No. 30 Summer 2002

In this issue: • Russia’s Path to Sustainable Development • Returning Bison to the Wild • On the Track of the Anatolian Leopard • Protecting Central Asian Forests • Tajikistan’s High Mountain Valleys

PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN RUSSIA AND THROUGHOUT NORTHERN EURASIA CONTENTS CONTENTS

Voice from the Wild (Letter from the Editor)...... 1 ENDANGERED SPECIES

Reintroducing Free-Ranging Bison PROTECTED AREAS in Central European Russia...... 25 Norsky Zapovednik: Restoring European Bison Populations in Russia: A Portrait of One of Russia’s Newest Nature Reserves ...... 2 Challenges Facing Russia’s Breeding Facilities...... 28

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Tracking the Anatolian Leopard

Russia’s Place in Johannesburg...... 5 in the Western Caucasus...... 30

Russia on the Ecological Map of the World...... 10 NGO ACTIVITIES

Timber Business is Friendlier to the Forests Wetland Training, Research, and Education: than the Ministry of Natural Resources...... 16 NGO Activities in Armenia ...... 32

Keeping Track of Russia’s Virgin Forests...... 17 NEWS OF THE DAY

LEGISLATION Gifts to the Earth ...... 34

Protecting Kazakhstan’s Forests...... 18 President Putin Visits Far East Zapovednik...... 35

ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS BULLETIN BOARD...... 36

Preserving Ethnic Diversity in Tajikistan’s High Mountain ABSTRACTS IN RUSSIAN ...... 37 Valleys ...... 20

New Hope for the Pamir Birch—and the Pamir People...... 23 CONSERVATION CONTACTS...... Back cover

The mission of the Center for Russian Nature Russian Conservation News was produced with support of many Conservation (CRNC) is to promote the conservation of individuals and foundations including the Weeden Foundation, the nature in Russia and throughout the former Soviet World Wildlife Fund, Joan Hoblitzell, Juliana T. Williams. We wish to Union, and to assist conservation groups in that region recognize Harriet Crosby, Andrea Williams, and Charles Dewey for through information exchange, coordination of profes- their extraordinary generosity, support, and enthusiasm for Russian sional and education exchanges, and provision of tech- nature conservation. Finally, a heartfelt thanks to Jack Padalino for nical assis- his long-time devotion to Russia’s parks and nature reserves, and his tance to pro- unwavering support for RCN from its inception. tected areas. CRNC is a Other special friends and supporters include: Tom Babcock, Ernest project of the Bauer, W. Horton Beebe-Center, Galia & Derk Bodde, Barbara Tides Center. Born, Joan Bridgwood, Evelyn Cochran, Wallace Cole, Mary Cooper, Lucy Craft, Tom De Meulenaer, Andrew Durkin, Brock Evans, Carol Foss, Michael Freed, Louis Friedman, Gertrud Freitag, Robert Hoffmann, Nancy Hopps, George Johnson, Freeborn Copyright 2002 CRNC/Tides Center. Jewett, Nadezhda Kavrus-Hoffmann, Jr., Graeme Kelleher, Eliza Klose, Rayda Krell, Rick McGuire, Bernie McHugh, Mary Anne Mekosh, Philip Micklin, Laurel Mittenthal, Lois Morrison, Douglas Murray, Philip Pryde, Nicholas Robinson, Jonathan Sachs, Fred RCN has many partners and friends in Russia, including Strebeigh, Gregory & Judy Streveler, Townsend Swayze, Dana the Partnership for Zapovedniks, whose mission is to offer Visalli, Richard Warren, Bill Volkert, William Wasch, Jr., Gary organizational, technical, Waxmonsky, Don Weeden, Margaret Zokowski, and the Joint and financial help to Secretariat Inuvik Canada. zapovedniks and nation- al parks in Russia. ISSN 1026-6380 Voice from the Wild (A letter from the Editor)

s a dreary autumn begins its descent upon Moscow, it is hard to believe A that the heat and smoke of this summer’s forest fires are only a few weeks past – and with them, by far the year’s largest environmental con- ference, the World Summit on Sustainable Development. In the wake of EDITORIAL BOARD criticism over the outcome of the summit, hope for multilateral solutions

Executive Editor: Margaret Williams to the world’s environmental problems seems also to be entering a bleak period. As Russian delegates returned from Johannesburg this September, Assistant Editor: Laura Trice we sought to gather their opinions on what went wrong – or right – with the World Summit and what kind of role Russia played there. The result is Managing Editor: Nikolai Maleshin a wide and variegated array of opinions, which we invite you to sample in Graphics Artists: Maksim Dubinin, this issue of the Russian Conservation News. Elena Baldina As we take stock of the global summit, we also ask you to consider how Design and Layout: Design-Studio A4 Russia fits into the global environmental picture. The country made head- Environmental Education Advisor: lines in Johannesburg when it waffled over ratification of the Kyoto Natalia Danilina Protocol, and the outcry over Russia’s hesitation underscores the extent of its influence on the world environment. Though this influence is often Translators: Laura Trice, Andrew Reese assumed to be primarily negative, in this issue of RCN, we invite you to Subscriptions Manager: Sarah Buckbee reconsider your assumptions as we explore some of the ways in which Russia positively influences the global environment, as well as some of the Contributing Authors: I. Antashkevich, threats the nation faces from without and within. A. Gunya, K. Jenderedjian, V. Kazmin, N. Kluev, V. Kolesnikova, N. Kolobaev, U. Semenov, J. Starkweather, E. Tzibizova, Russia’s vacillations over the Kyoto Protocol also point to the nation’s V. Zakharov, K. Zgurovsky lack of resolve with regard to environmental priorities. Unsteady in its commitment to prevent climate change, Russia also falters in its stance Contributing Artists and on forest management. Discussion of forest policies of the Russian Photographers: S. Blagoveshchenskaya, I. Filus, A. Gunya, K. Jenderedjian, Ministry of Natural Resources continues in this issue of RCN, alongside N. Maleshin, V. Shirinya consideration of the Forest Code in Kazakhstan, where questionable leg- islation threatens that country’s precious forests. We also take a look at a new publication that aims to map Russia’s remaining intact forest – and grimly reports that previous estimates of the nation’s untouched wood- lands were overly optimistic.

If the World Summit failed to provide concrete measures and targets to help strengthen governments’ environmental commitment, it did, like the Rio Conference ten years earlier, bring to public attention a new perspec- tive on environmental issues. The summit’s focus on poverty alleviation ON THE COVER seems to point to a broadening recognition of the ties between poverty and environmental degradation, a link that also surfaces in this issue of RCN. Two articles on Tajikistan, in particular, focus on impoverished moun- tain communities and the ways in which their traditional economies are inextricably linked to the health of the environment.

Whatever the results of global summits and conferences, much of the real work of nature conservation will always be accomplished at a local level. As a final note, therefore, we invite you to take a look at some of the remarkable work being carried out locally in northern Eurasia. Start your journey with a visit to Far Eastern Russia, where each year thousands of roe deer migrate through the protected wilds of Norsky Zapovednik. Then travel clear to the other side of the country, to central European Russia, where, thanks to the efforts of Russia’s breeding facilities, bison once again roam wild. From there, join us as we journey farther south, to Armenia, where the Professional and Entrepreneurial Orientation Union is teaching sustainable management of the country’s endangered wetlands. The edito- rial board of RCN wishes you inspiring travels!

Snow leopard (Uncia uncia). Cover drawing by Irina Filus, Altaisky Zapovednik

Summer 2002, No. 30 1 Protected Areas Protected Areas

Norsky Zapovednik: A Portrait of One of Russia’s Newest Nature Reserves

By Nikolai Kolobaev

n the Far Eastern reaches of the I Russian taiga, or boreal forest, stretches one of the country’s newest additions to the zapovednik system, Norsky Zapovednik. Founded in 1998, the zapovednik protects 211,200 hectares of unique wetland and forest ecosystems and represents an important conservation opportu- nity. Located at the confluence of the Nora and Selemdzha Rivers, the town where the zapovednik’s head- quarters are located is called Fevralsk, meaning February, one of winter’s coldest months here. Indeed, the area around the reserve is severe, and few researchers can bring themselves to set out for this trying place. However, it is the zapovednik's very remoteness, and the absence of civilization for hun- dreds of kilometers, that make it a unique place for biodiversity conser- vation between the Nora and Norsky Zapovednik protects the migration route of roe deer through Far Eastern Russia. Selemdzha Rivers. Map by M. Dubinin. Source: Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest Landscapes

Norsky Zapovednik is Russia's first The overall appearance of the Plant life in the zapovednik is and only nature reserve protecting a zapovednik is formed by hilly ridges unique in its wide representation of type of wetlands known in the with separate peaks reaching up to species from many biogeographic indigenous Evenk language as “mar.” 370 meters above sea level, rocky areas of Russia. Here the larch forests Characterized by grassy hummocks waterside precipices, and vast plains of the middle taiga join the or sphagnum moss, and populated with innumerable lakes. The largest broadleaf forests of the southern by dwarf birch and a sparse larch rivers in the zapovednik – the taiga, forming a region that contains cover, this type of wetland forms in Selemdzha, Nora, and Burunda – are Siberian, Okhotsk, and Manchurian areas with significant permafrost – related to a type of mountain-taiga plant species. The larch-sphagnum sometimes the soil remains frozen to rivers in which calm stretches alter- marsh and the difficult-to-traverse depths of up to two or three meters. nate with swift shoals. The plains hummocks are the most widespread The permafrost layer holds moisture rivers Chervinka and Burundushka of the reserve’s varied landscapes, in the upper layers of the soil, con- are characterized by slow, peaceful occupying a large expanse on the tributing to the region’s high mois- currents. Reservoirs of thermokarstic zapovednik's southern plain. ture, while the wetlands accumulate (frost-thaw) origin can be found water, give birth to springs, and sus- among the numerous lakes and old Forest growth covers more than 50 tain rivers. riverbeds that dot their valleys. percent of the zapovednik. Forests of

2 Russian Conservation News Protected Areas

Logo of Norsky Zapovednik. The Nora river valley is an impor- The zapovednik also boasts a high Drawing courtesy of Norsky Zapovednik tant ecological channel for the dis- diversity of terrestrial fauna. The core semination to the north of of the reserve’s fauna is made up of Dahurian larch (Larix southern species such Siberian animals – the Siberian gmelinii) and white as the Japanese tree wood frog (Rana amurensis), birch (Betula frog (Hyla japoni- Laxmann's shrew (Sorex caecutiens), platyphylla) pre- ca), Siberian pit northern red-backed vole dominate, while viper (Clethrionomys rutilus), Siberian park-like, (Agkistrodon chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus), arctic Manchurian halys), hare (Lepus timidus), sable (Martes forests of black Eurasian badg- zibellina), and moose (Alces alces). In birch (Betula er (Meles the summer, grizzly bears (Ursus arc- daurica) can be meles), raccoon tos) are frequently found throughout found in the dog (Nyctereutes the territory, but come winter they southern parts of procyonoides), withdraw from the plains to their the zapovednik. The and Eurasian wild dens on higher ground. The recent reserve also contains boar (Sus scrofa). Some spotting of such species as the Far distinctive rock vegetation, of these species were first Eastern toad (Bufo gargarizans) and including a unique, endemic sax- discovered after the zapovednik's the Sakhalin viper (Vipera sachali- ifrage (Chrysosplenium slemdzhensis) creation, and some were discovered nensis) marked an exciting discovery found only at the mouth of the Nora to the north or east of what were for the zapovednik. River. previously considered the bound- aries of their natural habitat. Norsky Zapovednik also serves as While the extensive open space of “maternity ward” for ten thousand the watersheds is occupied by bleak The fish population includes 31 birds of different groups, including marshes and impoverished flora, the species from different fauna regions waterfowl, chickens, and sandpipers. floodplains of the rivers possess a of the Amur basin. The lower and The mosaic of biotas in the reserve striking richness and diversity. It is middle reaches of the notable that the majority of species Nora contain such of southern flora – Chinese magno- exotic species of fish as lia vine (Schisandra chinensis), Amur the Korean bullhead linden (Tilia amurensis), Amur (Pseudobagrus fulvidra- maples (Acer ginnala), and also go) and the Amur skin- Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus carp (Hemibarbus senticosus) – are relatives of the cel- labeo), more charateris- ebrated ginseng plant. The zapoved- tic of Indian and nik also houses plants noted in the Chinese regions than of Red Data Book: water chestnut the Russian Far East. (Trapa natans), lady's slipper Ancient fish groups (Cypripedium macranthon), Asian represented include the mountain fringe (Adlumia asiatica), kaluga sturgeon (Huso Japanese orchid (Pogonia japonica), dauricus). One of the woodland peony (Paeonia obovata), largest freshwater fish, and Japanese iris (Iris laevigata). this sturgeon reaches sexual maturity at an The animal population of the age of 16–17 years – at reserve is characterized by a mixture a length of more than of four types of fauna – Siberian, two meters! Okhotsk, Dahurian, and Manchurian. Many of the species The Nora River forms the found here are living at the borders western boundary of of their natural habitats, and the Norsky Zapovednik. mixture of fauna from different Photo courtesy of Norsky regions creates a unique community. Zapovednik

Summer 2002, No. 30 3 Protected Areas allows birds of different fauna regions migration. Norsky Zapovednik is one animals across the Nora River. Each to live together. Typical taiga species of the few known nesting grounds in fall and spring, a considerable part of – hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia), the Amur Oblast of the hooded crane the population crosses the river black-billed capercaillie (Tetrao (Grus monacha), and each year along a two kilometer stretch at the parvirestris), Siberian jay (Perisoreus about 20 pairs of this species nest natural boundary of the mal'tsev infaustus) – are found along with within the reserve’s boundaries. The meadow – up to 300 deer cross here typical southern species – Mandarin Japanese crane (G. japonensis) has each day! duck (Aix galericulata), Indian cuckou repeatedly been observed in the (Cuculus micropterus), grey nightjar lower Chervinka River, which Behind the migrating deer follow (Caprimulgus indicus), and azure- appears to be the most northern wolves and lynx. The abundance of winged magpies (Cyanopica cyanus). point to which this species's habitat hoofed animals and the near The largest populations are found in stretches. The most northern nesting absence of human disturbance allow the water marsh sites. The Nora and grounds of the Oriental Stork groups of large predators to inhabit Chervinka Rivers, together with their (Ciconia boyciana) are also found the preserve and maintain predator- complex system of floodplain lakes, here. The wealth of fish in the rivers prey relationships regulated only by contain the highest concentration of and lakes attracts rare birds of prey natural factors. In the winter, in the nesting grounds for the whooper such as the white-tailed eagle place of roe deer, elk arrive in the swan (Cygnus сygnus) in the Amur (Haliaetus albicilia), the osprey surrounding mountain ranges, in area. In late autumn, just before (Pandion haliaetus), the golden eagle numbers of up to 250–300 heads. departing for the south, enormous (Aquila chrysaetus), and Blakiston's flocks of snow-white birds rise into fish owl (Ketupa blakistoni). In 2001, with the financial support of the air and, mingling with the falling USAID, Norsky Zapovednik staff snow, dissolve and disappear into the Perhaps the most remarkable sight in began detailed investigation of the mist until spring. the zapovednik is the annual migra- nesting grounds of rare species of tion of the largest Selemdzha River birds. In the same year the reserve The animal world of the zapovednik population of Siberian roe deer issued its first volume of Chronicles of possesses yet another remarkable (Capreolus capreolus) in the world – Nature. Given that the zapovednik characteristic – a large number of up to 7,000 heads. In the summer the was founded only in 1998, there is bird species protected by many inter- deer live in huge concentrations – still much work to be done in study- national conventions and noted in 40–50 heads per 1,000 hectares – ing the ecology of the Amur-Zeya the Red Data Book of both the and during mid- to late-September plain. Future projects will include the World Conservation Union (IUCN) most of them leave the territory to preservation of part of the natural and Russia. Of the 16 protected winter in the southwest. During this habitat of water birds and birds of species, 6 reliably nest within the time one can observe a unique phe- prey noted in the Red Data Book; reserve, and the rest are found during nomenon – the massive crossing of preservation and study of the migrat- ing population of Siberian roe deer; monitoring of the population of plants and animals at the borders of their natural habitats; and preparing documents for the zapovednik's inclu- sion in the territories protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

At this time, Norsky Zapovednik's activities are made possible by the financial support of the World Wild Fund for Nature, under the auspices of the Far East Ecoregion program, and the Global Environmental Facility.

Nikolai Kolobaev is Deputy Director of scientific research at Migrating roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Photo courtesy of Norsky Zapovednik Norsky Zapovednik.

4 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development Sustainable Development

Russia’s Place in Johannesburg: RCN: What has Russia done, in the ten years since the passage Taking Stock of the World Summit of the Rio Declaration and on Sustainable Development Agenda 21 at the United Nations Conference on Environment A note from the editors: In August, country's progress toward sustainabil- and Development (UNCED), to some twenty thousand delegates ity. These views vary widely, sometimes meet these resolutions? descended upon Johannesburg, South contradicting each other. Thus we Africa, to attend the World Summit on invite you to craft, from an assem- VG: Striving to fulfill the UN recom- Sustainable Development. Delegates blage of facts and opinions shared by mendations from the Rio Summit to from the NGO world came determined Russian experts, your own perspective come up with a national develop- to fight for clear and enforceable on Russia's place in the global envi- ment strategy, Russia prepared and agreements to regulate development, ronment. adopted a series of fundamental protect the environment, and combat documents. These included: poverty. In retrospect, the summit's The Pre-Summit Perspective Fundamental Tenets of the resulting Plan of Implementation and Government Strategy of the Russian Political Declaration only restate and efore the World Summit, RCN edi- Federation on Environmental in some cases weaken the measures B tors spoke with Vsevolod Protection and Sustainable called for at Rio ten years ago. In this Gavrilov, Deputy Director of the Development (a presidential act of 4 issue of RCN, we attempt to evaluate Environmental Protection Department February 1994); Plan of Action of the significance of the World Summit, of the Russian Ministry of Economic the Government of the Russian as well as the vague goal of "sustain- Development and Trade, about Russia’s Federation on Environmental ability" for Russia. The following pages preparations for the summit and the Protection and Natural Resource Use offer an array of perspectives on environmental situation facing the (1995–1996 and 1996–1997), which Russia's role at the summit and the country today. resulted in more than 150 significant

Russian delegates returning from Johannesburg convened at a press conference at the Press Development Institute in Moscow. Photo by N. Maleshin

Summer 2002, No. 30 5 Sustainable Development measures, including 36 bills, 80 spe- UNCED remain just as relevant in occurred against the background of cial purpose federal programs, and 2002 as they were in 1992. the economic crisis and a decline in approximately 30 statutory acts; and Nonetheless, global conditions have economic activity. This speaks to the the National Plan of Action for changed. Several characteristics of fact that we are still far from sustain- Environmental Protection in the the modern world, which must be able development. Russian Federation (1999–2001). considered in order to strengthen The presidential act “Conceptions of mechanisms for practical action, RCN: What mechanisms were the Russian Federation’s Transition include globalization, the informa- put in place in order to realize to Sustainable Development” was tion technology revolution, social the Rio Declaration and Agenda approved in April of 1996. In unrest in many regions of the world, 21 in Russia? December 1997, the government of and the spread of serious infectious the Russian Federation approved a diseases, particularly AIDS. VG: On the governmental level, two strategy for sustainable development presidential acts were adopted that constructed to provide stabile socio- Now, for the World Summit on defined a course of action for transi- economic development which Sustainable Development, we are tioning to sustainable development.

Has the World Summit pointed us toward a pristine future... Photo by N. Maleshin would ensure continued progress for preparing a summary document that Unfortunately, the majority of the society while not harming the envi- evaluates Russia’s progress over the related proposals exist only on ronment. The Fundamental Directive past ten years. The National paper. They have continued to exist for Long-Term Socio-Economic Preparations Committee of Russia, only on paper for one very simple Development of the Russian headed by Herman Gref, Minister of reason: no mechanisms were put in Federation was also adopted, and Economic Development and Trade place to execute the good intentions the Program for Mid-Range of the Russian Federation, has of these proposals. While this speaks Perspectives on Socio-Economic claimed that, speaking objectively poorly of our past history, it is also Development was developed. about the greening of economic and true that there have been positive social spheres, Russia exhibits obvi- changes. In very recent years, in spite Ten years later one must admit that ous progress. of the fact that Russia’s gross domes- progress toward the stated goals has tic product (GDP) has increased, air been made more slowly than The sheer size of the area covered by and water pollution of all types has expected. Many indicators show that specially protected territories has either stabilized or evidenced only a the situation now is even worse than grown significantly, and pollution of minimal trend toward growth. We it was ten years ago. In spite of these all kinds has decreased by approxi- must enact an ambitious plan to setbacks on the road to global sus- mately 50 to 60 percent. However, both increase Russia’s GDP and to tainable development, Agenda 21 this decrease is seen in comparison compensate for the increased pres- and the principles declared by with pre-perestroika statistics and sure this growth will inevitably place

6 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development on the environment. The same can ence and in subsequent interviews only a minority of developed nations be said of the social sphere. with RCN editors. actually take on the responsibility of realizing them. The Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 *** officially outlined new measures Participants at the conference in aimed at strengthening socio-eco- Vladimir Grachev, Chairman of the South Africa could be divided into nomic and environmental policy. In Committee on the Environment of the three camps according to their val- Russia alone, more than 60 million National Duma of the Russian ues and priorities: the USA, the people live in ecologically damaged Federation and a corresponding European Union, and a group of 77 areas. Citizens have a constitutional member of the Russian Academy of developing countries. Depending on right to a healthy environment, but Science the situation and their national this right still has not been realized to interests, Japan and Russia (whose its fullest extent. We will be able to Q: The leaders of 100 countries delegation was headed by Prime speak of sustainable development from all over the world and Minister Mikhail Kasyanov) gravitat- only when we provide real mecha- more than 20,000 delegates trav- ed sometimes to the first camp, nisms for the realization, at the very eled to Johannesburg. This wide sometimes to the second – but least, of the constitutional rights of representation can be account- never to the third. The leaders of our citizens. Now, unfortunately, we ed for by the scope of global developing nations, especially those are only on the road to solving these problems on the agenda, which of Africa, who appeared to be fired problems. Using a series of practical could be called “Environmental up by their “home court advantage,” recommendations suggested in Protection and a Plan for Aid raised the question of economic aid Agenda 21, special purpose federal from Wealthy Nations to Poor.” as their first priority, claiming that programs were created by the Did world leaders and delegates hunger and poverty make concern Ministry of Economic Development succeed this time in finding a over new technologies and the envi- and Trade in order to further socio- scenario that will ensure sus- ronment senseless. On the opposite economic development in southern tainable development of the pole, the US openly opposed the Russia, Kaliningrad Oblast, and the planet in the future? whole world on nearly every funda- Kuril Islands. Each of these programs mental point of the summit. The has an essential ecological compo- Grachev: Although the UN confer- American delegation explicitly said, nent. Russia has also achieved much ence was convened to discuss “First straighten out your corruption in the sphere of ecological education. humanitarian and environmental and crime, and then we’ll think In 2001 a group of researchers from problems at a high level, in the end about aid. But for now we’ll think Moscow State University, headed by everything, as usual, came down to about how to develop our own professor Dmitri Kavtaradze, was money. Meetings on global problems economy, and especially major busi- awarded a government prize for its continually face an irresolvable con- ness, because without its financial globally recognized work in ecologi- flict in that noble and overly idealis- backing any conversation about the cal education. Government standards tic declarations are adopted by the environment and the planet’s are also being developed for ecologi- majority of developing nations, but resources is idle, groundless fantasy.” cal education in high schools because the demand for ecologists is colossal.

The Post-Summit Perspective

Immediately following the conclusion of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Russian delegates returning from Johannesburg con- vened at a press conference at the Press Development Institute in Moscow—some of them meeting for the first time back in Russia, despite their week’s collaboration in Johannesburg. The following questions were answered at the press confer- ... or has the summit pared the way toward further degradation? Photo by N. Maleshin

Summer 2002, No. 30 7 Sustainable Development

Q: Can you comment on the dif- nations should have equal say in the Q: What priority was given to ferent stances the US and Russia implementation of the Kyoto energy development at the have taken toward the Kyoto Protocol, when they don’t pay a cent summit? Protocol? for its expensive requirements. Popova: In the world today, more Grachev: At this time, the US has *** than 2 billion people live without some basis for dictating its own terms electricity, and countries are willing to because the level of its scientific Renat Perelet, Head Science do practically anything to solve their knowledge puts it in a better position, Researcher at the Institute of Systems energy problems, without worrying in comparison with other countries, Analysis of the Russian Academy about how it is done and what to calculate the global consequences of Science sources of energy are used. At Rio, the of various processes, both for its own subject of energy was not even con- country and for the whole planet. Q: Having barely set foot on sidered, while in the first week at And these calculations often funda- African soil, Prime Minister Johannesburg it was one of the top mentally disagree with those of other Mikhail Kasyanov declared that priorities. Later, however, when the countries. Lately, more and more spe- Russia was prepared to ratify “greens” called for concrete goals, cialists, including Russians, have the Kyoto Protocol as early as programs, and target dates for achiev- begun to admit that the US decision this fall. But in his report, ing results in renewable energy, the to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol Mikhail Kasyanov reminded US delegation began to speak out is based on sufficiently well-founded world leaders that Russia is an very actively against this. Ultimately, doubts and that the threat of global important environmental donor the US, supported by some of the climate change posed by current lev- to the planet: 20 percent of the world’s poorest nations, got its way, els of pollution has been, to put it world’s reserves of fresh water, and in the text of the final docu- lightly, exaggerated and does not 25 percent of its forests, and 25 ments, the question of energy was account for a large number of climat- percent of its mineral reserves stated vaguely and without a clearly ic factors. In any case, the US are found in our country. Russia, defined framework for action. accounts for 36 percent of the whose economy accounts for world’s greenhouse emissions, and only 2 percent of the world’s Q: The US and Russia took up after it withdrew from the Kyoto total GDP, is responsible for pre- concurring positions on such Protocol, the question of whether the serving 10 percent of the world’s important questions as the most important environmental docu- ecosystems. In ten years, Russia future of atomic energy. What ment of our time – which had provided 60 percent of the total do you think about this? already been ratified by the European decrease in emissions on the Union and Japan – would be put into planet. Does the world commu- Popova: Both countries stress devel- effect depended entirely upon nity take this into account? opment of this type of energy in par- whether Russia, with 17 percent of ticular as a means of providing for the world’s emissions, would ratify. Perelet: In the negotiations that took future demands. Moreover, both place in Johannesburg, the Russian countries support considering the To the chagrin of leaders of develop- delegation unequivocally declared its construction of atomic power sta- ing countries and activists of NGOs, position. Russia is prepared to ratify tions as a means of fighting atmos- the president of the US, one of the the sacred document if world leaders pheric pollution, since in terms of major economic powers of the eliminate injustice and account for greenhouse gases atomic energy is world and a significant producer of Russia’s environmental role by writing much cleaner than coal or oil. Some atmospheric pollutants (the US con- off its debts to the Big Seven. We’re experts believe that the construction sumes 44 percent of the world’s talking maybe 20 percent of the debt of atomic units can justifiably be electric power and produces a third – and this would not be forgiveness, equated with replanting forests. of its industrial emissions), did not but rather an “in kind” credit that However, this position is so objec- attend the conference in South Russia should have received long ago. tionable that there is no need even Africa. Some journalists and politi- to analyze its arguments. The cians named the US, along with its *** “greens” would sooner go red than cohorts Australia and Canada, the debate such statements. world’s “Environmental Axis of Evil.” Lidiya Popova, Director of the However, the US, and now Russia, Center for Nuclear Ecology and Q: How actively did governmen- are bewildered as to why developing Energy Policy tal and nongovernmental

8 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development organizations interact during without this no sustainable develop- Greenpeace said that everything the summit? ment can be achieved at all; or simply turned out worse than they expect- to solve the problem of economic ed. Not a single document was Popova: As I’d already had the growth without regard for anything signed in Johannesburg that outlines chance to observe at different inter- else. Against this background, a covert clear measures, provides concrete national conferences on the climate, discussion developed to address the technologies to get us out of the the positions of governmental and question of where money to realize environmental crisis, or contains nongovernmental organizations are sustainable development and elimi- even a hint of the economic mecha- diverging more and more. At nate poverty might come from. nisms that might provide a way out Johannesburg this was even clearer – of the dead end towards which civi- there was practically no consultation If at Rio the idea of economic devel- lization is ever more closely between governmental and non- opment was united with environ- approaching. The summary docu- governmental delegations. Summit mental development, at ments have been called “crumbs for participants were even divided physi- Johannesburg only the more modest the poor” and “a victory for greed cally by a distance of 40 to 50 km ideas of fighting poverty and of pro- and selfishness.” The general opin- and were lodged in different places. tecting the environmental were ion is that sustainable develop has- united – and this is not at all the n’t worked. Everyone is groping out *** same thing. The documents were his own path, and they are groping being changed up to the last minute. in the dark, without suspecting what Aleksei Yablokov, corresponding It was like never-ending bargaining. lurks around the corner. Against this member of the Russian Academy of The Vice Chairman of Friends of the background the Plan of Science and President of the Center Earth International, Tony Juniper, Implementation and Political for Environmental Policy in Russia predicted in the first days of the Declaration were signed, both of summit that no legally binding reso- which are much weaker than the Q: How did the summit in lutions would be made here. His resolutions passed at Rio – but they Johannesburg differ from Rio prediction turned out to be correct. are what we have, and they must be in terms of political decisions In a summary statement, developed further. and results? RCN asked Igor Chestin, Director of the World Wide Fund for Nature Yablokov: At Rio it was clearly shown Russian Program Office, to comment on the questions and answers above. that the economy cannot develop on its own without regard for the ecolog- Chestin: The reason that the world community failed to change the situation ical problems and questions that arise at the summit in Johannesburg is simple and dire: in the age of globalization from it. After ten years, governments the power of governments has substantially declined. Of the 100 largest eco- were supposed to show what they nomic entities in the world, 53 are corporations. Major businesses also have had accomplished. It is clear that two a great influence on international relations. It was in the interest of the busi- powerful factors have influenced the ness world that the IMF gave credits to Argentina, Mexico, and Thailand. course of events. First, the creation in Russia does not appear to be an exception. Here, as everywhere, one can see 1995 of the World Trade the clear-cut politics of citizens becoming distanced from government pow- Organization, which has led the ers and of major capital encroaching upon public resources. process of globalization and has actu- ally turned out to be the greatest The public will continue to have an influence upon business so long as non- opposition to the coalition of nations governmental nature protection organizations are able to affect the market that participated in the Rio Summit in by influencing public opinion. But corporations with colossal resources are 1992 and undertook resolutions that striving to influence public opinion to their own advantage, investing vast were groundbreaking at the time. amounts in advertising and PR companies. If the current trend continues, Secondly, the conflict between two the role of nongovernmental organizations as the voice of public interest major groups of politicians – govern- will soon be minimized. In other words, nature protection efforts have failed ments and representatives of civic humanity because society can only regulate development through democrat- organizations – over whether the pri- ic governments, and our governments have ceased to serve this function. ority of our modern era is to solve the Thus, in order to make the transition to sustainable development, it is most problems of environmental degrada- important to create effective national and international mechanisms capable tion (climate change, desertification, of halting society’s movement toward unregulated chaos. loss of forest and fresh water), since

Summer 2002, No. 30 9 Sustainable Development

Russia on the Ecological Map of the World

By Nikolai Kluev here,” has been replaced by a ten- are home to 8 percent of the dency to portray Russia’s environ- world’s insect species, 14.5 percent A note from the editors: Were envi- mental situation in the worst possi- of its fish, 8 percent of its birds, 1 ronmental concerns to gain the politi- ble light. Even within Russia it has percent of its reptiles and amphib- cal clout that many activists call for, a become fashionable to portray the ians, and 8 percent of its mammals nation’s environmental responsibility country as an example of absolute 2. Russia’s wetland areas, which – like its level of democracy and barbarism with regard to the envi- cover 22 percent of the country, transparency – could become another ronment. Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, play a significant ecological role by powerful, international bargaining tool. former head of the State returning oxygen to the atmosphere In the same way that adopting at least Environmental Committee, labeled and acting as a geo-chemical barrier a semblance of democracy has the Soviet Union “Environmental against pollutants. The Siberian become a matter of national economic Bandit Number One.” Yet such state- taiga, in its turn, contributes to the interest, so, too, displaying a country to ments are not based on proper inter- planet’s water supply: due to its low its best environmental advantage national comparisons and should loss of water to the atmosphere, the could become a means of achieving not be regarded as a valid basis for taiga has become a major reservoir leverage in international relations. determining Russia’s environmental of freshwater. With that in mind, Nikolai Kluev asks responsibility or its position in inter- us to reconsider our assumptions national politics. Russia’s valuable ecosystems have about Russia’s global environmental also been comparatively well pro- impact and puts forth his own assess- Among the “eight environmentally tected. Russia is the only major tim- ment of Russia’s position on the dominant countries” 1 – Russia, the ber-producing power in which the “Ecological Map of the World.” US, Japan, Germany, China, India, amount of forested land is not Indonesia, and Brazil – which have shrinking, but actually increasing. Overview: Russia in Comparison the greatest influence on the plan- Worldwide, the ratio of restored with the Rest of the World et’s environmental future, Russia is forestlands to felled forests is 1:10 distinguished by its comparatively 3, while in Russia the ratio was ince the end of the 1980’s, high level of biological diversity and 1.36:1 in 1999, and 1.83:1 in 1998 4. S Russia’s social optimism, once the degree to which that diversity Russia also boasts the world’s epitomized in the slogan “All is well has been preserved. Russian lands largest area of virtually undevel- Biodiversity in the “Eight Environmentally Dominant Countries”

Plant species, Total number Total number Endangered plant as a percentage of endangered of endangered species, as a percentage of the world species species of each country’s total total of animals of plants number of plant species

Russia 9 59 127 0,56 USA 8 281 1845 9,22 Japan 2 79 704 14,08 Germany 1 11 16 0,64 China 12 153 343 1,14 India 6 137 1256 8,37 Indonesia 8 242 281 1,41 Brazil 22 167 483 0,88

Source: Brown et al. State of the World. New York: 1997, p. 14.

10 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development oped “wild” lands, which account for nearly 66 percent of the coun- try’s territory. The preservation of these valuable ecosystems allows Russia to compensate for global pollution and environmental degra- dation and to act as an environ- mental “donor” to many national ecosystems.

At present, however, estimates of a country’s impact on the environ- ment are not based on positive indi- cators, such as the extent of pre- served ecosystems, but rather on a limited set of statistics concerned Economic and environmental features of natural resource use in Russia, expressed mainly with a country’s negative as a percentage of the world total. impact. Nonetheless, Russia con- tributes much less of a negative impact than many developed nations. Russia releases 3.2 times less sulfur dioxide, 5.1 times less nitrogen oxide, and 5.9 times less carbon dioxide than the United States . Although total emissions in European countries are lower than those in Russia, they are comparable on a per capita basis. It is also important to remember that climatic conditions are much harsher in Russia than in the United States or in Western Europe. This forces Russia to use more energy and water resources, and, consequently, to emit Statistics on Russia’s natural resources, expressed as a percentage of the world total. more pollution. Russian transport also requires high levels of energy in order to ensure connections Figures by E. Baldina based on figure in original article throughout the country’s vast, dis- persed territory. only 22.5 percent of total fuel usage, with Russian natural gas (more than while in Russia it makes up more 120 billion cubic meters per year) When viewed per unit of land, the than 50 percent. has helped reduce emissions in these indicators of Russia’s environmental countries by more than 30 million impact are incomparably lower than By providing oil and gas to the tons per year 7. However, since air those of other countries. Industry in world market, Russia renders signifi- currents in the middle latitudes of Russia uses just 2 percent of all river cant environmental resource assis- the Northern Hemisphere predomi- water resources, while the world tance to foreign nations, particularly nantly blow to the east, pollutants averages 8 percent (the US uses 19 those of Europe. However, through emitted when Europe burns its percent, Germany 48 percent, and these exports, Russia is essentially Russian gas are in part blown back Belgium 108 percent, recycling an selling off its lands as well, since the to Russia. Russia thus has functioned extra 8 percent to exceed its natural environmental disruption and pollu- as the solution to two of Europe’s capacity) 6. The composition of fuels tion of the extraction process ren- major environmental problems: used in Russia is also more environ- ders them practically unusable. where to obtain natural resources mentally friendly. Worldwide, clean- Replacing the coal and petroleum and what to do with the pollution er-burning natural gas accounts for products used by European nations they produce.

Summer 2002, No. 30 11 Sustainable Development

Unfortunately, Russia’s “environmen- into consideration the external pres- Russia’s coastal seas: pollution car- tal assistance” has yet to be reflected sures that affect the nation’s envi- ried from the North Sea, which is in foreign trade accounts and ronmental health. On the one hand, being actively developed by the remains a service rendered free of Russia is characterized by relative nuclear energy and marine oil and charge. Instead of the deserved environmental and geographic isola- gas industries, is carried by the Baltic “rents” Russia should be paid for the tion. This can be seen in the signifi- Sea and Norwegian-Nordcap cur- relative preservation of its part of cant distance separating Russia’s rents to Russia’s Barents, Kara, and the biosphere, the country receives shoreline from other countries and Baltic Seas. Indeed, the Baltic Sea only modest international aid. At the the extensive mountain barriers of alone receives as much as 465 cubic beginning of 1997, the International Russia’s southeastern borders. The kilometers of polluted water every Bank for Reconstruction and country’s large number of “closed” year from the North Sea, which has Development provided the follow- ecosystems – self-sustaining regions been used for more than 150 years ing funds for environmental proj- with an internal water supply and as a major dumping ground by ects: $2 billion to China; $1.4 billion highly localized run-off – particular- Europe’s more developed nations. each to India and Mexico; $800 mil- ly on the Eastern European Plain, lion each to Poland, Turkey and further isolate Russian lands and Cross-border pollution from Western Brazil; and only $230 million to inhibit the dissipation of pollutants Europe, however, poses less of a Russia. The primary importers of across the country’s borders. threat than Russia’s proximity, in its Russia’s “environmental resources” Far Eastern regions, to countries (including both natural resources Yet, despite its relative geographical with high rates of economic and and the products of environmentally and environmental isolation, Russia population growth. Currently China dangerous industries) include is subject to at least as many, if not is not only a top demographic Germany, which accounts for 11.5 more, external environmental power, but also a country whose percent of Russia’s total exports; threats as other countries. As a result rapid growth has not been accompa- Ukraine, 10.9 percent; Italy, 6.4 per- of easterly wind currents, for exam- nied by a greening of the economy. cent; Great Britain, 5.7 percent; ple, air pollution flows into Russia Over the years of reform, five Belarus, 4.4 percent; China, 4.3 per- from all across Europe, though the Chinese cities were listed among the cent; the United States, 3.6 percent; main “exporters” include Ukraine, ten most polluted cities in the world and Switzerland, 3.4 percent. Yet the Germany, Poland, and the United – including Shenyang, which is international community certainly Kingdom. An analogous situation located in the northeastern corner of has not rushed to help preserve occurs with water pollution in China, not far from Russia. An even Russia as a nature reserve for the planet. Instead, the world is making active use, essentially for free, of Russia’s “environmental resources.”

Data such as these provided above demonstrate that Russia's positive environmental impact is greater than its harmful impact on global ecologi- cal processes. Indeed, Russia's lands constitute a major region of environ- mental stability that stands in coun- terbalance to vast regions of envi- ronmental destabilization: Western Europe, South and Southeast Asia, and North America 8.

External Threats to Russia's Environmental Security

When assessing Russia’s contribu- tions to global environmental sus- Flow of atmospheric sulfur between Russia and Europe (amount of sulfur emitted is tainability, it is important to take proportional the arrow’s width). Figure by E. Baldina based on figure in original article

12 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development more difficult environmental situa- automobiles raise the demand for Internal Threats to Russia's tion is developing in North Korea. these metals. Unfortunately, this Environmental Security The increasing rates of economic means that the battle to reduce air and demographic growth in these pollution abroad is increasing air Nevertheless, an honest assessment countries, and their increasing pollution in Russia. The Norilsk of Russia’s environmental position impact upon the environment, cre- Nickel Group is one of the largest cannot disregard the fact that in the ates the potential for political-envi- polluters in all of Eurasia. mix of external and internal threats ronmental tension between Russia to Russia’s environmental security, it and its Far Eastern neighbors. Furthermore, Russia’s socio-eco- is the internal threats which current- nomic conditions – financial diffi- ly predominate. The main threat to Changes in Russia’s geo-political culties, low land values, corrupt Russia is Russia itself, and at the root position since the fall of the Soviet officials, weak environmental laws, of it all is the country’s current eco- Union have also presented new and a weak environmental move- nomic policy, which ignores the obstacles to environmental protec- ment – attract hazardous industry nation’s environmental interests. tion and sustainability in Russia. and ecologically substandard prod- Despite early efforts to ban atomic ucts from other nations. Taking Currently, the pace at which energy in several former Soviet advantage of Russia’s economic cri- Russia’s resources are being used nations, the past decade has sis, foreign firms are pushing to greatly exceeds the rate at which brought about renewed reliance on store hazardous waste and to build known reserves are increasing. In nuclear energy in these countries. incineration plants for the disposal 1990, the rate of increase in hydro- As old plants are reopened and new of foreign waste on Russian lands 9. carbon reserves exceeded their rate plants constructed, Russia faces an Russia also provides a market for of extraction by a factor of four, increasing nuclear threat along its food products and old, inefficient but by 1998, the rate of extraction southern and western borders. automobiles that are rejected as had outstripped the discovery of Furthermore, because the previously substandard or ecologically harmful new reserves by nearly a factor of unified environmental space of the by Europe and the US. Corporations two. A critical resource crisis is Soviet Union is now broken into 15 such as Monsanto, DuPont, and therefore inevitable. separate pieces, coordinating envi- others specializing in genetically ronmental protection of transna- modified food products have also This impending crisis is exacerbated tional ecosystems has become very pinned their hopes on the lax regu- by the “colonial” nature of Russia’s difficult. Guarding Russia’s 13,500 lation offered by Russia and other foreign trade: exports from Russia kilometers of new borders with the former Soviet states suffering from consist primarily of raw materials former Soviet republics has also food supply problems. and fuel (75 percent of Russia’s total taken on environmental signifi- exports), while imports consist cance. Because these borders have On the whole, Russia currently faces mainly of automobiles, food, and not yet been demarcated physically the greatest environmental threat consumer products. Black market or established in a legal sense, they from the Far East, while the threat trade also contributes to the deple- create ample opportunity for smug- posed by Western European nations tion of Russia’s resources. As much as gling, including the illegal export of has lessened somewhat, due to their 20 percent of Russia’s exports of oil natural resources and the import of active attempts to make industry and petroleum products are smug- waste materials. more environmentally friendly. The gled out of the country. Other signif- situation in the former Soviet icant black market activity includes Of course, not all of Russia’s exter- republics is more complex: though illegal fishing and illegal export from nal environmental threats result the immediate threat posed by these Russia of fish, marine products, lum- from its geographical position. nations has decreased, the potential ber, medicinal herbs and other phar- Some of these threats arise instead threat has increased since, as poor maceutical materials, and valuable from the international division of countries in the grip of crises, they species of flora and fauna. labor. A clear example of this is the are unable to address environmental export of metals from the platinum problems. Environmentally, one can While this “colonial” trade dynamic group by the Russian Norilsk Nickel conclude that Russia suffers more at continues to force Russia to harvest Group to Japan and the United the hands of its neighbors than they its natural resources for sale to other States, where these metals are used suffer from Russia. This must be countries, lack of financial resources in catalytic converters for automo- taken into consideration and used in in Russia has limited resource extrac- biles. Tighter emissions controls on foreign policy. tion and forced workers to turn to

Summer 2002, No. 30 13 Sustainable Development

One of the largest nickel smelting plants in northwestern Russia, North Nickel pollutes Russia while its products improve air quality in Western nations. Photo by N. Maleshin

cheaper and less sustainable prac- tilizer for export has been a factor in 1997 to 1.84 percent in 2001 13. tices. For instance, the economic cri- the lower harvests that endanger the Russia is at serious risk from a dimin- sis of the late 1990s led to a decline country’s food supply. The average ishing flow of environmental infor- in logging in Russia. However, this grain harvest from 1995 to 1999 was mation. For instance, the number of decline consisted largely of a only 64.7 million tons, compared State Hydrometeorological Service decrease in activity on remote log- with an average 104.3 million observation stations decreased 40 ging tracts, whose distance from between 1986 and 1990 11. percent between 1991 and 1997 14, existing infrastructure increases the and the number of forest fire watch costs of logging. During this same Furthermore, the environmental stations fell from 2,200 to 1,200. This time, activity on cheaper logging consequences of changes in the agri- is exacerbated by the fact that each operations near transportation cultural sector have not been entire- year Russia loses between 25,000 routes actually intensified. This selec- ly favorable. Between 1990 and and 30,000 scientists 15 – primarily tive intensification has led to 1999, more than 29 million hectares among the young and promising – increased logging on lands already of land, or about 25 percent of all to foreign organizations and coun- so heavily damaged that forest there farmland, were taken out of agricul- tries, where pay and resources are is barely worth harvesting. tural usage 12. Privatization has trans- often better. Additionally, high fuel prices – in a formed major agricultural enterprises country that is a major exporter of into small, individual holdings. Given The environmental situation in fuel – have resulted in mass felling the predominance of subsistence Russia is made even more critical by of trees for firewood, especially in farming on these holdings, how they international agreements which the north Caucasus. could possibly feed Russia’s urban require Russia to eliminate large populations remains unclear. The stores of nuclear and chemical The combination of Russia’s new rise of traditional subsistence farm- weapons, as well as their attendant “colonial” economy and its transition- ing at the dawn of the third millen- delivery systems. Because Russia does al agricultural economy also threatens nium speaks to the “wildness” of the not have the resources to safely dis- the nation’s food security. Though contemporary Russian economy and pose of these materials, this require- Russia ranks as the third largest its utter remoteness from modern ment has led to the creation of new exporter (after Canada and the forms of agricultural production. hazardous industrial complexes. In United States) of fertilizer and sup- 1993, Russia generated 67.5 million plies 12 percent of the world’s total The economic crisis has also precipi- tons of toxic waste, but by 1999 that exports, fertilizer is in critically short tated a lack of scientific resources figure had increased 160 percent to supply in Russian fields. Fertilizer use with which to address these environ- 108.9 million tons. During this same on the nation’s farmlands has fallen mental problems. The amount of the period, however, the percentage of from 88 kg/ha in 1990 to just 15 national budget spent on science has these wastes that were recycled or kg/ha in 1999 . The diversion of fer- fallen steadily, from 2.88 percent in rendered harmless decreased from

14 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development

46.5 percent to 31.7 percent due to in the environmental sphere (just 1 a lack of funding 16. as it does not work in fighting Brown, L. R. et al. State of the crime, drugs, or other problems in World. New York: 1997. In conclusion, we would emphasize the social sphere). This sector 2 Rosenberg, G. S. and G. P. that the principal environmental requires government regulation. In Krasnoshchekov. Sustainable threat to Russia lies in its “hybrid” Russia, however, environmental Development in Russia: economy, which has taken on the policy amounts to “patching holes” Experience in Critical Analysis. worst aspects of both market and and more closely resembles envi- Tolyatti: 1995. planned economies, and in the ronmental first aid. Russia’s post- 3 Losev et al. Environmental sociological climate to which this Soviet governments have refused to Problems in Russia. Moscow: All- economy is giving rise. In practice, take a strategic approach to the Russian Institute of Scientific the call for Russia to “join the civi- country’s development. In the ter- and Technical Information. lized world” has resulted in the cor- minology of sustainable develop- ruption of the nation’s government ment, modern Russia could more 4 Russian Statistical Yearbook and civil servants and engendered a appropriately be called a country 2000. Published by the govern- backward movement toward eco- with a “sustainably deteriorating ment of the Russian Federation. logical degradation, poverty, and environment.” Such a path toward 5 World Resources 1998-1999: A other social problems. In spite of development – or deterioration – Guide to the Global Environment. this, we, unlike the “green” radicals, is neither in Russia’s national inter- New York: Oxford University believe that our main efforts should ests, nor in the interest of the glob- Press, 1998. go toward the formation of envi- al environment. 6 ronmentally based policies and Ibid. economy, rather than the battle N. Kluev is Head Science 7 Russia: A Strategy for against chemical, nuclear, and ener- Researcher at the Institute of Development in the 21st Century. gy production and other hazardous Geography of the Russian Academy Moscow: Noosphere, 1997. sites and industries. Otherwise, of Science. This article has been con- 8 Danilov-Danilyan et al. The Russia will continue to drift toward densed from “The Ecological Environment From Past to deindustrialization and a primitive Position of Russia,” originally pub- Future: the World and Russia. economy fraught with increasing lished in Transition to Moscow: All-Russian Institute of economic problems and growing Sustainable Development at Scientific and Technical environmental threats. Global, Regional, and Local Information, 1994. Levels: World Experience and Market economics, even civilized Problems of Russia. Moscow: 9 “Russia: Dumping Ground for market economics, does not work KMK Scientific Press, Ltd., 2002. Western Waste.” Green World, no. 8 (1994).

10 Russian Statistical Yearbook 2000. 11 Ibid.

12 Ibid.

13 Strakhov, V. N. “Not a Party, but a Movement” Independent Gazette (April 17, 2001). 14 Government Report: “On the Environmental Situation of the Russian Federation in 1997.” In Green World, no. 25–27 (1998).

15 Security in Russia: Economic Security. Moscow: Znanie, 1998.

16 Russian Statistical Yearbook Dying forests near the North Nickel plant are a prime example of the effects of industry 2000. and unsustainable environmental policy. Photo by N. Maleshin

Summer 2002, No. 30 15 Sustainable Development Timber Business May Prove Friendlier to the Forest Than Ministry of Natural Resources By Vladimir Zakharov the Moscow Oblast, this past March, Deputy Minister Valery Roshchupkin eir to the former Russian Forest announced his plans for the coming H Service, the Ministry of Natural year, which yet again provided no Resource was meant to take up an funding for forest restoration. active position on forest preserva- Instead, the ministry occupied itself tion and to effectively manage the with its ambitious quality control vast natural wealth it inherited. plan, “Complex checks on the effec- Instead, quite the opposite is hap- tiveness of management of the pening: in recent months, the Russian Federation Forest Fund and Pristine coniferous forests are one Ministry has proposed raising its purposeful and rational use.” The of Russia’s threatened treasures. Russia’s annual logging harvest to plan calls for delegates from each Photo by N. Maleshin five hundred million cubic meters. regional branch of the Ministry of This increase is made more drastic Natural Resources to check up on trol then, the funding provided by by the fact that today’s Ministry actu- the work of another branch. Since the pilot forest loan is mere pen- ally comes close to achieving its the assignments are not structured nies. However, this 60 million dol- planned harvest, rather than falling to allow delegates to visit neighbor- lars, if managed well, could be a far short of its target, as it did during ing branches, some workers will real help to Russian forestry. The Soviet times. have to travel more than a thousand important question is whether that kilometers to take part in the plan. money will be well spent. Although no one disputes that fact The question of how these wide- that the forest sector ought to be ranging trips would be paid for However, the Russian forest sector more profitable, it is unclear why, remained unanswered. consists not only of the Ministry, but despite expert opinions to the con- also of hundreds of businesses run trary, the government’s answer to As far as funding is concerned, by hundreds of entrepreneurs. Many greater profits must be limited to however, the Ministry was able to of the leaders of forestry enterprises increased logging and raw timber deliver some unexpected news: the are beginning to understand that export. If the country is to call itself World Bank Sustainable Forestry Russia’s period of “wild” capitalism economically developed, it must Pilot Program credit, which had has passed, and that it is much more shift its focus from the export of raw repeatedly been proclaimed dead profitable to invest in wood process- wood materials to more intensive and buried, will take effect after all. ing and to export processed timber wood processing. Russia’s construc- This program, which provides fund- rather than raw wood. Russia already tion and furniture manufacturing ing for forest sector reforms, was has the modern technologies for industries are undergoing rapid originally developed and signed by woodworking used by its competi- development, and a greater focus on the Forest Service of the Russian tors in Western and Eastern firms. If wood processing within Russia could Federation. The leadership of the businesses choose to go this route – fuel these industries while simultane- World Bank, which had been push- rather than following the intensive ously decreasing clear-cutting in the ing for the program for several logging strategy of the Ministry of nation’s forests. Yet government poli- years, now finds itself in an awk- Natural Resources – they will do cies are directed only toward ward position. Having been delayed more to improve the forestry sector, increasing logging and export of for so long, the project is now out- and they may prove friendlier to the unprocessed timber. dated, and the Forest Service itself forests as well. no longer exists. Instead there is Nor does the new Ministry appear only the Ministry of Natural Vladimir Zakharov is Co-Editor of anxious to organize forest restora- Resources, led by Minister Vitaly the Forest Bulletin published by the tion work or to address the nation’s Artyukhov, who is known to have Russian NGOs Forest Club. This article recurrent lack of preparation to fight recklessly managed funds in his was first published in issue 20 of the forest fires during high-risk periods. previous position. Of course, com- Forest Bulletin, which can be read At a conference held in Pushkino, in pared to the sums under his con- on-line at www.forest.ru.

16 Russian Conservation News Sustainable Development

by the fires that accompany them, Keeping Track cannot be considered intact. of Russia’s Virgin Forests The activities responsible for the degradation and fragmentation of new publication from Global temperate regions. Intact forests are Russia’s forests include the usual sus- A Forest Watch Russia (GFW), the quickly disappearing from these rich pects: logging, agriculture, and road Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest areas, and Russia’s most biologically construction in European Russia and Landscapes, brings the problem of diverse and productive forests – the the southern regions of Siberia and Russia’s dwindling virgin forests into temperate-broadleaf and mixed the Russian Far East; and mineral sharp relief. Based on a 2-year study conifer-broadleaf forests of resource development in Western carried out by non-governmental European Russia, southern Siberia, Siberia and the northern regions of conservation and scientific organi- and the Russian Far East – may face Eastern Siberia and the Far East. zations, the Atlas provides detailed extinction if no action is taken to However, the ultimate aim of the maps of Russia’s remaining intact protect them. Atlas is to ameliorate the situation. forests and concludes that such By arming scientists, conservation- areas are in greater peril than previ- Of course, determining just what ists, and policy-makers with accurate ously thought. constitutes “intact” forest is itself a and detailed documentation of complex problem. Virtually no intact forests, contributors and sup- Past estimates calculated that pris- forests exist that have not, at one porters of this publication hope to tine, intact forest covered more than time or another, been altered by foster informed decision-making and 40 percent of Russia’s total forest- human influence, and there are no conservation of Russia’s vital forest land. The GFW study, which is the set rules delineating an “intact” for- ecosystems. first to use high-resolution images in est from one that has been disturbed identifying intact forest, puts this by human activity. In defining The Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest number at only 26 percent. Of that “intactness” the Atlas therefore relies Landscapes, including clickable virgin quarter, only 5 percent lies on two basic parameters: size and maps, can be accessed at within areas specially protected by level of disturbance. To be consid- http://www.globalforestwatch.org/ the federal government. ered intact, a forest area must be english/russia/. large enough to sustain The Atlas’s thorough analysis leaves populations of large preda- the state of Russia’s intact forests tory animals, to contain the looking rather bleak. In European diverse species and ecologi- Russia, only 9 percent of all forest cal functions (such as natu- areas remain intact. Western Siberia ral fire patterns) of the and the Russian Far East have fared ecosystem, and to provide a somewhat better, retaining 25 and buffer zone between the 32 percent, respectively, of their intact area and the trans- untouched woodlands. Yet even in formed areas beyond it. the comparatively untouched lands Furthermore, an intact for- of Eastern Siberia, the number of est displays no significant intact forests falls short of previous human disturbance. estimates: only 39 percent of Eastern “Background” influence – Siberian forest areas remain undis- such as some traditional turbed by human influence. land-use practices and human activity prior to the Nor do the remaining virgin forests industrialization of the cover Russia’s diverse ecosystems 1930’s – can be disregarded equally: 80 percent of the country’s as non-significant, but a intact forests are taiga, or boreal forest affected by modern forests. Though an invaluable and agriculture and industry, or perhaps quintessentially Russian type of forest, the taiga lacks the high lev- Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest els of biodiversity found in more Landscapes

Summer 2002, No. 30 17 Legislation Legislation

Protecting Kazakhstan’s Forests Areas of affected forest – those weakened by disease, insect infesta- By Inna Antashkevich Ranges, also in the eastern part of tion, and other factors – amount to the country. between 40,000 and 140,000 ordered by the Caspian Sea to hectares each year, and in years B the west and China to the east, In recent years, Kazakhstan’s rare with high levels of insect breeding Kazakhstan is both the northern- forests have come under assault the affected areas can increase to most and the largest of the former from the disastrous policies of the as much as 350,000 to 400,000 Soviet Republics of Central Asia. republic’s forest administration. hectares. Though its forests are few, they are highly diverse, and their species The government’s ability to restore compositions vary sig- these damaged forest areas has nificantly as one decreased as well. A resolution of moves from the the Kazakhstan govern- northern forest- ment stripped the steppes to the forest management of southwestern much of its equip- deserts to the ment base, and the mountainous south- forest restoration east. Forest covers division of the forest only 1.2 percent of management Kazakhstan, or 4.2 administration has percent including been practically para- the desert forests of lyzed. The amount of Distribution of forest saxaul (Haloxylon financing for forest ecosystems in Kazakhstan. sp.), a drought-resist- restoration has ant woody shrub, Map by M. Dubinin. Source: Map-scheme of Forest Distribution decreased eight times in compari- and other areas pop- of Kazakhstan by I. I. Roldugin son with the 1991 level. The bulk ulated mainly by of forest nurseries, which might shrubs. In northern regions, isolated Efforts to protect and restore forest provide resources for replanting, tracts of birch forest predominate, landscapes have been effectively have been abandoned and lie idle. while insular pine forests are found crippled by the administration’s Meanwhile, as Kazakhstan’s forests in the northwest and in the inactivity. For instance, though dwindle under the administration’s Kazakhstansky Melkosopochnik, a wildfire damage has sharply negligence, their numbers have hilly, highly eroded plateau located increased over the past two years, been further reduced by a 30 per- in central Kazakhstan. The woods of firefighting has decreased, and cent increase in logging activity. river valleys (including saxaul, ripari- ground and aerial surveillance has an, and floodplain forests) and been weakened. As a result, in just Furthermore, a new project is cur- mountains are grouped together in the past two years, fires have rently being prepared by the govern- what is known as “ribbon forest.” destroyed over 500,000 hectares of ment of Kazakhstan which would These woodlands, composed prima- forest, incurring millions of dollars transfer all forestlands to municipal rily of pine that adapts well to the worth of ecological damage. ownership, reassigning forests now region’s sandy soil, grow in long Furthermore, no forest protection under national authority to the con- bands along the right bank of the measures have been carried out. trol of regions, cities, and even vil- Irtysh River, which flows north Destabilizing influences, such as lages. That this will not benefit through eastern Kazakhstan, and in insects and disease, have negatively forests is obvious, but just what kind the mountains of the Altai, Saur, affected the biological sustainability of policy these local governments Dzhungar Alatau, and Tien Shan of Kazakhstan’s forest ecosystems. will impose, and even to what level

18 Russian Conservation News Legislation

– oblast, region, or village – the con- percent of its land really allow itself law governing specially protected trol of forests will devolve, remains to export wood? territories. The last revision of the unclear. Ecologists agree, however, Forest Code, the federal law govern- that the decentralization and trans- The catastrophic situation resulting ing Kazakhstan’s forest policies, fer of forest management to local from the system of forest manage- included a proposal to permit large- administrations simply cannot be ment in Kazakhstan has forced pub- scale logging in reserves. The spe- permitted. lic organizations to undertake deci- cialists fear that this loophole may sive measures to change the system have been introduced in order to Already, local oblast leaders are try- for the better. The Forest Campaign transfer valuable tracts of “ribbon” ing to extract profit from the natu- of the Forum of Ecologists of forest to reserve status (and, ral wealth at their disposal. In a let- Kazakhstan (Ecoforum) recently accordingly, to logging) – a move ter to Kazakhstan’s former Prime appealed to the public in a letter which cannot under any circum- Minister, governor Vitaly Mette of proposing the reorganization of the stances be permitted. East Kazakhstan Oblast revealed forest management and the initia- plans to lease seven forest areas, tion of a new law to fully prohibit It is clear, in any case, that the Forest averaging 1.28 million hectares timber exports. Ecoforum then pre- Code’s section on legal and social each, to the Australian company sented its forest management pro- protection of forest management is World Invest, Ltd, on a 50-year con- posal at a seminar on restoration not broad enough. In the words of tract. This project is being carried and administration of forest the Vice Minister of Natural out in connection with the pro- resources this past June. The core of Resources and Environmental posed construction of a chipboard the proposal consisted of three poli- Protection, Nurlan Iskakov, this is factory, which, in Mette’s own cy changes which Ecoforum certainly not the last discussion of words, will positively influence the demands that the government the Forest Code of the Republic. The revitalization of the furniture indus- make. First, the decentralization of Ecoforum Forest Campaign hopes try in the region. Of course, poten- forest management – its transfer- that in the final debate, public tial investors pay attention only to ence to local governments – must organizations will be invited to take the procurement and processing of not be permitted. Second, a clause part in the discussion. timber, and provide no investment must be added to the Forest Code of for environmental protection meas- the Republic of Kazakhstan which Inna Antashkevich is Coordinator ures such as preservation and absolutely restricts the export of any of the Forest Campaign of the Forum replanting of forests. Nonetheless, wood materials. Finally, legal of Ecologists of Kazakhstan and Kazakhstan’s new Prime Minister, requirements for involving the pub- Director of the “Bars” Center for Imangali Tasmagambetov, certified lic in key decision-making processes Social Development. This article was this project for inclusion in the in the nation’s forest sector must be prepared with information from C. B. “Plan of Activities of East created. Baizakov, B. B. Krylov, and the Forest Kazakhstan Oblast.” Decisions such Campaign of the Ecoforum of as this one are made in the very At this same seminar, specialists Kazakhstan. bowels of the government, under from the Kazakhstan State Institute conditions of strict secrecy. Even for Forest Management Projects also the deputies of the Kazakhstan recommended that the term “state Parliament knew nothing about the reserve” be excluded from a new impending lease of national proper- ty to a foreign firm.

Yet this is far from everything. Kazakhstan has also become one of the largest supplies of timber to China and other countries. Can a state with forests covering only 1.2

Soon Kazakhstan’s forests may sur- vive only in inaccessible mountain areas. Photo courtesy of Zapadno- Altaisky Zapovednik

Summer 2002, No. 30 19 Endangered Ecosystems Endangered Ecosystems

Preserving Ethnic Diversity in Tajikistan’s High Mountain Valleys

By Alexei Gunya smaller role in Yagnobi culture than from the outside world. The valley’s in neighboring communities, and harsh climate further contributes to A note from the editors: Tucked the Zoroastrian roots of the the seclusion of the Yagnobi people: away in the southeastern corner of Yagnobi people are still evident in for more than half the year the risk Central Asia, the former Soviet republic certain cultural practices, such as of avalanches makes any attempt to of Tajikistan is home to some of the their religious reverence of fire. enter or exit extremely dangerous. highest mountains in the world, includ- Only about 300 Yagnobi remain in ing the tallest peak in the former USSR. the valley, and although their exact Recent history has seen several Though these breathtaking mountain numbers are unknown, it is thought attempts to breach the isolation of landscapes boast a high level of biodi- that less than 2000 remain in all of the Yagnobi people, but most of versity, the human diversity found Tajikistan. these have either failed or wrecked among them is no less remarkable. havoc upon the Yagnobi popula- Tiny, insular ethnic groups have inhab- The extreme geographical isolation tion. During the 1950s, the Soviet ited the high mountain valleys of of the Yagnob Valley has been a government attempted to intro- Tajikistan for thousands of years, their crucial factor in the preservation of duce mechanized agriculture and traditional lifestyles kept intact by the Yagnobi culture. The valley itself is collective farms into the region, but utter remoteness of the Central Asian much higher in elevation than any the valley’s long, cold winters and highlands. In this article we explore the of the inhabited valleys surrounding hot, dry summers could not sup- plight of the Yagnobi people, who repre- it, and it is considered one of the port large-scale farming. Soviet sent just one of Tajikistan’s many eth- most impassable locations in authorities then tried to develop nic groups struggling to maintain their Tajikistan. Electricity, communica- small-scale cattle breeding in the traditions against the pressures of tion lines, and motor transport area, but the valley’s short growing modern culture and the region’s reach as far as the village of season did not produce enough adverse natural conditions. Marghib in the lower valley, but a fodder to see the cattle through the narrow canyon separates the winter months. During the ‘60s and ituated high in the mountains of Yagnobi people, who dwell only in ‘70s, having failed to integrate the S northwestern Tajikistan, where the central and upper valley, from Yagnob Valley into the Soviet sys- the Pamir Mountains meet the Tien these amenities and isolates them tem, the government forcibly relo- Shan Range, the Yagnob Valley is home to the Yagnobi people, a unique and endangered ethnic group. Though surrounded by Tajik- speaking communities, the Yagnobi people have preserved their tradi- tional language, an Eastern Iranian dialect believed to be a direct descendent of the ancient Sogdian language, which was used widely by Iranian peoples until the tenth cen- tury. The Yagnobi people also main- tain religious ties to the Iranian world and the ancient Persian Empire. Although identified as Sunni Muslims (the dominant form of Islam in Tajikistan), Islam plays a The Yagnob Valley in Tajikistan. Source: A. Gunya

20 Russian Conservation News Endangered Ecosystems cated three thousand Yagnobi peo- ple to lower valleys. Evicted to areas of lower elevation, many of the Yagnobi fell ill and even died from the hot climate and the stress of relocation.

Two decades later, however, the eco- nomic strife of the 1980s and Tajikistan’s bloody civil war in the 1990s caused many former mountain- dwellers to flee Tajikistan’s populated areas and return to their native lands. This period marked a homecoming of the Yagnobi people. Three hundred people, out of the 3000 originally evicted, returned to the valley to revive the traditional cultural and land A Yagnobi settlement. Photo by A. Gunya use practices that the Soviet govern- ment had forced them to abandon. plicated by the region’s harsh cli- On the whole, however, the mate. The Yagnob Valley sustains Yagnobi people have developed a Now these 300 Yagnobi people very long, very cold winters, fol- culture finely tuned to the demands struggle to continue living tradi- lowed by a short, wet spring, and of the valley’s natural environment. tional lives in their homeland. Even then a short, hot, dry summer. They produce up to 80–90% of in the absence of political pressures, Intense snowfalls in March and their food on their own holdings, maintaining the traditional Yagnobi April prolong the region’s snow and are often spared the effects of culture is not easy. The Yagnobi cover and prevent early sowing. On social disasters, such as bread short- economy depends primarily on the the other hand, low levels of pre- ages, that afflict their neighbors. cultivation of a few traditional cipitation between June and Yagnobi traditional land use prac- crops (barley, peas, and wheat) and September, and an uneven distribu- tices are highly adapted to the val- on livestock raised for meat, milk, tion throughout these months, as ley's natural conditions and cause and fertilizers. These rather primi- well as from year to year, increases minimal degradation to the envi- tive agricultural practices are com- the risk of drought and crop failure. ronment. The Yagnobi people allo- cate dry-farming lands on slopes of different aspects with great skill, in order to avoid damage due to extremely humid or extremely dry years, and their irrigated lands do not cause erosion or landslides.

Though Yagnobi land use practices appear to be largely sustainable, it is not possible to claim that centuries of traditional, non-mechanized human activity have had no effect on the natural environment. The Yagnob Valley is characterized by an abruptly elevated (as compared with adjacent areas) upper bound- ary of mountain forest-meadow- steppe lands, which have been used for a long time as terraced arable Farming the fragile soil of the Yagnob Valley requires skillful irrigation practices. lands. A long period of livestock Photo by A. Gunya grazing, combined with a very dry

Summer 2002, No. 30 21 Endangered Ecosystems climate on the south-facing slopes, degrades the vegetative cover and and independence of the Yagnob has brought about the disappear- hardens the upper layers of soil, Valley, and the degradation of its ance of a belt of subalpine mead- thus creating the erosion that con- natural environment. ows: mountain wormwood tributes to the development of (Artemisia absinthium) and dog- landslides. It also impoverishes the Preserving the traditional lifestyle of rose (Rosa canina) steppes now species composition of the valley the Yagnobi people is essential to give rise to stepped alpine meadows and contributes to the spread of preserving the ethnic and natural with wormwood. Dry summers and wormwood throughout all parts of diversity of Tajikistan. Creating a long winters combined with large- the alpine belt. Though the Yagnobi zapovednik or a national park in scale pasture activities also stand in people have tried to regain control the area would preserve the magnif- the way of restoring forests. over their pastures and prevent the icent natural environment, but pasturing of foreign livestock, the would do little to help the Yagnobi Yet the greatest threat to the biodi- outsiders who use the valley have people. Instead, the Yagnob Valley versity of the Yagnob Valley is the only grown more aggressive and must be maintained as an ethno- summer pasturing of “foreign” live- continue to graze their stock on cultural reservation devoted to pre- stock, which has occurred in the Yagnobi land. serving Yagnobi culture and land central part of the valley since the use practices and ensuring a rela- 1970s. Prior to this time, the num- What will happen to the Yagnobi tively high standard of living for the ber of livestock kept by the people? What will happen to their Yagnobi population. Since the tradi- Yagnobi was regulated by the avail- valley? The Yagnobi people dream tional lifestyle of these people ability of winter fodder, which was of a road to connect them to the maintains a fine balance with the determined, in turn, by the produc- outside world. Twice they have natural world, the preservation of tivity of the hay fields. However, raised the funds needed, and twice the Yagnobi people goes hand in after the Yagnobi population was skyrocketing inflation has halted hand with the conservation of evicted by the Soviet government, construction. However, road con- nature. The creation of a system of people living outside the Yagnob struction might only lead to the ethno-cultural reserves in Tajikistan Valley began to bring “foreign” live- destruction of the Yagnobi commu- would go a long way toward pre- stock in for summer pasturing. nity. If the road were used to serving the ethnic and natural According to our estimate, up to import cheap foodstuffs, such as diversity of the nation; however the 100 large flocks of sheep are now meal from other regions, farming in creation of such reserves would grazed in Yagnobi pastures every the valley could be reduced and require significant support and, season, only one quarter of which livestock raising intensified. This, most likely, the assistance of inter- belong to Yagnobi people and their however, would lead to a shortage national institutions. descendants. Since these livestock of winter fodder, causing the winter elsewhere, their numbers are Yagnobi people to shift emphasis to Alexei Gunya is a science researcher not limited by the valley’s small summer pasturing of “foreign” at the Institute of Geography of the reserves of fodder. The overgrazing stock. Such a shift would result in Russian Academy of Science. caused by these “foreign” livestock the loss of the unique character

Suggestions for sustainable land use in the Yagnob Valley. Map by E. Baldina. Source: A. Gunya

22 Russian Conservation News Endangered Ecosystems New Hope for the Pamir Birch – and the Pamir People

By Viktoria Kolesnikova grow more frequent, and life-giving While wealthy foreign tourists hunt springs dry up. In some gorges rare and protected animals for the “The earth was red and green. To the woody plants have been wiped out thrill and for trophies, for the local right, like a flock of turtles closed up completely, leaving only brush and population, such hunting is no sport. in their shells, lay the green hills cov- scrub, a process which, in turn, facili- Poaching has long been part of nor- ered in forest. Beneath the birches tates desertification. Who mal life in the Pamir wild garlic grew. We walked through would have thought there Mountains, where inade- vast fields of it, trampling it underfoot, could be sandstorms in quate food supplies and, as though we walked among the Pamirs! force men to hunt in some grand feast, the air filled with its order to feed their fami- sharp aroma. All that we saw was like Deforestation and deser- lies. The recent rise in the Garden of Eden.” tification in the Pamir poaching is due, in part, – Mikhail Bobovich, mountains have become to the Soviet practice of from “Tajikistan, 1960” mutually reinforcing perennially supplying printed in the literary magazine processes that expand villages with foodstuffs Postkriptum in 1996 and intensify the com- from external sources, plex web of problems which left the region oods like those which so already facing the region. Local residents planted entirely dependent upon W recently evoked comparison For instance, an insuffi- ten thousand Pamir shipments of food, fuel, with Eden no longer exist in the cient food supply, birch (Betula pamirica) and nearly everything Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. In brought about by the col- seedlings along the else. After the collapse this country, where mountains cover lapse of the Soviet Union Bartang River in of the Soviet Union and 93 percent of the land, the disap- and aggravated by the Tajikistan. Photo by a series of internal con- pearance of forest landscapes has increasing desertification S. Blagoveshchenskaya flicts in Tajikistan, resi- become a serious problem. On the and erosion of agricultur- dents of the Pamirs bare slopes of the Pamirs, which are al lands, has brought species of were left without basic means of spread throughout most of wildlife listed in the Red Data Book existence. Tajikistan, rain and snow-melt wash to the brink of extermination. Soon away the soil cover in areas that children in the Pamir Mountains As Pamir villagers attempt to restore were once green with forest. As the may be able to see the argali (Ovis local agriculture and to regain a mountains increasingly erode, land- ammon), or mountain sheep, only measure of self-sufficiency, the slides, avalanches, and mudslides in pictures. processes of deforestation and deser-

In some parts of the Pamirs, only brush remains. Photo by N. Maleshin

Summer 2002, No. 30 23 Endangered Ecosystems tification, combined with the Originally endemic to the Pamir percent. Poplars, due to their shape, region’s crumbling irrigation system, Mountains, the Pamir birch (Betula can be used as posts, beams, rafters, have hindered their success. Rivers, pamirica) once grew in large num- and door and window frames. Trees streams, and artificial canals are dry- bers upon the floodplains of the have also been transplanted in spe- ing up throughout the Pamirs. In the Bartang River. Thirty or forty years cial nurseries. In the village of Bagu, village of Dasht, which typifies the ago, tourists could see whole forests a local resident has offered to plant problems of the region, a canal was of this birch, and often rafted down 1,500 Pamir birches, using saplings built in 1933 and has not been the river in boats made from its grown from 200 trees which he had repaired since. Decades of exposure wood. Now the Pamir birch has vir- planted himself. Planting birches to environmental and climatic con- tually disappeared, primarily due to helps prevent landslides, which are ditions have left the canal partially in felling for use as firewood for heat- highly likely in this area, and in time disrepair, and the local population ing and cooking. will provide the local population has been forced to allot only with building materials and fuel, and one day per week for irriga- strengthen the banks of channels tion of their holdings. Thus and the soil on mountain slopes. far, the yield of crops raised by Pamir villagers is so small Forest restoration will also allow resi- that it does not make sense dents to raise more domestic live- to even talk about selling stock, for under the leaf cover of the them: food raised in the birches and poplars, the undergrowth region barely lasts families that serves as food for livestock will until February. If desertifica- be able to grow even in hot weather. tion of the mountains con- Currently very few families in the vil- tinues to increase, agriculture lage of Dasht keep livestock, and The Pamir Mountains are some of the highest in will grow even less produc- these families typically have only one the world. Photo by N. Maleshin tive, and farmers may be sheep and a few chickens. Many peo- forced to shift to drought- ple are afraid to raise animals for fear resistant crops, such as lentils. The past few years, however, have that they may not be able to feed given these birches a renewed them. This situation is characteristic of Because agriculture returns very little chance for survival. Between the the entire Pamir region. profit, the Pamir people are forced years 2000 and 2002, the Focus to fell woods for fuel, thus only Fund, an organization supporting In order to protect both nature and increasing deforestation and intensi- community-based initiatives, led a human living conditions, Tajikistan fying the processes of erosion and series of seminars in one of the vil- must now untangle the knot of desertification that decreased agri- lages of the Bartang Valley. Aimed at social problems that have arisen as a cultural productivity in the first raising villagers’ awareness of the consequence of environmental place. Many experts therefore believe interdependence between their own degradation. To this end, environ- that in order to restore the Pamir standard of living and forest conser- mental organizations must conduct forests, it will be necessary, first and vation, these seminars awakened the such community-oriented seminars foremost, to supply the local inhabi- local population to the kind of more frequently in order to teach tants with fuel – at a price they can threat they will face if the forest the local population how to prevent afford. However, such a price would completely disappears. Armed with disastrous situations and how to deal have to be very low, since an average this knowledge, local residents with them when they arise. of only one-fifth of the population decided to take it upon themselves of Pamir villages is employed, and to restore the Pamir woods. Viktoria Kolesnikova works for the those who do work make no more Center for Coordination and than three dollars per month. With In 2000, two villages had already Information of the International Social- no one willing to provide cheap fuel planted 5,000 Bolleana poplars Ecological Union. This article was pre- to these populations, restoration of (Populus alba ‘Pyramidalis’), which pared by the author using information the Pamir forests depends upon the grow to their mature height faster provided by Svetlana Blagoveshchen- efforts of the local community. than many species, and up to 85 skaya and was originally published in Fortunately, in this case, the local percent of the trees survived. In the Forest Bulletin of the Russian community is ready to help nature 2001, 42,000 trees were successfully NGOs Forest Club (http://www. out. planted, with a survival rate of 95 forest.ru/rus/bulletin).

24 Russian Conservation News Endangered Species Endangered Species

the bison have been crowned with Reintroducing Free-Ranging Bison success. However, experience has in Central European Russia shown that prolonged breeding of bison in captivity leads to degrada- By Vladimir Kazmin with intensive forestry, the transfor- tion of the species as a wild animal. mation of forestland for agricultural As early as the nineteenth century, return to life in the wild is the purposes, and, of course, poaching. scientists at Belovezh Forest A only way to save the European observed signs of deterioration in bison (Bos bonasus L.), the largest In natural conditions, bison inhabit the physiological condition of their hoofed mammal in all of Europe. As broadleaf and mixed forests with own population, such as a decline in the only remaining wild species of plentiful glades and meadows, avoid- fertility and a higher rate of mortali- the European bovine family, preser- ing swampy regions. They eat hun- ty. vation of the European bison can dreds of species of grass and tens of only be considered successful when species of woody shrubs, including After World War II, scientists in large herds once again roam freely poisonous varieties. It has taken sev- Russia were able to link up with throughout western Russia. The cre- enty years of breeding – at first in international scientific programs to ation of free-roaming populations of zoos and special breeding facilities, preserve pureblooded bison. By 1991, bison in Orlovskoe Polesie National then in small herds in the wild – to twenty-four free-ranging bison herds, Park represents the first step towards increase the bison population from totaling approximately 1,500 individ- this goal. just 12 individuals to 3,000. One uals, had been established in the for- could say that the efforts of the mer USSR, and two specialized bison Not so long ago, bison served, in international environmental com- breeding facilities had been estab- many cultures, as much more than munity to create a genetic pool for lished in Prioksko-Terrasny and merely an animal to be hunted. This mighty and beautiful beast personi- fied the power of nature, possessed traditional cultural significance, and was worshipped as a symbol of the native land. The development of civ- ilization in Western Europe, howev- er, led to the destruction of the species’ forest habitat, and by the eleventh century bison had already begun to disappear, at first from England and Sweden, then else- where. By the seventeenth century European bison remained only in a few isolated regions – in particular, the Caucasus, Belovezh Forest (now part of Belarus), Eastern Prussia, and Transylvania. By 1919 the Belovezh species had been exterminated from its final sanctuary in the Belovezh Forest. Though the Caucasus bison inhabited hard-to-reach areas, by 1927 this population, too, had ceased to exist. The disappearance of Distribution of Free-Ranging Bison (Bison bonasus) in central European Russia. bison from nature was connected Map by M. Dubinin. Source: Orlovskoe Polesie National Park

Summer 2002, No. 30 25 Endangered Species

Oksky Zapovedniks in central tral European Russia. The administra- disposed toward bison preservation European Russia (please see accom- tions of these regions signed a reso- and understand its significance. panying article, page 28). lution to foster cooperation for the However, the lack of any funds, for Unfortunately, the socio-economic creation of a nature reserve complex example, to compensate for damage conditions brought about by pere- spanning the three jurisdictions. the bison may cause to agricultural stroika had an extremely negative fields casts doubt on the probability effect on nature conservation – and An international group on bison, of successfully bison preservation was no exception. created by the World Conservation establish- According to the results of an all- Union (IUCN), has concluded that ing large Russia bison census, in 1998 the total to protect the wild number of the species remaining in European herds in nature and captivity had decreased bison, it is the area. 48.2 percent from 1992 (from 569 to necessary to 274 bison, of which 185 were free- create large In the wild, living). This was primarily due to the populations of female bison effects of the socio-economic crisis at least 1000 protect their in the northern Caucasus region, individuals in calves for up which forced people into forests and order to pre- to two years. protected areas in search of food and serve genetic Photo courtesy of income, both of which the bison diversity Orlovskoe offered. In six years, the number of and allow Polesie free-living bison in the Northern the National Park Caucasus decreased by nearly 75 per- species to cent: from 384 individuals in 1992 to adapt to chang- 103 in 1998. ing conditions in the environment. Between 1996 and the present, Clearly, this is a good idea, and suffi- Orlovskoe Polesie National Park In 1998, in order to prevent the dis- cient territories exist to support it. has received 65 bison from Russian appearance of bison and to take However, the existing socio-eco- nurseries and European zoos for steps toward protecting existing nomic reality demands not only the placement in free-living herds. In populations, the Working Group on overwhelming enthusiasm of spe- 1998 the Park’s first calf was born, Bison was created within Russia’s cialists in the field, but also consid- and by 2001 the herd had given Environmental Protection erable financial resources. Funds birth to a total of 16 young bison. Committee. Due to the efforts of this must be available not only to pay Seven bison were born in the wild group, an area of 326,600 hectares for the project itself, but also to deal this summer. Unfortunately, 11 ani- was set up in the protected areas of with its effects on the surrounding mals died of various causes: 5 from the Orlovskaya, Bryanskaya, and human populations. The villagers of helminth (an intestinal parasite) in Kaluzhskaya Oblasts for the creation Orlovskaya, Bryanskaya, and the first days after their arrival, and of wild populations of bison in cen- Kaluzhskaya Oblasts are favorably 2 from trauma during mating sea- son. The only abnormal death occurred when a bison was killed by wolves. This death, as well as those due to helminth, can be attributed to the young age at which some of the imported bison were separated from their mothers. Towards the end of spring in 2000, twenty 10- to 12-month-old bison were brought to the National Park from European zoos and national parks via the nursery at Oksky

A herd of bison roams through the snow. Photo courtesy of Orlovskoe Polesie National Park

26 Russian Conservation News Endangered Species

Zapovednik. Early weaning from during the bison’s mating season, the composition of existing herds their mothers’ milk caused many of adjacent territories in Bryanskaya are also extremely important meas- these young bison to develop and Kaluzhskaya Oblasts. ures. helminth infections. Furthermore, because these calves were not Carrying on the creation of wild Thanks to the support of the admin- immediately accepted by their new populations in Orlovskoe Polesie istration of the Orlovskaya Oblast, herd, they did not receive the close National Park requires additional the Russian Program Office of the protection with which cows usually resources which, unfortunately, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) guard their young. In the absence park simply does not have at its and the Global Environment Facility of such protection, the youngest disposal. First, replacing worn out (GEF), important steps have already calf in the group fell prey to technology, such as cars and been taken to initiate the reintro- wolves. motorcycles, is necessary. There are duction of bison into the forests of not enough horses, uniforms, or central European Russia. However, At the present time, four herds, total- equipment for protection, and our without a stable source of funding ing about 80 individuals, have been communication technology is for scientific research, this work sim- created in the three oblasts. In total, insufficient. Second, to carry out ply cannot be carried out to its the herds range over an area of this project to its fullest extent fullest capacity. about 36,000 hectares. However, requires continued scientific because the individual territories of research. This means studying the Vladimir Kazmin is the Deputy the four herds are distanced from ecology of the bison’s forage: Director of Science at Orlovskoe one another, protective measures researching its composition, nutri- Polesie National Park and a member must span a much larger area. Thus, tional makeup, and supply; evaluat- of the Russian Working Group on in order to protect the bison and to ing and predicting the effect of Bison. The author would like to thank regulate their movement, Orlovskoe bison on forest and meadow com- the bison breeding facilities of Polesie National Park and Kaluzhskie munities; and cultivating plant Prioksky-Terrasny and Oksky Zaseki Zapovednik conduct system- species essential to the bison’s diet Zapovedniks and the national parks atic patrols on horses, motorcycles, in order to create special feeding and zoos of Belarus, the Netherlands, and vehicles, covering a territory of fields of wild flora. Researching the Germany, Sweden, Finland, and 84,500 hectares of protected areas, optimum sex and age composition Belgium for their role in the reintro- 57,000 hectares of buffer zone, and, for successful herds and regulating duction of European bison.

Free-roaming bison are a last remaining symbol of Russia’s primeval forest. Photo by V. Shirinya

Summer 2002, No. 30 27 Endangered Species Restoring European Bison Populations in Russia: Challenges Facing Russia’s Breeding Facilities

A new generation in the Oksky Zapovednik nursery. Photo by V. Shirinya

By Ekaterina Tzibizova The first breeding facilities for bison all of the bison existing today are preservation in the former USSR descended from so few individuals, t is hard to believe that the were created in 1948 in Prioksky- maintaining genetic variation in I European bison (Bos bonasus) Terrasny Zapovednik, and in 1959 in small, free-living herds is simply not was once a commonly occurring Oksky Zapovednik. The basic objec- possible without the repeated intro- species in Eastern Europe and west- tives of these facilities are to pre- duction of new animals. ern Russia, and that huge herds of serve the genetic resources of pure- Furthermore, since breeding cannot these animals roamed the vast blooded Caucasus-Belovezh bison, to be controlled in the wild, only care- wooded expanses of these regions. raise young bison for reintroduction fully regulated captive breeding can By 1927, the wild population of into the wild, and to breed and study ensure the continued improvement European bison (Bos bonasus) had bison in captivity. Of course, the ulti- of the species’ gene pool. However, been entirely decimated, and a cen- mate goal of bison preservation is to in the past years, Russia’s bison nurs- sus of bison taken around that time establish free-ranging herds of bison eries have faced substantial chal- reported only 54 individuals remain- capable of sustaining population size lenges that hinder their critical work ing in captivity. In an effort to and genetic variation in the wild. and threaten the entire effort to rebuild the population from these Already, wild populations have been reintroduce bison into the wild. existing animals, a network of bison established in both Bryansky Les nurseries was created in Europe, and Zapovednik and Orlovskoe Polese During the first twenty years of the breeding centers in Poland, National Park (please see accompa- breeding facilities’ existence, Russia’s Germany, and Sweden, as well as nying article page 25). However, captive bison population grew other countries, began to take an captive breeding facilities continue quickly and success appeared to be active role in rehabilitating the to play an essential role in support- imminent. Between 1959 and 1962, species. ing these wild populations. Because two bulls and nine cows were

28 Russian Conservation News Endangered Species brought from Prioksky-Terrasny replaced completely. So far, however, European zoos, the nursery received Zapovednik to Oksky Zapovednik. only 1.5 of the total 13 kilometers of funds for the purchase of mixed fod- Gradually a herd was formed, the wooden fencing have been replaced der. This project was conceived with number of bison increased, and new with concrete posts. Because federal the aim of importing bison into enclosures were constructed to financing has not been available for Russia, where they would be used to house their growing numbers. Then, many years, major repairs remain out establish new wild herds and to in 1967, a fascinating and long- of the question. improve the genetics of the Russian awaited period in the nursery’s histo- livestock. Between July 1999 and ry began – the creation of free- This state of disrepair poses a signifi- April 2000, the nursery took in a roaming populations of bison. This cant threat to the nursery and its total of 41 bison (19 from the year also marked a time of blossom- mission. As the facility further deteri- Netherlands, 8 from Germany, 3 ing and enthusiasm for the work of orates, bison will begin to escape, at from Finland, 10 from Sweden, and the Oksky Zapovednik breeding first sticking to the nursery’s territo- 1 from Belgium), which were then facility. Between 1967 and 1977 the ry, and then moving further away. In distributed between the two breed- nursery produced 12 to 15 calves per the nursery, the bison are carefully ing facilities and the wild popula- year. Suddenly it seemed that all was sorted out according to their lineage, tions in Orlovskoe Polesie National finally in place and the bison would and reproduction is regulated to Park and Bryansky Les Zapovednik. be fully rehabilitated. Now, however, improve the gene pool. Should the after another 20 years of experience, animals escape, however, they are The idea of importing bison from fundamental problems have begun likely to consolidate into one herd, European zoos is remarkable, but to appear. thus risking inbreeding that would extremely complex, and the be detrimental to the genetic viabili- resources available were not suffi- During the Oksky Zapovednik nurs- ty not only of the nursery’s bison, cient to carry out the project to its ery’s first two decades, the number but also the wild herds that depend fullest extent. Indeed, the nursery of bison increased, and all six bison upon frequent additions of new, suffers as a whole from a lack of enclosures were used without any genetically healthy individuals from funding and resources. It sometimes pasture rotation. By the end of the the captive stock. seems as though the facility’s very 1970s, this had resulted in the success will destroy it: because it is exhaustion of natural forage reserves The Oksky Zapovednik breeding an older, more established program, and the spread of severe helminth facility also faces the challenge of organizations seem to assume its (intestinal parasite) infections in the providing forage and fodder for its needs are less urgent, and it is diffi- bison population. Efforts to fight bison. Due to overgrazing in the cult to obtain funds to support our helminth began in 1978, and only past, we now have no natural forage, ongoing initiatives. However, it takes now, after more than 20 years, is the nor do we have any good mixed four to six years to raise a bison and problem finally solved: yearly pre- fodder. Rich fodder can be obtained to allow it to reach breeding maturi- ventative worming has produced in minimum quantities – ten tons ty. The expense of raising bison in positive results. However, the first for the fall and winter period for captivity is much greater than the problem – overgrazing and the sub- 25–30 bison – and we receive con- income we receive from selling the sequent depletion of forage – has centrations of bran and oats as animals to their permanent homes. persisted in the nursery for many donations and aid from our steady Without help, the breeding facilities years. Only very recently has a sponsors, the Ryazan grain company will not survive – and without the decrease in our bison population and the Agricultural Administration nurseries, the creation of wild, free- allowed us to free up one of the of the Ryazan Oblast. But true mixed living herds will remain an unreal- pens and give it several years of rest. fodder for large, horned livestock, ized dream. with all the necessary additives, our But, as a Russian proverb says, bison simply never taste. References: “Troubles never come singly.” Indeed, troubles have visited the Oksky A few years ago, to secure funds to Zablotskii, M. A. Rotating maintenance, Zapovednik bison facility. Without purchase fodder for the bison, the forage, and transportation of bison. adequate funding, the nursery has director of Oksky Zapovednik Moscow: 1957, 113. been unable to maintain the bison agreed to participate in a project to enclosures. Many of the 40-year-old import bison from Europe. In Ekaterina Tzibizova is Director of wooden posts and poles are in such exchange for serving as a place to the bison breeding facility at Oksky disrepair that they need to be quarantine animals arriving from Zapovednik.

Summer 2002, No. 30 29 Endangered Species

Tracking the Anatolian Leopard in the Western Caucasus

By Umar Semenov

A note from the editors: Declared a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the Anatolian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana) survives today in severely fragmented populations, predominant- ly in western Turkey, but may still range as far north and east as the Russian Republic of Karachaevo- Cherkessia, in the Western Caucasus. Estimates place the number of surviv- ing Anatolian leopards at a mere 250, yet, as the following article suggests, our knowledge of this secretive animal is currently too limited to provide an accurate count – or to ensure this endangered species’ survival.

mong the fauna of the Caucasus, A there exists an uncommonly beautiful, strong, and bold beast of prey – the Anatolian leopard Teberdinsky Zapovednik may be one of the last refuges of the Anatolian leopard. (Panthera pardus tulliana). A slender Map by M. Dubinin cat with an elongated body, strong legs, and hooked claws, it stands at a the Little Laba River and at the head- a leopard was spotted on the height of between 50 and 75 cm at waters of the Kisha River. By the zapovednik’s main territory, its tracks the shoulder and rarely exceeds 60 kg 1930’s, however, the leopard popula- again leading west to east, this time in weight. Its ears are short, rounded, tion had declined to such an extent across the Teberda River toward the and lack the tufts that characterize that some believed it had disappeared Gonachkhir Ravine. On September 22, other breeds of wild cats. Its coat, from the Caucasus entirely. 1955, the Anatolian leopard was though neither lush nor glossy, is thick glimpsed for a second time in Arkhyz. and spotted in the leopard’s classic Evidence to the contrary was supplied pattern. Brownish black rosettes with in the mid-1930s, when two leopards Whether the leopard still roams lighter brown centers spot its bright were spotted on the territories of Karachaevo-Cherkessia and the coat of smoky yellow or rusty tones. Teberdinsky Zapovednik, located in Western Caucasus remains an open the mountainous southern reaches of question. Teberdinsky Zapovednik Though currently a critically endan- Karachaevo-Cherkessia, along the val- receives local reports of leopard sight- gered species, during the eighteenth ley of the Teberda River, which flows ings quite frequently, but no one has and nineteenth centuries, the from the steppes of southwestern been able to verify these with any cer- Anatolian leopard inhabited a wide Russia to the Black Sea. The first sight- tainty. Most likely, the Anatolian leop- territory. Leopards roamed the ing, in 1934, traced the leopard to ard sporadically appears in Western Caucasus from the Karachai Arkhyz, a secondary site of Karachaevo-Cherkessia, crossing in Mountains of Karachaevo-Cherkessia Teberdinsky Zapovednik located to from neighboring regions. Considering to the banks of the Black Sea. the west of the Teberda. Its tracks led that the hunting grounds of each indi- Particularly large populations were west to east, from Kavkazsky vidual can comprise up to 100 square found to the west of the Karachaevo- Zapovednik deep into Karachaevo- kilometers, this hypothesis seems Cherkessia, in the mountains around Cherkessia Republic. Three years later, quite plausible.

30 Russian Conservation News Endangered Species

With its rocky gorges and thick been considered an enviable trophy apiece. At that time, the pelts of bears, forests, the Western Caucasus provides for hunters. In the past, the animal’s wolves, and fox sold for just 1 ruble, the inaccessible, mountainous habitat secretive life and the danger of possi- and marten for 2 rubles. that the Anatolian leopard prefers. ble attack made leopard hunting This species inhabits dense, remote especially difficult, colorful, and pres- Although the Anatolian leopard is mountain forests 1,000 to 3,500 tigious. Among mountain dwellers, now legally protected from hunters, meters above sea level, where the the status accorded to leopard lack of knowledge about the leopard’s relief is convoluted by rocky areas, hunters served as an additional stim- actual area of distribution continues deep ravines, and mountain rivers. ulus to hunt this majestic cat, and to stand in the way of conservation Avoiding open plains, the leopards successful hunters were surrounded efforts. Researchers at Teberdinsky descend occasionally to piedmont with an aura of fame and universal Zapovednik are therefore planning a woods and build their dens in fissures respect. scientific expedition for 2003 to in the rock, in caves, or often in dense investigate all the ravines in woods or brush. In the mid-nineteenth century, leop- Karachaevo-Cherkessia, in order to ard pelts were in high demand by determine whether the leopard exists Strong and agile predators, Anatolian Cossacks and provided communities in the Western Caucasus. To conduct leopards hunt primarily during the in the Western Caucasus with a valu- this expedition, the zapovednik hopes night hours, feeding on wild ungulates able object to trade in exchange for to secure the participation of scien- such as roe deer, chamois, deer, boar, tists from different countries, as well and Caucasian tur (a mountain goat). as the financial support required for Anatolian Leopard (Panthera pardus tul- These large, beautiful cats climb grace- their work. Names of participating liana). Courtesy of Teberdinsky fully over rocks and in trees, and researchers will be published in a Zapovednik make fantastic leaps. They can reach report of the expedition high speeds in a short distance and will, of course, be and overtake roe deer, closely linked to the chamois, and tur. Often, history of the they lie in ambush for Anatolian leopard their prey, sometimes by in the Caucasus. hiding in trees. When faced with insufficient food, In far off times, the leopards hunt birds, leopard hunting rodents, and other emphasized the animals, and in daring and courage some cases of the mountain even attack dwellers. At that time, bears. In pas- the animal was a wor- tured areas, thy adversary, and few they will could bring themselves to attack live- meet it face to face in the stock and, depths of a ravine. Now, howev- more often, dogs. As a er, times are different, and we must predator, the Anatolian leopard respect the courage and the aggressive can be quite dangerous to man as salt. Research in the archives of the daring of this consummate predator. well: it has been known to attack Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic Any shot fired at it could turn out to humans unprovoked, though this recently led to the discovery of origi- be the end of the leopard’s history in happens quite rarely. nal copies of official trade records Karachaevo-Cherkessia. Without its entitled “List of Goods and Products presence, the Caucasus would not The fragmentation of Anatolian leop- Exchanged for Salt with Mountain seem quite so high, so beautiful, or so ard populations in the Western Dwellers” for the years 1848 and mysterious. Caucasus and throughout Eurasia, 1950. These documents reveal that though in part due to habitat during those two years, Caucasus Umar Semenov is Deputy Director of destruction, is largely a result of mountain dwellers sold the Cossacks Science Research at Teberdinsky poaching. Possessing a beautiful coat, fifteen Anatolian leopard pelts for a Zapovednik and a Candidate of the Anatolian leopard has always total of 300 silver rubles, or 20 rubles Biological Sciences.

Summer 2002, No. 30 31 NGO Activities NGO Activities Wetland Training, Research, and Education: NGO Activities in Armenia

ince the collapse of the Soviet changing environmental conditions, time against a background of heavily S Union, Armenia has faced at accelerating rates, will be crucial exploited forests, steppes, and mead- tremendous unemployment and to communities and wildlife every- ows. However, between the 1930s and population decline, and news of where, especially as our ecosystems ‘50s, most of Armenia’s large wetland local environmental efforts has sel- begin to feel the full impact of cli- areas were drained in order to combat dom reached Russia or the Western mate change. Because the multiple malaria, dysentery, and cholera, and to world. However, this by no means roles of wetland ecosystems and create agricultural fields. implies that nothing is being done to their value to humanity have been address environmental degradation increasingly understood and docu- Development during these years also in the country. In fact, the mented only in recent years, efforts targeted Lake Sevan, Armenia’s largest Professional and Entrepreneurial to study and preserve these ecosys- lake and one of the largest high ele- Orientation Union (often called sim- tems are all the more critical. vation lakes in all of Eurasia. Due to ply Orientation), a non- its size and high alpine governmental, nonprofit location, Lake Sevan was organization, has been work- used to generate hydroelec- ing since 1988 to address tric power and to irrigate these concerns and to equip large portions of Armenia’s both scientists and local citi- arid valleys. This project was zens with the information abandoned in the 1950s, they need to make ecologi- but even so, over the past cally sound decisions in poli- sixty years, the level of the cy and business. lake has dropped more than 20 meters, causing a In particular, Orientation loss of approximately 40 concentrates its efforts on the percent of the lake’s vol- conservation of Armenia’s ume. Since the fall of the wetlands. By conducting Soviet Union, political dis- research, inventorying the Though often considered an arid country, Armenia possesses putes with Azerbaijan have region’s wetlands, evaluating an intricate system of wetlands. Photo by K. Jenderedjian resulted in an energy block- their ecological and econom- ade against Armenia by ic significance, and conducting wet- Though generally thought of as an Azerbaijan and Turkey, thus renewing land management trainings, arid country, Armenia contains an Armenia’s reliance upon Lake Sevan Orientation strives to generate the intricate system of rivers, lakes, and as a source of electricity. Total wet- knowledge necessary to protect underground water sources, including land loss throughout Armenia during these vital natural areas. two sites protected under the Ramsar the twentieth century amounts to an Convention on Wetlands of estimated 40,000 hectares. Why focus on wetlands in particular? International Importance. Wetlands Wetlands support a vast number of cover 6.17 percent of the country, 89 Educating Armenia’s scientists is per- plant and animal species and are percent in open water (lakes, ponds, haps the most important step among the most biologically diverse rivers, reservoirs, and canals), 8 per- towards restoring and preserving the ecosystems on earth. They are also cent in temporary flooded areas nation’s wetland resources. Starting economically significant as sources (including saltwater), and only 2 per- with its “First National Training of water, energy resources, flood cent in permanent marshes, fens, and Course on Wetland Management” in control, and climate stabilization. peat bogs. Historically, Armenia’s wet- 1999, Orientation has had great suc- The ability of wetlands to adapt to lands remained undisturbed for a long cess in equipping wetland manage-

32 Russian Conservation News NGO Activities ment staff in Armenia and through- and techniques out the CIS with greater knowledge for wetland pro- of sustainable wetland management tection is an practices. The 1999 training was urgent priority. attended by 12 Armenian wetland managers and researchers, and a During the course subsequent training in 2000 targeted of the 2001 inter- managers of Sevan National Park, national training, which is recognized by the Ramsar participants drafted Convention as a Wetland of a resolution for the International Importance. The skills responsible man- and knowledge covered in these agement of wet- seminars included the application of lands in the NIS. monitoring techniques, determina- This resolution Armenia’s wetlands create nesting habitat for waterfowl and tion of the values and problems of calls attention to preserve biodiversity. Photo by K. Jenderedjian wetlands, stakeholder analysis, the problems fac- assessment of management objec- ing wetlands in the NIS, the lack of laboration in wetland protection in a tives and their practical application, national strategies to alleviate these regional seminar, “Current Issues of wetland restoration planning, and problems, and the need for greater Conservation and Wise Use of preparation of a management plan. international cooperation, particularly Wetlands and Wetland Biodiversity where wetland resources cross politi- in the European Newly Independent In 2001, Orientation enlarged its cal boundaries. To facilitate informa- States,” to be held in 2003. This sem- operations in order to educate indi- tion exchange between and within inar will highlight the importance of viduals employed by reserves, gov- countries, the resolution recommends regional partnerships and coopera- ernmental environmental depart- collaborative projects for inventorying, tion in wetland conservation and ments, public organizations, and monitoring, and managing wetlands; wise-use policies, and it will be open businesses throughout the European creation of databases in a shared for- to everyone interested in conserva- NIS. Originally planned for 12 peo- mat for storing data on wetland tion, management, and research of ple, the “Regional Training Course resources; regular seminars and train- wetlands in the European NIS. on Wetland Management for ings on problems of wetland conserva- Technical Staff of Wetland tion; and publication of a regional Orientation’s work seeks to promote Conservation and Management electronic bulletin and a collection of international cooperation and public Institutions in the Newly articles devoted to practical experi- support for wetland protection, all Independent States (NIS) of the ence in managing wetlands. To better the while never losing sight of the European Region” was expanded to involve the public in wetland conser- importance of providing technical accommodate the growing need for vation, the participants called for a training to those involved in the training, and in the end 19 people regional association of citizens and practical management of wetlands in from six countries attended the sem- organizations for the protection and the NIS. As Armenia struggles to inar. Though the Newly Independent study of wetlands, regional wetland cope with its Soviet legacy – both States vary in size and climate, they education programs for children and ecologically and economically – the all face a similar inheritance after the youth, and auto tours that promote work of Orientation is crucial to the collapse of socialism in the USSR: public support for wetland protection preservation of the nation’s fragile transitional economies with old- and foster information exchange. wetland resources. fashioned management techniques, poor environmental conditions, and Orientation’s projects continue in Compiled by RCN editors based upon a shortage of funds for nature pro- the fall of 2002 with a weeklong information provided by Karen tection. While often the staff mem- wetland training in conjunction with Jenderedjian, Project Coordinator of bers of institutions involved in wet- the larger project, “Wetland the Professional and Entrepreneurial land protection in these states are Management and Poverty Reduction Orientation Union, as well as supple- very enthusiastic, many lack the in Mountain Regions of Difficult mental information from the websites training and knowledge required to Access: Lake Apri and Mount Aragats. of the Ramsar Convention put preservation measures into prac- Mitigating Problems through Public (www.ramsar.org) and the United tice. Equipping these devoted indi- Awareness and Training.” The organi- Nations Development Programme – viduals with the latest information zation plans to further advocate col- Armenia (www.undp.am).

Summer 2002, No. 30 33 Conservation Management News of the Day

sixth new territory, Kampaneysky A Gift to the Earth Natural Monument (6,100 ha), will from the Amur Oblast preserve cedar-broadleaf forests threatened by the creation of the estled along a crook of the work of WWF, the Amur Oblast Bureysky Reservoir, which flooded a N Amur River, which forms the Nongovernmental Environmental huge territory and submerged much border between China and the Organization (Amur SEU), and the of the area’s woodland ecosystems. Russian Far East, the Amur Oblast Amur Oblast Committee on Natural Smirnovsky Zakaznik (897 ha) will (Amur region) is home to both virgin Resources, six new territories, total- also protect a threatened forest area forest and the wetlands of the Amur ing more than 700,000 hectares, have by preserving the last remaining River basin. These ecosystems support already been established, and 8.4 per- woodlands in an area degraded by the endangered white stork and red- cent of the Amur region is now intensive agriculture. This small crowned crane and serve as the under protection. zakaznik is also slated to function migration route for the world’s last as a reserve to protect the diversity large migrating population of roe deer All but one of the newly established of Red Data Book plants of the (see Norsky Zapovednik article, page territories are zakazniks, or special Amur flood plain. 2). Though not a densely populated purpose preserves, designated for area, the Amur region’s intact natural the conservation of unique plant Additionally, the two largest areas are quickly disappearing, prima- ecosystems and virgin forest. Unlike zakazniks, Imangra (250,000 ha) and rily due to unsustainable, and some- zapovedniks, times illegal, logging practices. As the which broadly international demand for timber con- protect all natu- tinues to increase, particularly from ral systems with- China, preserving these landscapes is in their bound- an urgent priority. aries, zakazniks are set up to pro- This June, Leonid Korotkov, governor tect a specific of the Amur Oblast, took a crucial species or habitat step toward protecting these endan- – in this case, gered ecosystems. His administration endangered for- pledged to increase the region’s pro- est ecosystems. tected areas by 1.4 million hectares Ulegir Zakaznik over the next three years. This will (95,000 ha), situ- expand the network of protected ated at the areas, or Econet, to cover a full ten region’s western percent of the oblast by 2005 – thus border with the meeting the ten percent standard Chita Oblast, will recommended by UNESCO, the protect a unique United Nations Educational, mountain pine Scientific, and Cultural Organization. forest, the last Given the significance of this com- stand of virgin mitment, World Wildlife Fund forest remaining (WWF) declared the governor’s deci- along the sion a Gift to the Earth, defined as “a Transiberian globally significant conservation Railway. Further action which demonstrates environ- east, Malmalta mentally-responsible leadership and Zakaznik is an example of best practice and an (13,200 ha), Protected areas in the Amur Oblast. inspiration to others.” Thanks to the along with the Map by E. Baldina. Source: WWF Gift to the Earth

34 Russian Conservation News Conservation Management

Olekminsky (368,000 ha), will help mals for their livelihood. By protect- Compiled by RCN editors based on preserve not only nature, but also ing habitat suited to grazing rein- information provided by the World the traditional lifestyle of the indige- deer, these zakazniks further the sur- Wide Fund for Nature Russia nous Evenk people. Known for their vival of both the natural environ- Program Office and the Amur Oblast enormous herds of reindeer, the ment and the indigenous Evenki Nongovernmental Environmental Evenk people rely upon these ani- population. Organization (Amur SEU).

A Gift from Primorsky Krai

In a second Gift to the Earth this June, the governor of Primorsky Krai (Primorsky district), committed an addi- tional 1.8 million hectares to nature conservation, nearly tripling the size of the region’s protected areas. Located in the southeastern corner of the Russian Far East, between China and the Sea of Japan, Primorsky Krai pro- vides critical habitat for the endangered Amur tiger. The newly protected territories will further the WWF-funded “Tiger Econet” project, a system of protected corridors that help provide these tigers safe passage throughout their habitat. The Primorsky Gift to the Earth will also protect brown and black bears, lynx, wolf, musk deer, and the wild ginseng plant; preserve virgin forest slated for clear-cutting; and protect the traditional lifestyle of the indigenous Udege people.

Protected areas in the Primorsky Krai. Map by E. Baldina. Source: WWF Gift to the Earth

President Putin Visits Far East Zapovednik

he visited the Far East Marine did provide an important opportu- Zapovednik in the Primorsky nity for managers such as zapoved- (Maritime) region in eastern Russia. nik director Andrei Malyutin and The reserve, established to protect conservation groups such as World the rich marine biodiversity of the Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to Sea of Okhotsk, is occasionally sub- highlight the importance of marine ject to poaching of species such as conservation in this part of the sea urchin. According to the world. Russian newspaper Izvestia, Putin promised to discuss issues sur- Information for this article was rounding marine protection with translated and compiled by the federal Border Guard. Whether Janet Starkweather and Russian Prezident Vladimit Putin Putin's visit will bring tangible ben- Konstantine Zgurovksy, and efits to the Far East Marine revised by Margaret Williams of n August, Russia's President Zapovednik is yet to be seen. World Wildlife Fund-US. Additional I Vladimir Putin made a trip to the However, the leader's presence on information is available at Russian Far East, during which time the territory of this protected area www.wwf.ru.

Summer 2002, No. 30 35 Bulletein Board BULLETIN BOARD

Corrections national parks, and information on meetings and conferences. The Please note that UNDP was incor- English version includes translations rectly identified on page 7 of the pre- of selected articles from the Russian vious issue of RCN. UNDP stands for contact the Pacific Research Fisheries bulletin and can be read at the United Nations Development Centre: (4212) 38-70-21, http://www.biodiversity.ru/eng/ Programme. The editorial board of [email protected], publications/zpnp/archive/n32e/ RCN apologizes for this inaccuracy. [email protected]. content.html. Internet Resources International Request for for Caucasus NGOs Seminar Information on Marine Ecotourism Free Web Hosting for Caucasus Interpreting Our Mountain Erich Hoyt, Senior Research Associate Environmental NGOs Heritage: Guiding, Environmental Education, and Interpretation in for the Whale and Dolphin The Caucasus Environmental NGO Mountain Areas Conservation Society and Co- Network (CENN) now offers free Director of the Far East Russia Orca web hosting for environmental Zakopane, Poland, Project, is investigating the feasibility NGOs active in the South Caucasus. 7–10 November 2002 and potential of marine ecotourism For more information, or to initiate and whale/dolphin watching tours web hosting for your NGO, please This seminar invites mountain all around Russia. He would be grate- see the CENN website at guides, rangers, environmental edu- ful to hear news from anyone work- www.cenn.org. cators, journalists, and scientists to ing on whales & dolphins, marine explore different approaches to protected areas with whales & dol- mountain recreation and the ways phins, and/or marine tourism, or Electronic Directory of in which these approaches incorpo- from anyone aware of whale and Caucasus Environmental NGOs rate – or don’t incorporate – envi- dolphin watching possibilities. CENN has compiled a web-based ronmental education and conserva- Communication in English can be directory of environmental NGOs tion. Participants will also have the directed to Erich Hoyt (based in active in the Caucasus which opportunity to visit the Pieniny Scotland) at [email protected] includes each organization’s contact Mountains National Park. or in Russian to Karina Tarasyan at information, mission, projects, and [email protected]. primary area of focus. The directory For more information, please contact can be accessed at www.cenn.org. Manfred Pils ([email protected], fax: +43- Interactive Map 1-812-9789) or Piotr Dabrowski of the Artic First International ([email protected], Symposium on Fish fax: +48-12-423-1697). UNEP/GRID-Arendal, part of the Biodiversity of the United Nations Environmental Amur River Fresh Zapovedniks and Programme, has fully updated its Waters National Parks Artic Environmental Atlas, an interac- Published in English tive map accessible on the Internet at Khabarovsk, Russia, on the Web http://maps.grida.no/arctic. The map 29 October – 3 November 2002 shows the view of the Arctic region The Biodiversity Conservation centered on the geographic North This symposium focuses on species Center announces the publication Pole and includes everything north diversity, systematics, and zoogeogra- of its second English language issue of 50 degrees north latitude. New in phy of the fish of the Amur River and of the web-based version of this revision are an interface for adjacent rivers, as well as problems of Zapovedniks and National Parks. desktop software to access the map, biodiversity conservation. For more This electronic bulletin provides updated data on human impact on information see www.pacificenviron- conservation guidelines, legislation the Arctic, access to a database on ment.org/russia/amurconference, or news, reports from reserves and national parks, and more.

36 Russian Conservation News Abstracts in Russian Аннотации статей, представленных в номере

Раздел I. Раздел III. родукции зубра в сохранившиеся и восста- Особо охраняемые Законодательство навливаемые лесолуговые экосистемы цен- тральной части России. «В защиту лесов Казахстана». Инна Ан- природные территории. «Проблемы сохранения европейских зу- ташкевич. Лесная кампания Форума эколо- Норский заповедник: портрет одного бров в питомниках России». Екатерина гов Казахстана выступила с предложениями из новых заповедников России. Николай Цибизова. Для того, чтобы вырастить зубра по реорганизации лесного хозяйства стра- Колобаев. Норский - первый и единствен- в питомнике, дождаться его половозрелости ны. Последняя редакция Лесного Кодекса РК ный маревый заповедник России. На неболь- и получить потомство требуется от 4-х до 6 может привести к переводу особо ценных шой территории здесь встречаются растения лет. Затраты на содержание и выращивание лесных массивов в ленточных борах в кате- и животные, характерные для разных при- зубров значительно выше тех доходов, кото- горию "резерватов", и, соответственно, к родных зон: тундры, тайги, широколиствен- рые питомники получают после реализации проведению рубок главного пользования, че- ных лесов и степей. Среди них много редких животных в места их дальнейшего пребыва- го нельзя допустить ни в коем случае. и исчезающих видов: адлумия азиатская ния. Сложилась парадоксальная ситуация: зу- (Adlumia asiatica), пион обратнояйцевидный «Лесной бизнес может проявить боль- бры нужны только работникам питомников. (Paeonia obovata), черный и японский журав- шую ответственность в защите ле- Но без помощи – питомники не выживут, не ли (Grus monacha, G. Japonensis), рыбный сов, чем Министерство природных ре- смогут выполнять свои задачи, как не выжи- Многие филин (Ketupa blakistoni). Главной достопри- сурсов РФ». Владимир Захаров. вут и вольные популяции зубров, поскольку из руководителей лесного бизнеса начина- мечательностью заповедника является селем- даже в действующую популяцию нужно обя- ют понимать, что период дикого капитализ- джинская популяция крупнейшей в мире зательно добавлять свежий материал. ма прошёл, что гораздо выгоднее и перспек- мигрирующей группировки сибирской косу- «Переднеазиатский леопард: где теря- тивнее вкладывать средства в развитие пере- ли (Capreolus capreolus) численностью до 7 ются его следы на Кавказе?». Умар Се- работки и выпуск готовой продукции. Но, к тыс. голов. Летняя плотность населения косу- менов. Сотрудники Тебердинского запо- ли достигает здесь 40–50 особей на 1000 га. сожалению, инвестировать в производство ведника получают много устных сообще- осмеливаются немногие, поскольку нет чёт- Раздел II. ний от жителей о встречах с леопардом. В кой государственной политики в этой обла- 2003 году планируется научная экспедиция Устойчивое развитие: что сти. Пока же политика государства больше с целью изучения экологии переднеазиат- определяет позиции России? направлена на увеличение заготовок и тор- ского леопарда и ответа на вопрос есть он говлю необработанным лесом. «Позиция России в Йоханнесбурге: итоги в горах Западного Кавказа или нет. В связи Всемирного саммита ООН по устойчиво- Раздел IV. с этим, были бы желательными участие на- му развитию». В публикуемом материале Экосистемы в опасности. учных специалистов из других стран и фи- собраны мнения об итогах саммита извест- нансовая поддержка этих работ. Имя иссле- «Этническое разнообразие и устойчи- ных людей – политиков, ученых, представи- дователей может войти в историю, как в вое землепользование в долинах высоко- телей правительства и НПО, участвовавших в случае успеха, так и неудачи экспедиции, горного Таджикистана». Алексей Гуня. его подготовке и проведении со стороны Рос- но всегда оно будет тесно переплетаться с Высоко в горах северо-западного Таджики- сии. В переговорах, которые велись в Йохан- историей леопарда на Кавказе. стана на высоте более 3 тыс. метров над несбурге, российская делегация недвусмыс- уровнем моря в чрезвычайной географиче- Раздел VI. ленно заявила, что Россия готова ратифици- ской и культурной изоляции от всего мира ровать Киотский протокол, но при условии, Опыт неправительственных проживает этническая группа – ягнобцы. что мировые лидеры учтут ее экологическую организаций Это небольшой островок древней цивилиза- роль, списав с нее часть долгов «большой се- ции, где сохранились уникальные способы «Водно-болотные угодья Армении: опыт мерке». Речь может идти о 20% долга — и это ведения устойчивого сельского хозяйства на НПО в их сохранении и изучении». Карен не его прощение, а самый натуральный зачет, экстремальных высотах. В статье рассказыва- Джендереджян. «Союз по профессиональ- который давно пора было сделать. ется о людях долины Ягноб, их культуре и ной и предпринимательской ориентации» - «Россия на экологической карте мира». экологических традициях. неправительственная, некоммерческая орга- Николай Клюев. Россия является главным низация, которая работает с 1988 г. и кон- «Посади дерево и обрети надежду: па- экологическим донором планеты и распола- центрирует свои усилия на сохранении вод- мирцы восстанавливают березовые ле- гает 20% мировых запасов пресной воды, но-болотных угодий Армении. Проводит на- са». Виктория Колесникова. Когда-то эн- 25% запасов леса и полезных ископаемых, демик Памира – памирская береза (Betula учные исследования и инвентаризацию забо- соответственно. Россия, экономика которой лоченных земель, оценивает их экологиче- pamirica) росла целыми рощами. Теперь бе- составляет всего 2% мирового ВВП, отвечает ское и экономическое значение, проводит реза исчезла. Основная причина – повсеме- за сохранность 10% мировых экологических обучение менеджменту таких угодий. стные рубки на дрова для отопления и при- систем и чуть не в одиночку тянет общий готовления пищи. После серии семинаров воз, сохраняя для планеты ее экологические Раздел VII. фонда «Фокус», проведенных в 2000–2002 сокровища. За 10 лет именно Россия обеспе- Новости дня. гг. местные жители решили восстановить в чила 60% общего сокращения выбросов на «Подарок Земле от Амурской долине Батанга леса из памирской березы, планете. Учитывается ли мировым сообщест- области». 13 июня 2002 года Губернатор когда поняли, какие опасности им грозят, вом эта роль России? Этот и другие вопросы, Амурской области Леонид Коротков если лесов не будет вообще. связанные с внешними и внутренними угро- подписал постановление о создании на зами экологической безопасности России Раздел V. территории Амурской области шести новых нашли отражение в аналитическом материа- Виды животных и растений особо охраняемых природных территорий: ле известного ученого д.г.н. Н.Н. Клюева. пять заказников и один памятник природы находящиеся под угрозой «Атлас малонарушенных лесов России». общей площадью 734 тысячи гектаров. Еще Атлас малонарушенных лесных территорий исчезновения. более решительный шаг сделал Губернатор России был создан в рамках Всемирной лес- «Восстановление вольно живущей по- Приморского края, который подписал ной вахты (Global Forest Watch). Уникальное пуляции зубра в центре европейской распоряжение о расширении ООПТ края на издание подготовлено российскими экспер- части России. Владимир Казьмин. 1,8 млн. га. тами на основе инвентаризации российских Жизнь в дикой природе – это единствен- «WWF приветствует первый визит лесов. При подготовке атласа были исполь- ная возможность сохранить европейского президента Путина в Дальневосточный зованы тысячи космических снимков рос- зубра – к такому выводу пришло междуна- морской заповедник». Визит Президента сийских и американских спутников, топо- родное научное сообщество. Создание РФ имел большой резонанс в СМИ и графические карты, материалы российской вольно живущей популяции зубра в нацио- позволил осветить ряд важных вопросов, лесной службы и данные многочисленных нальном парке "Орловское Полесье" пред- стоящих сегодня перед работниками наземных экспедиций. ставляет собой начальный этап в реинт- заповедников и экологами.

Summer 2002, No. 30 CONSERVATION CONTACTS

Amur Oblast Nongovernmental Oksky Biosphere Zapovednik. Katerina Environmental Organization (Amur SEU). Tsibizova, Director of bison breeding facility. P.O. Svetlana Titova, Director. office 36,Relochnuy 3, Box Lakash, Spassky Raion, Ryazanskaya Oblast, Blagoveschensk, Amur region, 675000, Russia. 391072, Russia. Tel/ Fax: +7 (091–35) 21–97–70. Tel/Fax: +7(4162) 53–44–79. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Forum of Ecologists of Kazakhstan. Inna Orlovskoe Polesie National Park. Vladimir Kazmin, Antashkevich, Forest Campaign Coordinator and Deputy Director. P.O. Zhurdo, Khatunetsky Raion, Director of the “Bars” Center for Social Development. Orlovskaya Oblast, 303943, Russia. Room 2, Kunaeva Street, 3, Ridder, 493910, Kazakhstan. Tel/ Fax: +7 (086–42) 2–14–38. Tel/Fax: +7 (32336) 2–44–47. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Professional and Entrepreneurial Orientation Global Forest Watch. 10 G Street NE, Washington, DC Union. Karen Jenderedjian, Project Coordinator. 20002, USA. Tel: +1 (202)729–7600. Arabkir, 51st Street, 3, # 60, Yerevan, 375037, Armenia. Fax: +1 (202)729–7686. Email: [email protected]. Tel: (374 1) 56–80–27. Fax: (374 1) 15–19–59. Website: www.globalforestwatch.org. E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Alexei Gunya. Science Researcher. Institute of Socio-Ecological Union. Vladimir Zakharov, Co- Geography, Russian Academy of Science. Staromonetny Editor of the Forest Bulletin published by the Russian Per. 29, 109013, Moscow, Russia. NGOs Forest Club. Vavilova Street, 41, Office 3, P.O. Box Tel: +7 (095)315–05–26. Fax: +7 (095) 959–00–33. 211, 119019, Moscow. Tel.:+7 (095) 124–79–34. E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected], Web-site: http://www.forest.ru/rus/bulletin

International Socio-Ecological Union. Victoria Kolesnikova, Center for Coordination and Information. Teberdinsky Zapovednik. Umar Semenov, Deputy P.O. Box 211, 119019, Moscow, Russia. Director of Science. Baduksky Per.1, Pos. Teberda, Tel.: +7 (095) 124–79–34. Email: [email protected]. Karachaevo-Cherkessia Republic, 357192, Russia. Web-site: http://www.seu.ru E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Nikolai Kluev, Head Science Researcher. World Wide Fund for Nature Russian Far East Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Science. Office. Steven J. Nelson, Coordinator. Office 411, 68, Staromonetny Per. 29, 109013, Moscow, Russia. Tel: Pologaya St, Vladivostok, 690091 Russia. (095)315–05–26. Fax +7 (095) 959–00–33. Tel: +7 (4232) 406–651. Fax: +7 (4232) 430–958. E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Norsky Zapovednik. Nikolai Kolobaev, Deputy World Wide Fund for Nature Russian Program Director. P.O.Box 66, Sayanskaya Street, Pos. Fevralsk, Office. Nikolyamskaya St. 19-3, Moscow, 109240 Russia. Selemdzhinsky Raion, Amurskaya Oblast, 676572, Russia. Tel: +7 (095) 727–09–39. Fax: (095) 727–09–38. Tel.: +7 (416-55) 3–11–85. Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

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