NATURAL HERITAGE of TAIMYR: Senior Researcher,Senior Alterra, Wageningen University Andresearch Centre

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88 SUSTAINABILITY (+31-317)-41-90-00; E-mail:[email protected] Netherlands, P.O. Box 47,6700AA Wageningen, Tel: (+31-317)-48-64-57;fax: Corresponding author * 36; E-mail:[email protected] 119991, Moscow, Leninskiye Gory, 1. Tel: (+7-495)-939-39-92;fax:(+7-495)-932-88- (+31-317)-41-90-00; E-mail:[email protected] The Netherlands, P.O. Box 47,6700AA Wageningen, Tel: (+31-317)-48-53-96;fax: (+7-495)-932-88-36; E-mail:[email protected] University. Russia,119991,Moscow, Leninskiye Gory, 1. Tel: (+7-495)-939-39-92;fax: 1 position: the Peninsula is the northernmost position: thePeninsula isthenorthernmost Taimyr isdue, primarily, to itsgeographical state ofnaturalsystems. The uniquenessof environmental features and almostpristine byauniquecombination of characterized regions oftheRussian Arctic, socio-economic The Taimyr Peninsula is oneofthelargest Dutch expeditions, ecotourism. protected areas, indigenouspeople, Russian- isdemonstrated.heritage effective forms ofsustainableusethe developing asoneofthemost ecotourism the results ofapilotproject,thefeasibility of and therole ofpublicauthorities. Basedon the interests ofthelocalindigenouspeoples, ofheritage, responsibility for thepreservation expeditions. Issuesdiscussedare the of many years ofRussian-Dutch ecological of itssignificance isbasedontheresults conditions oftheregion. The assessment oftheenvironmentalthe perspective of heritage Taimyr within Siberia) (northern 4 3 2 Yuri L.Mazurov ABSTRACT. INTRODUCTION KEY WORDS: AND SUSTAINABLE USE CHALLENGES FOR ITS CONSERVATION NATURAL HERITAGE OF TAIMYR: Senior Researcher,Senior Alterra, Wageningen University andResearch Centre. The Professor, Faculty ofGeography, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Russia, Associate Professor, Geography Soil andLandscapeGroup, Wageningen University. ResearchSenior Associate, Faculty ofGeography, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State The article discusses thenatural The article natural heritage, Taimyr, Arctic, 1* , Bart Ebbinge , Bart 2 , Alla A.Pakina world. naturelast majoretalonsofpristine inthe of thesefactors, Taimyr today isoneofthe state.almost intact Through acombination natural ecosystems ofthePeninsula inan ofthefragile tocontributed theconservation ofSiberia) to otherparts train connections (nohighways norareas ofthecountry remoteness of Taimyr from thedeveloped the south,harshclimaticconditionsand in –Norilsk zone around theaxisDudinka reindeer. Except for theheavily polluted resources, commercial huntingspeciesand mineral ores andprecious stones, water ofnaturalresources:the availability various south -resulted inasignificant in variation to fromto west north andover 1,000km by thePeninsula from east –about1,200km complex. occupied territory The enormous industrial tundra atthelatitudeofNorilsk (75°N)to theforest- inthefarnorth desert natural landscapesranging from thepolar Peninsula (Fig. 1),there isatransitionin From to southwithinthe north Taimyr ofitslandscape structure.singular diversity in Eurasia,buttheworld, resulting ina of thecontinentallandmassesnotonly 3 , BasPedroli 4 50.029:23:23 9:23:23 25.09.2012 ggi312.indd 89 i 3 1 2 . i n d d

nature reserves: theGreatnature Arctic, reserves: thePutorana existence ofthethree largest Russianstate on the Taimyr Peninsula isreflected inthe The presence oflarge areas nature ofpristine future generations, i.e. naturalheritage. forpreserved thebenefitofpresent and ofnatural resources to category be priority of theregion asawholeto beanabsolute the ecosystems andthenaturallandscapes delta,givePyasina River reason to consider mostly inthevastregionconducted ofthe ecosystems. The results ofthesestudies, and geographers to studyhigh-latitude years RussianandDutch between ecologists among whichacooperationofmore than20 researchnumber ofinternational projects, This interest ismanifest inthegrowing inrelationspecial topicality to globalchange. of theglobalecosystem thatcurrently have a interest inidentifyingitsrole inthedynamics From thisperspective, Taimyr isofparticular NATURAL HERITAGE OF TAIMYR 8 9 Fig. 1. Western Taimyr Peninsula, Eastern Siberia, Russia and the expedition study area area study expedition the and Russia Siberia, Eastern Taimyr Peninsula, 1. Western Fig. in the Pyasina Delta Pyasina the in of the “Great Arctic” reser 1995, itwasdesignated asoneoftheclusters the Peninsula, value;in hashigh biodiversity delta,amongother areas The PyasinaRiver of accurate indication. Peninsula”, whichto ouropinionisnotavery “coastal andthe tundraofSiberia Taimyr 200) identifiedby withthedenotation WWF of the200ecoregions (Global oftheworld constitute theecological ofone framework for rare species. Precisely thesereserves andoccurrenceof biodiversity habitats aboveare allbyahighlevel characterised the globalsystem ofnature they reserves, and the Taimyr Nature In Reserves. Strict that needofprotection. The wetlands of ofthe Arctic,ecological aspects diversity theentirecomprise rangeofbiological and The cluster projected sothat itsboundaries Sea. islands ofthecoastalwaters oftheKara the adjacentlarge areas, aswell asnumerous and hectares ofthedeltaPyasinaRiver site covers anarea ofmore thanonemillion ve (Fig. 2). T he Pyasina 225.09.2012 9:23:23 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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9 0 of them marine animals.of themmarine isrepresentedthe reserve by16species, four to nestinitsterritory. The mammalfaunaof 124 species, 55ofwhichhave beenobserevd fauna ofthe Arctic”“Great includes reserve Krai. Russia andoftheKrasnoyarsk The bird plant speciesare listed inthe RedBooksof significance:international many animaland the Pyasinadeltahave anacknowledged Fig. 3. A snap-shot of a working day of the expedition (a discussion of counting nests on the islands) islands) the on nests counting of (a discussion expedition the of day a working of Asnap-shot 3. Fig. Fig. 2. Clusters of the “Great Arctic” state nature reserve nature state Arctic” “Great the of Clusters 2. Fig. (photo byV. Grabovsky) (photo assistance of Alterra (Wageningen University University (Wageningen assistance ofAlterra expeditions (Fig. 3)organized with the integrated ofinternational series ecological Pyasina site research outbya wascarried 2002–2008,atthe [Ebbinge etal., 2000].In expeditionsfrominternational 1990–1999 of scientificresearch, of includingaseries been repeatedly bythe results confirmed The valueofthePyasinadeltaarea has 225.09.2012 9:23:24 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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habitat for water birds. For example, on The deltacomplexes are themostfavorable melting upinJune. vast expansesoftheArcticcoastRussia year theyinvariably return to the But every Asiasome inSouthAfrica, andeven Australia. ofthemspendthewinter inEurope,Most birds from different regions oftheworld. habitats ofhundreds ofthousandswater islands ofadjacentwaters are thesummer The coastofthe Taimyr Peninsula andthe etal., 2011]. Raad [Ebbinge andMazurov, 2005,2006,2007; ofpublicationson the fieldstudies a series presented inseveral publications, including Russia). The results oftheseexpeditionsare Russia), andthe “Great Arctic” (Dudinka, reserve Agriculture oftheFar ofSBRAS(Norilsk, North (Moscow,Natural Heritage of Russia),Institute Russian Research ofCultural and Institute (Moscow,University Geography ofM.V. Lomonosov State Moscow Faculty(Wageningen, The Netherlands), of EnvironmentalNetherlands Institute and Research Centre, The Netherlands), 9 1 Fig. 4. A landscape typical of northwestern Taimyr. Polygonal tundra Russia), D (view from a helicopter; photo byP. photo Glazov) ahelicopter; from (view .S. Likhachev .S. Likhachev ( 2006] (Fig. 5).Here, also red-breasted geese in Western Europe [EbbingeandMazurov, of brent goose( molting areas ofupto 80%ofthepopulation Within there thereserve, are nestingand Bewick’s swan,andfour speciesofducks. birds species, four speciesofnestinggeese, (Fig.the reserve ishometo 16Red-Book 4).It are ofprotection in oneofthemainobjects existence ofnumerous water birds, which createdisturbance optimalconditionsfor the wetlands alongthelowlands, andthelackof offoodreserves inthepolygonal swampsand developed drainagesystem, significant and wetlands, there are over 260lakes. The addition to numerous watercourses, rivers, the right-bank sideofthePyasinadelta,in community ofornithologists andecologists community oftheinternational not butcauseconcern the beginning ofthe1990s),whichcould almost 100,000individuals, compared with in thepopulationofbrent goose (with At thesametime, there wasadecrease and theexpansionofitsrangeto thenorth. steady growthwas amarked ofthisspecies for Taimyr thelastdecade, there –nest.In Branta ruficollis ) –arare speciesemblemic Branta bernicla ), wintering ), wintering 225.09.2012 9:23:24 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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9 2 1994 remained normal. inthenumberoflemmings until fluctuations last region ontheplanet where thecyclical global warming. The Taimyr Peninsula isthe explain thisphenomenonof thenature by Many scientiststend to the tundraofAlaska. lemmings intheScandinavian Arctic and ofabundance of athree-year cycle disturbances. There isevidenceofdisruption recent years have to serious beensubject (Fig. 6),whosepopulationdynamicsin condition ofthepopulationlemmings birdsof many isinfluencedbythe migratory mammals. For example, thebreeding success populations ofdifferent speciesofbirds and close relationship the state between of from different have countries revealed a byscientists intheArctic Studies conducted biodiversity. “Great Arctic” are symbolicfor international thatbreed inthe black geeseinthiscountry scientists from thewintering theNetherlands: particular, [Pakina, alarmed 2006].In thisfact Fig. 5. Brent goose ( goose 5.Brent Fig. expeditions to the Taimyr Peninsula in 2004–2008 (Photo byF. (Photo Kottaar) 2004–2008 in Taimyr Peninsula the to expeditions Branta bernicla ) – the main object of study of the international environmental environmental international the of study of object main ) –the Fig. 6. Lemming (Siberian lemming – sibericus (food) chain of tundra ecosystems ) is an important link in the trophic trophic the in link important an ) is (photo byD. Pakin) (photo Lemmus Lemmus 225.09.2012 9:23:25 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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– – – – – of Taimyr, exemplified bythePyasinadelta: ofthescientificvaluenatureaspects [Mazurov, 2005],we note thefollowing as wellscientificconcepts asonmodern Based ontheresults oftherecent expeditions, recorded in2005. and thelastsignificant populationpeakwas stillremains onthe cycle Taimyr Peninsula, [Ebbinge andMazurov, 2006];athree-year of lemmingscouldnotdirectlybeconfirmed relation ofclimate changeonthepopulation At thesametime, thehypothesis ofthe the mainlandandislandswere obtained. ofnestingsites ofbirds,distribution bothon more accurate dataonthenumberand 2004 and2006wasconfirmed. Newand of lemmingsinthesummerseasons with theabsenceofapeakinpopulation reproduction ofbrent geeseinconnection Arctic. The assumptionofthedecrease of birds ofprey, mammals)inthe andvarious different species(includingwater birds, thestatebetween ofpopulations of theexistence ofacorrelationconfirmed The results expedition oftheinternational EmbassyinMoscow.Netherlands World andbytheRoyal Wildlife Fund (WWF) the RussianandDutch branchesof the Arctic”“Grand aswell asby reserve bytheadministrationof was supported research inthePyasinadelta. The idea reason for theorganization ofsystematic birds wasthemain populations ofmigratory thesuccessofreproductiondetermine of inarctic ecosystemsinteractions that The needto tracethefullrangeofcomplex 9 3

high aestheticvalueoflandscapes; endangered species; the presence ofrare, valuable, and andofaquaticsystems; the territory high biological of andlandscapediversity etalon statusofthenaturalcomplexes; general; state ofthenature pristine in preserved population ordensity. Untilnow, economic development ofanarea isits indicator of the The mostimportant intheNorth. economic activities associated, primarily, withtheexpansionof growing oftheregion to naturalheritage risk of network Taimyr willincreasingly mitigate the Further development oftheecological and aquaticareas significance. ofinternational oftheirhighlyvaluablewetlands preservation statuswillenhancethe a conservation Taimyr peninsula).Givingthesehabitats competent forRegion (theauthority the approved inthe Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets reserves “Agape” and “Gorbita” thatwere of thissystem willbetheregional wildlife region’s naturalheritage. Newcomponents be required the intheinterest ofpreserving intheregion,ecological network aswould not yet form acomplete comprehensive of The existingnature reserves Taimyr do community.by theinternational valuesofthe natural heritage Taimyr region which reflected therecognition oftheglobal adopted bythe World Committee, Heritage sites byUNESCO. 2010,thisproposal was In included intheListof World Heritage provided thebasisfor itsnominationto be natural systems ofthePutorana reserve landscapes andthescientificvalueof state nature reserve. The uniquenessofthe areas suchas, inparticular, thePutorana the rangesofexistingnaturalprotection of to otherparts Taimyr. First, theseare of thePyasinacluster canbeextended The findingsonthevalueofnaturalsystems of changesinthestate ofnaturalsystems. relevant research andscientificobservations nature thepristine andconduct to preserve –theinstitutiondesigned Nature Reserve there ofthefunctioning aStrict importance features the The above-mentioned confirm – HUMAN GEOGRAPHY OF THE STUDY AREA

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9 4 Fig. 7. The eastern boundary of the Pyasina cluster of the “Great Arctic” reserve runs along the course course the along runs reserve Arctic” “Great the of cluster Pyasina the of boundary 7.Fig. eastern The of the Khutudabiga River. A view of the river in the middle reaches (photo byP. (photo Tsarkov) reaches middle the in river the of Aview River. Khutudabiga the of 225.09.2012 9:23:27 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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are almost never used. situation atthepresent time, theseroutes due to climaticconditionsandtheeconomic routes,is alsopossiblebyseaandriver but ofthecontinent with thedeveloped parts to thesouth.Communication than 500km Valyok, inmore ofNorilsk located nearthecity only possiblebyhelicopter from theairport isalmost people andgoodsto thereserve ofUnder current conditions, transport years. almost completely depopulated inrecent operation intheregion; however, ithas been to for overestimate aviation itsimportance isdifficult meanders ofthePyasinabasin).It a straightlineorthree timeslonger bythe small villageofUst-Tareya in (about150miles Muchcloserto thecampisa is 600–700km. valley,to thesettlementsinKhatanga Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, aswell as camps ofgeologists ontheislands andto temporary post atCapeChelyuskin, i.e.,complex ofthereserve, to theborder andsoutheastofthebase the northeast The distanceto thenearest settlementto Dixon. sharply, whichresulted inthedeclineof freight trafficintheArctic Seahasfallen thepost-Soviet of period, theintensity In the rapiddevelopment ofthissettlement. the Arctic SeaRoute, whichpredetermined in ports was oneofthemostimportant located there. theSovietperiod, Dixon In meteorological stations(founded in1916)is helicopter). OneoftheoldestRussianhydro- to thewest (aboutanhourby about 200km settlement ofDixon, located atadistanceof isthesmallurban mouth thePyasinaRiver The closestto thebasecampat lowpopulationdensity.extremely regions oftheFar are by characterized North, vastterritories, aswell asmanyreserve other general, adjacenttoIn the Arctic”“Great structures ofcommercial fishermen. of settlements, except for someseasonal any traces of theexpeditiondidnotobserve uninhabitable. been virtually The members the vastexpansesof Taimyr tundrahave 9 5 Taimyr region. Dolgan-Nenets The population ofthe andisnotpart center ofKrasnoyarsk toadministratively theadministrative subject (180thousandpopulation),whichis district Nenets region, there industrial isNorilsk thousand people. Within the Taimyr Dolgan- Taimyr isabout53 Autonomous District) (theregionKrai corresponds to theformer region Dolgan-Nenets oftheKrasnoyarsk Today, thepopulationof Taimyr peoples andwiththeirparticipation. formed intheinterests ofthenative Taimyr oftheregionof naturalheritage shouldbe future. Therefore, ofconservation thepolicy vitally interested inthe initspreservation nature oftheirlandandspecificallytheyare to thisday fragilepreserved theextremely population. Precisely thesepeoplehave represented, firstofall, bythelocalindigenous indication ofthisregion’s culturalheritage, investigated region isthemostobvious The presence oflocaltoponyms inthe geese andwildreindeer. abundance ofgamespecies, includingmany only for fishstocks butalsofor therich the not anditssurroundingsriver are known gave itsname, thisriver withreason. The Nganasans, anindigenouspeopleof Taimyr, (Fig. 7),whichmeans Khutudabiga Sea. AnexampleistheRiver maps,modern downto thecoastofKara native names, includingthosecaptured on lakes, mountains, capes, etc.) there are many the namesofgeographical features (rivers, predominance ofRussiantoponyms in things, inthelocaltoponyms. Despitethe peoples. This isreflected, amongother zone ofvitalinterest ofthelocalnative isahistorical At thesametime, theterritory ecosystems. appealing for studyingnaturalprocesses in atlarge,the world itespecially whichmakes inaccessable Arcticregions ofRussiaand is located inoneofthemostremote and ofthe Thus, theterritory Arctic”“Great reserve PEOPLE OF TAIMYR THE POPULATION AND THE INDIGENOUS “river richinlife” “river . The 225.09.2012 9:23:28

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9 6 relative increase of1,07%.However, there censuses, itincreased with 320people, a the2002and2005 between the period over deaths. due to theexcess Over ofbirths in the Taimyr indigenouspopulation, mainly recent years,In there isasteady upward trend group. 30 timesgreater thanthatofthesmallest number ofthelargest ethnicgroup isabout greatlythe ethnicgroups insize: the vary to ourestimate, about10,200.However, inhabitants belonging to thesegroups is, religions ..., 1999]. Their current numberof Nganasans, Evenks, and Enets [Peoples and by five ethnicgroups: Dolgans, Nenets, Nenets Region are currently represented The indigenouspeopleofthe Taimyr Dolgan- Soviet period. that even grew dramaticallyinthepost- problemsto socialandsocio-environmental the indigenouspeople, gave whichoften rise incompatible withfundamentalinterests of ofstate paternalism, tosubjected apolicy way oflife. These peoplewere consistently fromconverted anomadicto asettled wasalmostcompletelypopulation. It radically changedthelives oftheindigenous Taimyr thatbeganintheSovietperiod, economicdevelopment of The large-scale in Dixon andDudinka. oftheseaports the associated construction complexand played industrial bytheNorilsk in economicdevelopment of Taimyr was development oftheregion. Acrucialrole value ofaboutfour personsperkm low hasanextremely even includingNorilsk, autonomous region, ofthisactual density Taimyr Peninsula intheXVII dominated byRussianswhocameto the ofthepopulationis The ethnicstructure Russia [Chistobaev, 2003]. is about30timeslower thantheaverage in XX and ofotherethnicgroups took placeinthe Tatars. rapidgrowth ofthese Aparticularly Empire. They are and followed byUkrainians the region wasannexed bytheRussian th century, whichwasdueto economic th century, when 2 , which use ofshredded frozen or fish(eithercooked is reindeer meat:raw, frozen, orboiled. The The stapleofthetraditional Dolgan’s food forest-tundra. were outinthetundrawhilewinter inthe people of Taimyr. summer, In theirherds were thanthatofother significantly shorter seasonal routes reindeer ofDolgan herders traditionally ledanomadiclife. However, the mostpeopleinthisregion,like have Dolgans oftheirway oflife: thespecificity determined hunting, andfishing. Their occupation reindeer breeding, wildreindeer andbird The traditionalDolgans’ occupationsinclude the forces ofnature. animism, shamanism,andthedeificationof religious beliefs, especiallythoserelated to retainedthat, Dolgans many traditional religion.is theRussianOrthodox Alongwith adherence ofmost ofDolgans, like Yakuts, the Yakut language group. church Dominant belongsto languageactually The Dolgan exchange.traditional habitatofmigratory Region, live Dolgans in Yakutia, whichisthe territory. Outsidethe Taimyr Dolgan-Nenets Council andintheDudinskCity district the administrative area oftheKhatanga bank ofthe right Yenisei, andmainlyin andPyasinaRivers, onthe of theKhatanga Tyakihi, Saha are Dolgans (self-designations: are (self-designations: Dolgans The largest indigenouspeopleof Taimyr of –8,79%,closeto thedepopulation. latter group suffers athreatening decrease increase intheregion (3,67%),whilethe Entsys: theformer group showsthelargest indigenous people, the Taimyr –Evenks and thesmallestgroupspopulation between of greater contrastisinthereproduction ofthe largest group [Chistobaev, 2003].Butaneven higher thanthatofDolgans, whoare the group intheregion –isapproximately 1,5times the Nenets–secondlargest indigenous population. Thus, thedemographic growth of ofthenative the standpointofstability thissituationsafeallow considering from among ethnicgroups, whichdoesnot is asignificant intheseindicators variation ), livingmainlyinthebasins Dolgan 225.09.2012 9:23:28 5 . 0 9 . , 2 0 1 2

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that Dolgans andother ethnicgroupsthat Dolgans turn inevitable thissituation,itisobjectively In conditions, ensure survival. promising prosperity, can,underfavorable the traditionaleconomy, which,thoughnot to thetundraandforces them to return to people from andruralsettlements urban actually out”“squeezes theindigenous economic situationintheRussianNorth isobviousthatthecurrent difficultsocio- It valuesofthesepeople.spiritual andthesystem oftraditional mentality environment thatisincompatiblewiththe conditions, to livemarket inacompetitive Almost allofthemwere unableto adaptto hardest theindigenouspeopleofNorth. hidden unemployment,whichhitthe ontheexplicitand period, superimposed worsened dramaticallyinthepost-Soviet illness, suicide, etc. The above problems dependency, alcoholism, crime, chronic of the arrival “civilization diseases”: social customs. The situationwascomplicated by andcultural practices traditional working areas,urban itismore difficultto maintain ofthenatives. affecting thementality In this adaptationtook placenotwithout However, asevidencedbynumerous data, effectively adaptto it. withthenomadiclifein comparison andto to education,healthcare, socialsecurity, etc.) lifebenefits ofurban (livingconditions, access than otherethnicgroups, to appreciate the region. They seemto have beenable, better in predominantly large settlementsinthe urbanized peopleof Taimyr, currently living believe to Dolgans bethemost experts losing theindigenouspeople. Furthermore, in many areas of Taimyr almostentirely the traditionalplacesofoccupation,resulting life, switchedDolgans to leaving asedentary of theSovietperiod, theabsolute majority In are popular.bone carving fur. Traditionally reindeer andmammoth reindeerclothes andshoeswithornamental are well developed, includingdecorating raw) iswidespread. Folklore andappliedarts 9 7 of the above-mentioned circumstances,of theabove-mentioned local andrelatively small. However, inview onthenaturewhose impact wasnarrowly andrareof individualfishermen tourists, to onlyarelativelyknown limited number appeal ofthe Taimyr coasthave been Until now, thefishingandrecreational promising useofnaturalheritage. asthemost the exampleofecotourism inevitable risks. Let usillustrate thiswith aswell as the both positive opportunities natural heritage. includes This perspective increasingly involved intheeconomy, isits willbe population, whointhelongterm environment ofthelocalindigenous componentoftheliving An important prospects ofitsdevelopment. into accountthecurrent situationand take should territories base for thenorthern thisregard,In improvement ofthelegislative areas, suchasnaturestatus ofcertain reserves. withthefederallyeven conflict designated insomecasesmay competethese rights or rights. Obviously, inthesecircumstances, which theyhave theundoubted historical people, andNenets, firstofallDolgans to living environment ofthelocal indigenous ofthe The territory Taimyr Peninsula isthe ingeneral. North on the Taimyr Peninsula andtheRussian be thedecisive for factor theregional policy future, itmay betheethnicinterests thatwill delta. Onemightalsoassumethatinthe study area oftheexpedition,Pyasina regions aswell,northern notexcluding the the spread oftheseclaimsto themost medium to oneshouldexpect longterm, of almost theentire territory Taimyr. the In to theirancestrallands, covering, apparently, rights ofproperty andpreservation recovery indigenous communitiesand/orfamiliesin interest willmanifest itselfintheclaimsof hunting, andfishinglands. Naturally, this to thepreviously neglected Taimyr grazing, DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS 225.09.2012 9:23:28 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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9 8 River. “Great Arctic” runs alongtheKhutudabiga the Pyasinasite ofthestate nature reserve of mouth. River boundary The northern from thePyasina north is about30–40km part. southeastern The mouthoftheriver Seainits and poursdirectly into theKara ofthe part northwestern Taimyr Peninsula is located River inthe The Khutudabiga were assessed. adventure,educational, sport, andfishing, this region, includingallpossibletypes,i.e., oftheecologicalthe arrangement tours in course oftheproject,conditionsfor the fishing. In the organization ofsport well for asbeingtraditionallyattractive of landscapeandbiological diversity, as which represents great interest interms ofinvestigation,was chosenasanobject there were evaluated. River The Khutudabiga theprospectsofanecologicalDelta, tour atthefieldcampPyasina ecotourism of conditionsfor thedevelopment of implemented. Alongwiththeassessment Peninsula et.al., 2005]was [Henkens ofthe inthenorthwest ecotourism Taimyr thesummerof2005,apilotprojecton In businesses, localcommunities, etc. the managementofnature private reserves, including regional andlocaladministrations, structures, ofvarious complex interaction activity. Ecological isa inreality tourism of a more appealingimageofthiskind labelto createused merely asamarketing Today, thedefinitionof “ecological” isoften a definite threat to thenaturalsystems. oftourism, advantages over traditionaltypes from isalso,ecotourism, theobvious apart even thattourism, thefact considering the Arctic”“Great wasconducted reserve development ofecological in tourism The investigation onthepotential for the environmental risks. increase numbersassociated intourist with andaconcurrentand huntingtourism) fishing sport (ecotourism, substantial tourism for example, theformation ofasufficiently changetoward,the situationcanquickly is characterized bythebestmildweatheris characterized beginning ofmid-July September, to early for theorganization oftours. thearea, the In to August 16,in themostfavorable period The studieswere from conducted July26 Mazurov, 2006]: can beidentifiedasfollows [Ebbingeand regions attention, oftourist itsmainfeatures the Comparing Taimyr region withother areas unaffected byhumanactivities. to remote visitextremely the opportunity targeting the group interested oftourists in are alsoadvantageousforthese aspects However, network. developed transport season, harshconditions, andapoorly the region are tourist limited, byashort for development tourism in Opportunities defined bythenaturalenvironment. of allavailable there specificcharacteristics on the Taimyr Peninsula involves theuse adjacent areas. The development oftourism potential visitors andto tothe thereserve identify issuesthatare ofinterest for the and for itseffective managementisto premise for development tourism A necessary biological andlandscapediversity. of thelocalnaturalsystems andoftheir resulted inahighdegree ofconservation i.e., helicopter, oftransport, expensive type accessibility, andtheneedto usethemost The remoteness ofthearea, poortransport

their traditionalway oflife. settlements ofindigenouspeoplewith vast expansesoftundralandscapes; rare mammals; marine belugaandother to observe opportunity birds; migratory owl,snowy lemmings, foxes arctic and components ofecosystems, suchasthe betweencomplex interactions 24-hour polarday; remoteness oftheregion; 225.09.2012 9:23:28 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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point of contact oftheriverand thesea, point ofcontact population. Directlyatthebay, i.e., inthe wolf ,andmany lemmingsinyears ofpeak fox (Fig. 8),reindeer, andmuskox, sometimes Among themammals, to see a one islikely waders andquailare commonto thetundra. owl, andotherrare birds. Different of types are nestsofperegrine often falcons, snowy locations. Ontheledgesofcoastalcliffs there atsuitable wader birds caneasilybeobserved rare species. Numerous water birds and muchoftheanimalworld, including observe to the polarday create auniqueopportunity the naturalsystems, vastopenspaces, and same timeahighdegreeof ofpreservation harshnaturalconditions.considering Atthe as described “poor”, whichisunderstandable The faunaofthestudyarea is often andmidgesareMosquitos rare. to +16–+18°Cormore.occasionally rising The airtemperature rangesfrom +5–+10°C, ofcolorsandbiological activity. all itsvariety slopes, andthetundrashows on thenorthern snow patches remaining onlyinthelowlands non-existent, conditions. Snowcover isvirtually 9 Fig. 8. By mid-summer, arctic fox pups leave the the leave pups fox arctic mid-summer, By 8. Fig. 9 den and begin an independent life life independent an begin and den (photo byP.(photo Glazov) environmental oftourism andany othertypes There is nodoubtthattheorganization of the Taimyrregion. agencies engagedinthemanagement of cooperationwithothercommunity term andthedevelopment oflong- the reserve local populationinthemanagementof ofthethe involvement ofparticipation maywork bedirected toward increasing The benefitsofthedevelopment ofthis providing anadditionalsource ofincome. hunting andfishingonitsterritory, aswell as help reducing theincidenceofunauthorized Onecan assumethatthiswillalso reserve. local communitiesinthemanagementof andtheinvolvementnature reserve ofthe statusofthe international “Great Arctic” to cancontribute Sustainable tourism the in remote term. regions intheshort thedevelopmentdetermining ofecotourism remains accessibility oneofthemainfactors level. addition,transport In the service intheArctic, andincreasingimportant thesafety oftourists,as ensuring especially areof thisspheresuchaspects ofactivity quite feasible. Decisive for thedevelopment development onthe Taimyr Peninsula is hasshownthattourismExperience most gentleand “environmentally friendly.” methodoffishingthatisalsothe sporting general, for istypical fly fishing, themost on the “catch andrelease” principle, which,in camps were set.Fishing wasorganized based days. placesmostfavorable for In fishing, the camp, thestays were longer, upto two picturesque places, suitablefor placementof someofthemost the naturalphenomena.In with sufficientstops to getacquainted with river wasdoneinamixed mode, alternating onthe byinflatableboats.the river Rafting Kutudabiga. down They continuedfarther four wasdropped byhelicopter alongthe coordinates: 74°30’N,90°00’E),agroup of ofthetour (approximate thearea ofthestart In of whalesatthemouthKhutudabiga. hare” –bearded seal. There are alsosightings there are sightingsofseals, aswell asof “sea 225.09.2012 9:23:29 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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1 0 0 present butalsofuture generations. natural resources intheinterests ofnotonly andwisesustainableuseof their heritage inpreserving meeting theneedsofsociety isoneofthefewEcotourism optionsfor ofnaturalresources.to theconservation realities require amore flexibleapproach nature Atthesametime, reserves. economic of of naturalsystems withintheboundaries requirementsthe relatively highpreservation as publicgood. largely determines This fact preservation social imperative oftheirpriority touniversal subjected astrict humanheritage theyare areas acquire actually anewquality: thiscase, theprotectedcultural heritage. In improves theprotection oftheirnaturaland is clearthatdesignation ofsuchastatus have aprotection status. For professionals it byasignificantcharacterized naturalheritage, Currently, many areas oftheRussianNorth, natural environment, ecosystems, etc. changesinthe accompanied bymonitoring shouldbe ofnationalparks in theterritories Fig. 9. Willem Barents Biological Station in the Bay of Medusa created with the funds of the the of funds the with created Medusa of Bay the in Station Biological Barents 9. Willem Fig. Government of the Netherlands concurrent with the creation of the “Great Arctic” reserve Arctic” “Great the of creation the with concurrent Netherlands the of Government – – – – – assets ofthe Taimyr Peninsula: following conclusionsregarding thenatural The foregoing discussion suggeststhe CONCLUSION

administrative bodiesthatstillare inthe they are withinthecompetence ofvarious may increase significantly; inthefuturethe incidenceandintensity usesofwhich factors, inducedbyvarious they are vulnerableto anumberofrisk may give to competingclaims; rise whose numbermay increase andinterests they are ofinterest to different users, temporal dynamics; characteristic they showalarge and spatialvariation conservation; value,heritage implyingtheneedfor naturalandcultural they are ofparticular 225.09.2012 9:23:29 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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population ofRussiaasawhole. the localindigenouspopulationand Taimyr to future generations isnowwith unique andprecious of naturalheritage andforfor passingonthe thepreservation to theirownculturaltraditions. Responsibility responsibility for it,which fullycorresponds amore rolepeople willtake active inthe grows,heritage the Taimyr indigenous theirnatural and oftheirrole inpreserving argued that,as awareness oftheirinterests canbe theheritage. It most inpreserving interestedpopulation whoisobjectively the population, includingthelocalindigenous State represents theinterests oftheentire such asthe Arctic”“Great reserve. The protection sites andotherprotected areas, establishment andmaintenance ofnature of natural heritage Taimyr, includingthe the unique the responsibilityfor preserving Until now, carried theRussiangovernment and federal levels. legislative atboththeregional framework byanappropriate people mustbesupported developmentharmonious ofindigenous ecological balanceintheRussianArcticand asabasisforthis heritage maintainingthe future generations. The needto preserve for thebenefitofpresentpreservation and goods, whichsuggestsfirstofalltheir 2005], i.e. having specialvaluesaspublic of category “natural heritage” [Mazurov, natural assetsdiscussedabove into the These features fullyallowinclusionofthe 3. Ebbinge B.S. andMazurov Yu.L. (Eds.) (2005).Pristine ofthe wilderness Taimyr Peninsula. Ebbinge, B.S., 2. Yu.L. Mazurov, andP.S. Tomkovich (Eds.) oftheRussianArctic: (2000).Heritage Chistobaev, of A.I. (2003)Ethnicity Taimyr:1. environment andregional policy.Biological –In.: REFERENCES 1 0 1 jurisdiction. course ofestablishingtheirregulative 2004 report. – Moscow: Heritage Institute. 105p. Heritage –Moscow: 2004 report. Ecopros Publishers. Cooperation. 640p. Moscow: andInternational Research, Conservation St. Petersburg: Asterion. P. 202–209. Resources of Taimyr andtheprospects for theiruse. Proceedings oftheconference. – this publication. P. Tsarkov, for theuseoftheirphotographs in Glazov, V. Grabovsky, F. Kottaar, D. Pakin, and research onthe Taimyr Peninsula, i.e., P. special thanksto ourcolleaguesinthefield and universities thatwe represent. Our for BasicResearch, aswell asofthecolleges oftheRussian Foundation Research (NOW), Organizationof theNetherlands for Scientific andRussiabranches), (theNetherlands WWF inRussia,of Embassy oftheNetherlands oftheNetherlands, oftheRoyal Innovation ofEconomicAffairs, Agriculture, and Ministry ofthe was madepossiblewiththesupport as well. We recognize thatourexpedition Poland, Finland, France, andSouthAfrica Netherlands, andfrom Germany, Norway, Peninsula in2002–2008,from Russiaandthe Russian-Dutch expeditionsto the Taimyr oftheinternational to allparticipants The authorsexpress theirsincere gratitude and prosperous future for mankind. indispensable role asustainable inensuring andthatthis the world Taimyr plays an formed thatthere isnosecond Taimyr in nature ofresearch, understandingisbeing community. Largely dueto theinternational level (Fig. 9),and, theworld to someextent, associated withRussiaattheecosystem a numberofforeign nations–thecountries the entire localpopulation,theRussianState, ofwhichisequalinterest forpreservation increasingly beingperceived asaheritage, the where thenaturalenvironment of Taimyr is A situationisgradually developing now ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 225.09.2012 9:23:30 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

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1 0 2 10. Raad, J.A.Raad, de, 10. Yu.L. Mazurov andB.S. Ebbinge(Eds)(2011).Pristine ofthe wilderness Taimyr 9. Peoples andreligionsThe Great (1999)Moscow: oftheworld. Russian Encyclopedia Pakina, A.(2006)Ontheissueofbrantgooseon Big Bird. NationalGeographic8. Russia. Mazurov, 7. Yu.L. (2005) ofstudyingthenaturalandcultural Theoretical andappliedaspects 6. R.,Mazurov Henkens Yu., Pakina A.,Pakin D., Pedroli B. (2005).Sustainabletourism Ebbinge B.E., Mazurov 5. Yu.L. (Eds) (2007).Pristine of the wilderness Taimyr Peninsula. 2006 EbbingeB.S. andMazurov Yu.L. (Eds.) (2006).Pristine ofthe wilderness Taimyr Peninsula. 4. nature andsustainabledevelopment. management, heritology Wageningen: 2190.138p. report Alterra Alterra, peninsula. 2008expeditionto thePyasinaDelta, Taimyr Peninsula, RussianFederation. 928p.Encyclopedia. April. P. 41–47. P. 95–101. //Proceedingsheritage oftheAcademy ofSciencesRAS.Ser. Geography. Number6. Eds. EbbingeB.S.report. andMazurov Yu.L. Institute. P. M.:Heritage 55–98. development: afeasibility study. Pristine ofthe wilderness –In: Taimyr Peninsula 2004 Institute. 180p. Heritage –Moscow: report. Institute. 178p. Heritage Moscow: 2005 report. Yuri L.Mazurov Barwolt S. (Bart) Ebbinge S.(Bart) Barwolt between gooseresearchershemisphere.between ontheentire northern (www.geese.org/gsg) since 1997andstimulates contacts Commission Goose SpecialistGroup oftheIUCN-SpeciesSurvival breeding biologyofBrent ofthe Geeseindepth.Heischairman 2008 12expeditionsto the Taimyr Peninsula to study the Jointly withRussianscientistsheorganized 1990and between ofhuntingongoosesurvival. nesting geeseandtheimpact arctic- understanding thepopulationdynamicsofmigratory ofGroningen,1991 attheUniversity NL)isdevoted to Wageningen wholescientific career (PhD UR,Netherlands. His in Arctic areas. Heisanauthorofmore than300publications on coordinator expeditionsto ofinternational Taimyr andanother cooperation,includingthepositionofproject international Hehasalargeuse inecotourism. withsuccessful experience studiesintheArcticregion,on heritage includingitssustainable decadesheisconcentrating development. thelasttwo During of asafactor (bothnaturalandcultural)heritage historic isdevoted to DSc.studies. thephenomenonof dissertation His where heteaches environment managementandheritage ofNature Faculty Management, Department ofGeography, isaprofessor State University, attheMoscow isseniorresearcher atAlterra 225.09.2012 9:23:30 5 . 0 9 . 2 0 1 2

9 : 2 3 : 3 0 i1.nd103 103 gi312.indd Policy AnalysisandCultural History. of interest are LandscapeCharacter, LandUse, LandscapeEcology, LandscapePlanning, of theory “natural capital” (2010). G.B.M. (Bas)Pedroli isAssociate Professor of attheUniversity Alla A. Pakina ofEnvironmental graduated from theDepartment European Academy for theCulture mainfields ofLandscape. His European LandscapeConvention, andPresident ofPETRARCA Board ofCIVILSCAPENGOsforDevelopment, Member the Research Programme onLandscapeandSustainable ofScientificCouncil oftheFrenchLandscapes), Member National on ofExpertise Network (International LANDSCAPE EUROPE European LandscapeConvention), Generalof Secretary ofUniversities(European ofthe for Network theImplementation Institute, Alterra The Netherlands. HeisalsoDirector ofUNISCAPE Wageninge, Group, LandDynamics andSeniorresearcher inthe andal.);peninsula (2005,c/aR.Henkens To ofthe acriticism Mazurov); development Sustainabletourism atthe Taimyr Environmental economicsandmanagement(2003,c/a Yu. She hasover 40publishedscientificworks. publications: Main general questionsofenvironmental economicsandmanagement. protectedranged from offunctioning naturalareas principles to the Faculty ofGeography, MSU. Herresearch have activities ofEnvironmentalresearcher at Management attheDepartment and gotherPhD in1997.Currently sheholdsapositionofsenior ofLomonosovManagement State in1993 University Moscow 50.029:23:31 9:23:31 25.09.2012

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