about a hundred reserves were created on the territory of the RSFSR; their tasks were no longer limited to restoring the population of game animals - the reserves became full-fledged scientific institutions for the study and conservation of nature.
Many of the reserves were destroyed or deprived of protection during the Great Patriotic War, as well as during the post-war restoration of industry - until 1953. Since the mid-1950s, more than 70 nature reserves have been recreated or organized for the first time in the RSFSR, and 28 in modern Russia since 1992.
Specially protected natural areas
By the 1970s, protected areas appeared in the USSR with different statuses: nature reserves, micro-reserves, reserves (hunting, botanical, etc.), national and natural parks, biological stations, natural landscapes, resort areas, etc.
In the late 1970s, biologists Nikolai Reimers and Felix Shtilmark proposed the creation of a unified legislative regime - specially protected natural areas (SPNA). On November 27, 1989, the Supreme Council of the USSR adopted a resolution “On urgent measures for the ecological recovery of the country,” in which the Union government was instructed to create a system of protected areas. Due to the collapse of the USSR, these plans were not realized.
Russian law on protected areas
The Russian law on protected areas was signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin on March 14, 1995. According to the document, protected areas are objects of national heritage. These can be areas of land, water surface and air space above them, where natural complexes and objects of special environmental, scientific, cultural, recreational and health significance are located. Economic activity is partially or completely prohibited on them, and changing the intended purpose of land is prohibited or made more difficult.
The law provides for six categories of protected areas of federal significance:
- state natural reserves (including biosphere reserves) - economic activity is completely prohibited in them (except for some specified cases);
- national parks - they may have areas where, for example, recreational activities are permitted;
- natural parks - they distinguish separate zones of ecological, cultural or recreational significance, and the remaining natural resources are only limited in civil circulation;
- state nature reserves - can have a different profile, for example, for the conservation of natural landscapes or the restoration of certain species of plants and animals;
- natural monuments - local complexes where any activity that could lead to a violation of their integrity is prohibited;
- dendrological parks and botanical gardens.
The document stipulates that protected natural areas of regional and local significance, including other types (for example, medical resorts, historical monuments), can also be created. The law introduces criminal liability for violating the regime of protected areas, etc.
PAs in Russia, statistics
In total, according to the information and analytical system "Specially Protected Natural Territories of Russia", there are 13 thousand 32 protected areas in the Russian Federation, of which 304 are federal, 12 thousand 728 are regional and local. In addition, 3 thousand 138 protected areas (mainly natural monuments of regional and local significance) are considered lost or reorganized.
The total area of Russian protected areas is 1 million 950 thousand square meters. km or about 11% of the entire territory of the Russian Federation. The largest of the 107 Russian federal reserves is the Great Arctic State Nature Reserve (organized in 1993) - its area is 42 thousand square meters. km.
A number of protected areas are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Putoransky, Pechora-Ilychevsky, Sikhote-Alinsky reserves, Yugyd Va National Park (Komi Republic), Lena Pillars Natural Park (Yakutia), Wrangel Island, etc.
In the 2017 budget of the Russian Federation, 130.3 billion rubles were allocated for the needs of protected areas and wildlife conservation.
On the territory of the Russian Federation, all natural lands are subject to protection, regardless of their purpose. But there are territories that are protected especially carefully.
These include:
- Land plots on which the cultural, natural or historical heritage of specially protected areas (SPAs) is located.
- Lands and fauna of specially protected natural areas (SPNA).
What is the difference?
PAs are lands that have some value, be it historical, cultural or natural.
Lands of specially protected natural areas (SPNA) are, in fact, a type of protected area. These are mineral deposits that contain rich natural value.
Why allocate a ZOO
Due to the fact that there are natural areas where many rare plants grow or unique animals are found, it was decided to take them under special control.
Due to the threat of mass destruction of vegetation or animals in such places, hunting, agricultural activities, and even more so deforestation and the construction of residential buildings are prohibited. The concept of specially protected natural areas includes not only land, but also water bodies and airspace.
Reserved natural land: description
A specially protected natural area is not only land, but also bodies of water, and even the air space above them, where there are unique natural objects that need protection.
Such areas are a national property and cannot be sold to a private person or leased.
All activities on these lands, with the exception of the study, preservation and enhancement of specimens located there, are prohibited. For the normal functioning of life, a specially protected natural area presupposes the absence, even within reach, of harmful emissions, and a ban on the construction of industrial plants. All activities that negatively affect the natural objects of protected areas are prohibited.
The boundaries of protected lands are necessarily marked with special signs.
Types of specially protected natural areas
With various features of natural objects, their status and the presence of erected buildings on the territory, protected areas are divided into certain types and categories.
- Natural State Parks.
- Natural untouched reserves.
- Monuments of living nature.
- National parks.
- Arboretums and botanical gardens.
- Medical and health resorts.
In a certain area, local government decrees may establish other categories of specially protected natural areas - this is a kind of subtype of the basis of the territory, distinguished by certain characteristics.
Regardless of the status of the land (all-Russian or local), the rules for its use do not differ.
Specially protected natural areas of Russia are subject to preservation and enhancement. All activities carried out on these lands are permitted only subject to this requirement.
Pristine reserve
The reserve is a specially protected natural area, which is distinguished by its pristine nature. Everything here has not been touched by human hands and is in the same condition as Mother Nature created.
For land to become a nature reserve, it must meet a number of requirements:
- To be as little affected by civilization as possible.
- Have unique plants and rare species of animals on your territory.
- Earths are self-regulating and not subject to self-destruction.
- They have a rare landscape.
It is the reserves that are a traditional species and are designated as specially protected natural areas of Russia as an example of pristineness and originality.
As of 2000, 99 protected areas were designated in the Russian Federation. Scientific research, educational and environmental work are carried out on their territory.
Natural monuments
These are unique natural objects that cannot be recreated through human efforts.
Such natural objects may be under federal or regional jurisdiction. It all depends on the value of the natural monument.
As a rule, such objects are classified as regional assets. They are essentially the pride of the region where they are located.
Today, there are 28 such unique corners of nature of federal significance; they occupy an area of more than 19 thousand hectares.
There are much more regional unique natural areas, and they are divided into types:
- Biological, including interesting plants and animals.
- Hydrological are peculiar reservoirs and rare aquatic plants and animals.
- Geological - includes unique lands.
- Complex - corners of nature that combine two or more types of rare natural objects.
Nature reserves
Natural reserves are specially protected natural areas where endangered plants and animals are subject to preservation and restoration.
It happens that land is declared a natural reserve, but it is leased to a private person. In this case, the issue of withdrawal or abandonment of the lease is decided, taking into account what activities are carried out by the owner in the given territory.
Wildlife sanctuaries as specially protected natural areas have different meanings:
- Landscape - created for restoration
- Biological - in their territories, biologists are trying to preserve and increase endangered animals and plants.
- Paleontological - fossil objects are especially protected here.
- Hydrological - based on the conservation of reservoirs, lakes and water bodies.
National parks
This meaning includes the concept of lands with special natural, aesthetic or cultural value. used for scientific observations, and also organize cultural recreation for people.
The entire world community has recognized the enormous benefits of creating such protected lands.
There are three national parks in the Russian Federation included in the World Cultural Heritage. Two of them - Transbaikalsky and Pribaikalsky - are also included in the special protected zone of Lake Baikal.
Arboretums and botanical gardens
Recently, arboretums have been actively increasing and expanding. This is due to the development of resort areas and the emergence of an increasing number of health institutions operating in environmentally friendly conditions.
Botanical gardens are dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered plant species. In addition, various experiments are carried out there aimed at protecting endangered species.
Arboretums are used for educational purposes. On their territory they conduct educational excursions, telling and showing people all kinds of strange trees, shrubs and herbs.
In addition to educational tasks, arboretums have as their goal the cultivation and preservation of all the beauty of Russian nature that can only be captured in a given area.
As you can see, there are many protected lands, they all have different names, but the goals of specially protected natural areas are almost the same - preservation and enhancement of natural objects, observation of the natural course of events, scientific and educational activities.
3.Specially protected natural areas (specially protected areas)
Protected areas and tourism. State nature reserves. National and natural parks. State nature reserves. Natural monuments. Dendrological parks and botanical gardens. Medical and recreational areas and resorts. Ecological tourism.
Specially protected natural areas (SPNA) are objects of national heritage and are areas of land, water surface and air space above them where natural complexes and objects are located that have special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and health value, which withdrawn by decisions of state authorities in whole or in part from economic use and for which a special protection regime has been established.
To specially protected natural areas (SPNA) include: nature reserves, natural monuments, protected forest areas, national parks, nature reserves. The main purpose of these territories is the protection of valuable natural objects: botanical, zoological, hydrological, geological, complex, landscape.
According to estimates from leading international organizations, at the end of the 90s there were about 10 thousand large protected natural areas of all types in the world. The total number of national parks was close to 2000, and biosphere reserves - to 350.
Specially protected natural areas are important in the natural recreational potential of Russia. Taking into account the peculiarities of the regime and status of the environmental institutions located on them, the following categories of these territories are usually distinguished:
§ state natural reserves, including biosphere reserves;
§ National parks;
§ natural parks;
§ state nature reserves;
§ natural monuments;
§ dendrological parks and botanical gardens;
§ medical and recreational areas and resorts.
Protected areas may have federal, regional or local significance . Protected areas of federal significance are federal property and are under the jurisdiction of federal government bodies. SPNAs of regional significance are the property of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and are under the jurisdiction of state authorities of the constituent entities of the Federation. PAs of local importance are the property of municipalities and are under the jurisdiction of local governments.
State nature reserves are environmental, research and environmental educational institutions aimed at preserving and studying the natural course of natural processes and phenomena, the genetic fund of flora and fauna, individual species and communities of plants and animals, typical and unique ecological systems.
These reserves are the most traditional and strict form of territorial nature protection in Russia, which has priority importance for the conservation of biological diversity.
On the territory of the reserves, specially protected natural complexes and objects (land, water, subsoil, flora and fauna) of environmental, scientific, environmental and educational significance as examples of the natural environment, typical or rare landscapes, places of conservation of genetic fund of flora and fauna.
Reserves– environmental institutions, the territory or water area of which includes natural complexes and objects of unique environmental value, intended for use for environmental, scientific and educational purposes.
Unlike national parks, nature reserves have very limited recreational use, mostly educational only. This is reflected in the functional zoning of the reserves. In particular, there are 4 main zones:
· a protected area in which flora and fauna develop without human intervention;
· scientific monitoring zone, in which the reserve's scientists monitor the condition and development of protected natural objects;
· an environmental education zone, where the nature museum of the reserve is usually located and strictly regulated paths are laid along which groups of tourists are led to become familiar with the natural features of the complex;
· economic and administrative zone.
National parks are environmental, environmental, educational and research institutions, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of special ecological, historical and aesthetic value, and which are intended for use for environmental, educational, scientific and cultural purposes and regulated tourism.
Abroad, national parks are the most popular type of protected areas. In particular, in the USA, the history of the creation of some parks goes back more than a hundred years.
The task of national parks, along with their environmental function, is to create conditions for regulated tourism and recreation in natural conditions.
Consequently, in the most conventional version, 4 functional zones are distinguished on the territory of any national park:
· a protected zone, within which all recreational and economic activities are prohibited;
· zone of reserved regime – preservation of natural objects with strictly regulated recreational use;
· educational tourism zone – organization of environmental education and familiarization with the sights of the park;
· zone of recreational use, including areas for recreation, sports and amateur hunting and fishing.
Natural parks of regional significance – a relatively new category of protected areas in Russia. They are environmental recreational institutions under the jurisdiction of the subjects of the Federation, the territories (water areas) of which include natural complexes and objects of significant environmental and aesthetic value, and intended for use for environmental, educational and recreational purposes. Parks are located on lands granted to them for indefinite (permanent) use, in some cases - on lands of other users, as well as owners.
One of the most “massive” categories of specially protected natural areas are state natural reserves, which exist in almost all regions of the Russian Federation. Declaring a territory as a state nature reserve is permitted both with and without withdrawal from users, owners and possessors of land plots.
State nature reserves are territories (water areas) that are of particular importance for the preservation or restoration of natural complexes or their components and maintaining the ecological balance.
State nature reserves can be of federal or regional significance and have a different profile. Landscape reserves are designed to preserve and restore natural complexes (natural landscapes); biological (botanical and zoological) – conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of plants and animals (including economically, scientifically and culturally valuable species); paleontological – preservation of fossil objects; hydrological (marsh, lake, river, sea) – conservation and restoration of valuable water bodies and ecological systems; geological – preservation of valuable objects and complexes of inanimate nature.
Natural monuments – unique, irreplaceable, ecologically, scientifically, culturally and aesthetically valuable natural complexes, as well as objects of natural and artificial origin.
Areas of land and water, as well as single natural objects, can be declared natural monuments.
Natural monuments may have federal, regional or local significance, depending on the environmental, aesthetic and other value of the protected natural complexes and objects.
Russian legislation identifies another category of protected natural areas – dendrological parks and botanical gardens. These are predominantly urban and suburban facilities created for educational, scientific and only partially recreational purposes.
Botanical gardens and dendrological parks carry out the introduction of plants of natural flora, study their ecology and biology under stationary conditions, develop the scientific foundations of ornamental gardening, landscape architecture, landscaping, introduce wild plants into cultivation, protect introduced plants from pests and diseases, and also develop methods and techniques for selection and agricultural technology for the creation of sustainable decorative displays, the principles of organizing artificial phytocenoses and the use of introduced plants to optimize the technogenic environment.
Dendrological parks and botanical gardens can be of federal or regional significance and are formed accordingly by decisions of the executive bodies of state power of the Russian Federation or representative and executive bodies of state power of the relevant subjects of the Federation.
You can become familiar with the types and forms of recreational use of specially protected natural areas in detail by studying the textbook excerpts from articles covering this issue presented below.
HEALTH AND HEALTH AREAS- specially protected natural sites, which, in accordance with the Federal Law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories” dated March 14, 1995, may include territories (water areas) suitable for organizing the treatment and prevention of diseases, as well as recreation for the population and possessing natural healing resources (mineral waters, healing mud, brine of estuaries and lakes, healing climate, beaches, parts of water areas and inland seas, other natural objects and conditions). RESORT - a specially protected natural area developed and used for therapeutic and preventive purposes, which has natural healing resources and the buildings and structures necessary for their operation, including infrastructure facilities (Federal Law “On natural healing resources, medical and recreational areas and resorts” dated February 23, 1995 .).
There are distinctions between municipalities of local significance (under the jurisdiction of local government bodies), municipalities of regional significance (under the jurisdiction of the state authority of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation), and municipalities of federal significance (under the jurisdiction of federal government bodies).
Types of institutions: sanatoriums, holiday homes, boarding houses, resort clinics, resort. hotels, treatment hotels.
Main types of resorts:
Balneotherapeutic (min. water)
Mud (therapeutic mud)
Climatic (forest, seaside, mountain, climate-kumyso - medicinal)
!!!See the table with resorts in your tour notebook. resources in seminars!!!
Ecological tourism(especially in the form of biosphere ecotourism) is the most environmentally friendly type of environmental management. Within its framework, knowledge can follow either the educational process or simply familiarization. The difference between the first type of knowledge and the second is that the educational process is associated with the targeted and thematic acquisition of information about the elements of the ecosystem, and the educational process is associated with non-professional observation of nature. Familiarization can take place in passive (stationary presence in the natural environment), active (associated with the tourist’s transitions from one natural object of interest to another) and sports (overcoming natural obstacles while walking routes) forms.
Therefore, it is necessary to define ecotourism as an activity based on the following principles:
Ø Journey into nature, and the main content of such trips is acquaintance with living nature, as well as with local customs and culture.
Ø Minimizing negative consequences of an environmental and socio-cultural nature, maintaining environmental sustainability of the environment.
Ø Promoting the protection of nature and the local socio-cultural environment.
Ø Environmental education and awareness.
Ø Participation of local residents and their receipt of income from tourism activities, which creates economic incentives for them to protect nature.
Ø Economic efficiency and contribution to the sustainable development of the regions visited.
These signs are indicated as fundamental for ecotourism by recognized authorities in this field - N.V. Moraleva and E.Yu. Ledovskikh, participants of the Dersu Uzala Ecotourism Development Fund.
4.Cultural and historical tourist resources.
Concept, essence. Material and spiritual cultural and historical objects.
material- all means of production and material assets of society (historical and cultural monuments, enterprises of all sectors of the national economy) that can satisfy the cognitive needs of people;
spiritual- achievements of society in state and public life, science, culture, art.
In the complex of recreational resources, a special place is occupied by cultural and historical resources, which represent the legacy of past eras of social development. They serve as a prerequisite for organizing cultural and educational types of recreational activities; on this basis, they optimize recreational activities as a whole, performing quite serious educational functions. The spaces formed by cultural and historical objects to a certain extent determine the localization of recreational flows and the directions of excursion routes.
Among the cultural and historical sites the leading role belongs to historical and cultural monuments, which are the most attractive and, on this basis, serve as the main means of satisfying the needs of educational and cultural recreation. Depending on their main features, historical and cultural monuments are divided into 5 main types: history, archaeology, urban planning and architecture, art, and documentary monuments.
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS. These may include buildings, structures, memorable places and objects associated with the most important historical events in the life of the people, as well as with the development of science and technology, culture and life of peoples, with the life of outstanding people of the state.
ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS. These are fortifications, mounds, remains of ancient settlements, fortifications, industries, canals, roads, ancient burial places, stone sculptures, rock carvings, ancient objects, areas of the historical cultural layer of ancient settlements.
MONUMENTS OF URBAN PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE. The following objects are most characteristic of them: architectural ensembles and complexes, historical centers, neighborhoods, squares, streets, remains of ancient planning and development of cities and other settlements, buildings of civil, industrial, military, religious architecture, folk architecture, as well as related ones works of monumental, fine, decorative and applied art, landscape art, suburban landscapes.
ART MONUMENTS. These include works of monumental, fine, decorative and applied art and other types of art.
DOCUMENTARY MONUMENTS. These are acts of government and administrative bodies, other written and graphic documents, film, photo and sound recordings, as well as ancient and other manuscripts and archives, recordings of folklore and music, and rare printed publications.
To cultural and historical The prerequisites of the recreational industry include other objects related to history, culture and modern human activities: original enterprises of industry, agriculture, transport, theaters, scientific and educational institutions, sports facilities, botanical gardens, zoos, ethnographic and folklore attractions, handicrafts , folk customs, holiday rituals, etc.
All objects used in educational and cultural recreation are divided into 2 groups - movable and immovable.
The first group consists of monuments of art, archaeological finds, mineralogical, botanical and zoological collections, documentary monuments and other things, objects and documents that can be easily moved. The consumption of recreational resources by this group is associated with visits to museums, libraries and archives, where they are usually concentrated.
The second group includes monuments of history, urban planning and architecture, archeology and monumental art and other structures, including those monuments of art that form an integral part of architecture. From the standpoint of cognitive and cultural recreation, it is important that the objects of this group are independent single or group formations.
The next, more important stage in the assessment of cultural and historical objects is their typology according to recreational significance.
The basis of the typology is the informational essence of cultural and historical objects: uniqueness, typicality among objects of a given type, cognitive and educational significance, attractiveness (external attractiveness).
Information content cultural and historical sites for recreational purposes can be measured by the amount of necessary and sufficient time for their inspection. To determine the time of inspection of an object, it is necessary to classify the object on a basis that would reflect the duration of the inspection.
You can choose 2 classification criteria:
degree of organization of the object for display
the location of the tourists in relation to the object of inspection.
According to the degree of organization, objects are divided into specially organized and unorganized for display.
Organized objects require more inspection time, since they are the purpose of the inspection and form the basis of the excursion. Unorganized objects serve as a general plan accompanying the excursion, a background that is covered at one glance without a detailed examination.
According to the location of the tourists, the objects are divided into
interior (internal inspection of the facility)
Exterior (external inspection of the facility). The total time for inspecting exterior objects is always longer than the time for inspecting interior objects (perhaps with the exception of museums and some other repositories of historical values).
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS AND THEIR VARIETIES
Monuments of religious architecture. Monuments of religious architecture are the most ancient that have survived to our time. These are churches and monasteries of various denominations (religions): Orthodox churches, Catholic cathedrals, Lutheran churches, Jewish synagogues, Buddhist pagodas, Muslim mosques.
Now, during the revival of religiosity, pilgrimages are becoming very relevant. Travel to religious complexes can be carried out by different groups for different purposes. There are several forms of such travel.
Monuments of secular architecture. Monuments of secular architecture include urban development - civil and industrial, as well as country palace and park ensembles. Of the most ancient buildings, the kremlins and boyars' chambers have survived to this day. Urban architecture is usually represented by palace buildings, administrative buildings (public places, shopping arcades, noble and merchant meetings, houses of governors), buildings of theaters, libraries, universities and hospitals, which were often built with funds from patrons of the arts according to the designs of famous architects. Since the formation of the Yamsk road race for royalty, postal stations and travel palaces have been revived, which are now part of the cities or stand along old roads. Industrial architecture includes factory buildings, mines, quarries and other structures. Country architecture is represented by estates and palace and park ensembles, such as, for example, Petrodvorets and Pavlovsk in the vicinity of St. Petersburg, Arkhangelskoye and others in the Moscow region.
Archaeological sites. Archaeological sites include villages, burial mounds, rock paintings, earthworks, ancient quarries, mines, as well as the remains of ancient civilizations and excavations from the earliest periods. Archaeological sites are of interest to specialists - historians and archaeologists. Tourists are mainly attracted by rock paintings, inspection of exposed archaeological layers, as well as archaeological exhibitions.
Ethnographic monuments. The ethnographic heritage involved in tourist routes is represented by two types. These are either museum exhibitions in local history museums, museums of folk life and wooden architecture, or existing settlements that have preserved the features of traditional forms of management, cultural life and rituals inherent in the area.
Ethnographic monuments classified as cultural heritage according to the following criteria: uniqueness and originality of ethnocultural and sociocultural conditions; compact residence of small peoples and old-timers, where traditional ways of life, customs and forms of environmental management are most fully preserved.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL POTENTIAL AND METHODOLOGY FOR ITS ASSESSMENT
Historical and cultural potential is the basis of educational tourism. It is represented by various types of historical monuments, memorial sites, folk crafts, museums, that is, combinations of objects of material and spiritual culture.
Cultural heritage is the legacy of the historical development of civilization that has accumulated in a given territory.
Each era leaves its mark, which is discovered in cultural layers during archaeological excavations. Almost every area can be of interest for educational tourism. But places where people lived for a long time keep more traces of material culture.
In historical and cultural potential includes the entire sociocultural environment with traditions and customs, features of everyday and economic activities. Tourists, visiting a particular country, perceive cultural complexes as a whole.
The assessment of cultural complexes for recreational purposes is carried out using two main methods:
1) ranking cultural complexes according to their place in world and domestic culture. It is carried out by expert means: objects of global, federal, regional and local significance are established;
2) necessary and sufficient time for inspection. This method allows you to compare different territories according to the prospects of their historical and cultural potential for tourism.
For cultural complexes, as well as for natural ones, important characteristics are reliability and capacity.
The reliability of cultural complexes is determined by two factors: resistance to recreational loads and the stability of its compliance with the value criteria formed among the population.
The first factor determines how much tourist flow a given cultural complex can withstand. This is especially important for museums, where it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature and humidity regime to preserve exhibits. An urgent issue is the use of modern technical means to increase the resistance of cultural complexes to recreational loads and the regulation of the flow of tourists.
The second factor is related to the long-term interest of tourists in a given cultural site. Their interest in world heritage sites remains stable (Egyptian pyramids, ancient architecture of Athens, architectural and historical-cultural monuments of Paris, St. Petersburg, etc.).
The capacity of a cultural complex is determined by the duration of the period during which tourists can perceive the information contained in it, and depends on two factors: the attractiveness of the object of inspection and the psychophysiological capabilities of a person, which are distinguished by significant individuality and have a certain limit.