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The State Committee of Russian Federation for Environment Protection Project GEF conservation>> The First National Report of Russian Federation Biodiversity conservation in Russia Moscow 1997 National 2 The First National Report of Russian Federation conservation in Russia>> Measures undertaken by Russia to fulfill the obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity Chief editor A.M. Deputy chief editor Il’yashenko A.A. Tishkov Executive secretary V.A. Orlov Shchadilov Translation (English) I.N. Surikova Editor of English text Morozov Text and co-ordination V.V. Art’yukhov, S.N. Bobylev, K.L., Budantsev, O.S. Gabuzov, D.M. Geltman, A.G. Golikov, N.S. Golubkova, Gorbunov, Goncharov, V.V. Dezhkin, Zharkova, L.V. Kalakutsky, A.V. Kozharinov, V.G. Krivenko, I.K. Lomanov, L.N. Mazin, G.A. Mazman’yanz, A.S. Martynov, Maslaykov, V.O. Mokievsky, S.N. Nikonorov, V.A. Orlov, A.Yu.Puzachenko, V.B. Stepanitsky, N.G. Stepanova, V.N. Tikhomirov, A.A. Tishkov, V.E. Flint, M.I. Shatunovsky, E.A. Shvarts, N.N. Shylin, Yu.M.Shchadilov, K.L. Vinogradova, V.V.Vinogradov, V.T. Yarmishko Official rewiewer V.E. Sokolov D.A. Krivolutsky G.K. Kovalev Maps and graphics (computer A.A. Martynov, V.V. Art’yukhov programme The First National Report (1997) conservation in on measures undertaken by Russia to the obligations under the Convention on biological diversity are prepared and published by the State Committee of Russian Federation for Environment Protection with participation of experts different departments, using grant funds, allocated by the Global Environment Facility. State committee of the Russian Federation for Environment Protection GEF Project conservation)) 20 February 1998 National Report... 3 Contents Preface Part I. Measures undertaken by Russia to fulfill the obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity 1. Introduction. The role of the Convention in conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in Russia 2. References 2.1 status and problems of biodiversity conservation 2.2. The Global Environment Facility project “Conservation of Biodiversity” in Russia 3. National biodiversity conservation strategy in Russia and its elements 4. Strategy of safe transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms 5. Partners of the biodiversity conservation strategy in Russia 6. Terms of the preparation and implementation of the Russian biodiversity conservation strategy 7. Budget of biodiversity conservation 8. Monitoring and evaluation Part II. Status of biodiversity 1. Status of landscape and biological diversity 1.1. Landscape characteristics Physico-geographic features of Russia governing its biological diversity 1.1.2. Land ecosystems and wild vegetation 1.1.2.1. Biological and landscape diversity of principal land biomes 1.1.2.2. Changes in ground ecosystems and flora caused by human impact 1.1.3. Coastal and marine ecosystems 20 February 1998 National Reuort... 4 1.1.4. Wetlands 1.2. Characterization of the species and genetic diversities 1.2.1. Current status of flora and fauna 1.2.1.1. Flora 1.2.1.2. Fauna 1.2.1.3. Domestic animals and plants 1.2.2. Ex-situ conserved species 1.3. Protected areas 1.3.1. Current status of protected areas 1.3.2. The perspective network of protected areas 1.3.3. International conventions and programs on protected areas 1.4. Biological pollution 1.5. Monitoring on biodiversity 1.6. Biological safety in transfer, handling and use of genetically modified organisms 2. Present-day socio-economic factors influencing biodiversity 2.1. Population 2.2. Development of infrastructure 2.3. Land possession and property rights 2.4. Industry 2.5. Agriculture 2.6. Forestry 2.7. Fishery 2.8. Hunting 20 February 1998 National Report... 5 2.9. Customary nature use 2.10. Key elements of economic policy 2.11. Fulfillment of international biodiversity conservation obligations by Russia 3. Economic and financial mechanisms of biodiversity conservation 3.1. Economic evaluation of biological diversity 3.2. Current biodiversity conservation costs 4. Available potentialities for the implementation of the requirements under Convention on Biological Diversity 4.1. Organizational potential 4.2. Scientific and technological potential 4.3. National environmental legislation 4.4. Informational technology potential Annexes 5.1. Maps 5.2. References 6. Information sources 20 February National Report... 6 Foreword Russia ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1995 thus having taken responsibility for the conservation of living nature on the of the planet’s land. This happened at the turning point of the development of this country and its economy. Despite the critical political, economic and social situation, Russia does its best to fulfill the Convention obligations it develops a system of zapovedniks and national parks, prepares a new edition of the Red Data Book and implements national programs for the salvage of rare animals. On the federal level, to advance the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Gosudarstvennaya Duma of the Russian Federation Federalnoye Sobranie (Gosduma) only for the last two years has adopted a series of fundamental laws, such as On protected On fauna On ecological expertise On the continental shelf of the Russian Federation etc. The efforts have been initiated to generate an integral monitoring system that primarily focuses on the status of biological diversity. Russia has actively joined international activities in the of the living nature conservation. of about all international environmental organizations were open in this country. Some of them GEF, WWF, etc.) are involved in the realization of large projects in Russia. For instance, the Global Environment Facility has allocated over 20 million US dollars for the project Biodiversity Conservation that will facilitate the generation of the Russian National Strategy and Action Plan, render considerable assistance to Russian zapovedniks and the conservation of nature on the Yet, the main front of nature rescue efforts is gradually from the Center to regions where the activities of executive authorities are in many aspects crucial for the fate of Russian biodiversity. By their initiative there have been set up new zapovedniks and regional ecological funds to finance biodiversity conservation actions. Only 5 years have passed after the UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro though a lot has been achieved to put its documents into practice. Among the most important outputs of the Rio meeting are cooperative efforts of the countries under the Convention on Biological Diversity, including those in Europe, where it is being implemented on the basis of the Pan-European Landscape and Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy. Russia has rich experience in nature protection as well as high-class specialists scientists, practical ecologists, and managers. In spite of the country’s tremendous size, ecosystems, floras and faunas of its regions are well investigated. So, this country joining the international biodiversity conservation system will prove useful for all its Parties. It is evident that this report cannot be considered independently from other especially from the annual State Report On the status of the Russian Federation environment. Its targeted purpose however dictated a necessity to repeat statutes, even 20 February 1998 National Report... 7 obvious for Russian specialists, on the structure and functions of executive power bodies, baseline environmental legislation and other information. Of course, being a pioneering work in this done for a comparatively short period of time, the report is marked with certain shortcomings. That is why we anticipate that the constructive criticism of the proposed report would lead to its future improvement for it to become a full-value analytical base for the development of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the biological diversity conservation and sustainable use. 1997 National Report on the fulfillment of obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity by Russia reviews the current status and use of living nature as the most important strategic resource. It is the output of a joint effort of numerous specialists and organizations involved in the process of the Russian biodiversity conservation. I would like to express gratitude to everybody directly engaged in the preparation of the National Report and to all those who gave assistance to this work, primarily, the Global Environment Facility and project Biodiversity Conservation. I hope that the steps will pave the way to a new, more fruitful phase in the conservation of nature both in Russia and on the Earth. The Chairman of the Russian Federation State Committee for Environmental Protection V. I. Danilov-Danilyan 20 February 1998 National Report... 8 Preface Introduction. Russia is the largest state on the Earth with the ancient history, multinational culture and rich natural and intellectual resources. Irregular development of the territory conditioned by the relatively severe climate contributed to the conservation of flora, fauna and ecosystems in a close-to-the-wild state on the most part of Russia. This country has rich traditions in the biodiversity conservation. A system of protected areas has been functioning for about 100 years. Forestry, rational use of hunting and sea biological resources have been established through centuries. There are significant achievements in the ecological efficiency of agriculture. Russian basic and (forestry, agrarian, hunting, fishery) sciences have created