The Strategy analyses the current state of all three specially protected natural areas (SPNA)* managed by FSBI “Zapovednoe Podlemorye”, strengths and weaknesses, challenges and threats to the management system. What elements does this system consist of?
- Protection of natural and cultural heritage. All three protected areas are of international importance as they are located in the Central Zone of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site “Lake Baikal” and were included in the Barguzin Biosphere Reserve (zapovednik) in 1986.
- Tourism and recreation. FSBI faces a difficult task of organising sustainable tourism: on the one hand, the tourist season on Baikal is very short, landscapes are difficult to access and difficult for mass tourism, and ecosystems are extremely vulnerable. On the other hand, every year the number of visitors to the territories increases, and some areas are subjected to varying degrees of anthropogenic impact.
- Organisation and conduct of scientific research and monitoring, training of professional staff. The study of flora and fauna; ecological monitoring; preservation of long-term continuous observations, through which we learn about long-term changes in the Baikal ecosystem; applied research related to the problems of biodiversity conservation – all this is entrusted to the FSBI staff and requires highly qualified specialists.
- Efforts to conserve ecosystems are necessarily supported by a separate direction – environmental education, as well as work to integrate the inhabitants of settlements located in the territories of the “Zapovednik Podlemorye” into the socio-economic system of the Republic of Buryatia.
The main part of the Strategy describes the development vectors and targets for the next two decades.
The full version of the Strategy will be approved by the decision of the Scientific and Technical Council of the FSBI “Zapovednoe Podlemorye” and published in 2025.
The Foundation is overseeing the project to create a Strategy for the Development of the Podlemorye Nature Reserve from 2022 with the support of the World Around You Foundation of Siberian Wellness.
*FSBI “Zapovednoe Podlemorye” was established in May 2012 as a result of the reorganisation of the institutions of the Zabaikalsky National Park and the Barguzinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve. The institution carries out state management of three specially protected natural areas of federal significance: the K.A. Zabelin Barguzinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve, the Zabaikalsky National Park and the Frolikhinsky State Nature Reserve of federal significance.