Natalia Danilina The Zapovedniks of Russia “Occupying a huge territory spreading out into two continents of the world, we in Russia are the possessors of unique natural treasures. They are as unique as, say, the paintings of Raphael—and they are as easy to be destroyed, but it is not possible to recreate them.” — Ivan G. Borodin, Russian academician, 1914 bout 1.5% of the land area of Russia, or 33.2 million ha, consists of zapovedniks—strict nature preserves, comparable to designated wilderness areas. There are currently 99 zapovedniks. They are the most traditional and, arguably, the most important form of natural protectedA area in Russia. Thanks to zapovedniks, many species of animals and plants, such as sable, European bison, or Siberian crane, as well as the last little islands of virgin steppe and the most valuable forest massifs, have been conserved. There are more than 5,000 people staffing zapovedniks; they not only protect and study these islands, but conduct extensive environmental education among the population, especially schoolchildren. On 29 December 1916, the hevnikov, Ivan G. Borodin, Andrej document “On Establishing a P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, V.I. Hunting Zapovednik in Zabaikalsky Taliev, G.F. Morozov, and others. Region” was presented by Russia’s Unexpectedly, their ideas and words minister of agriculture to the gov- appear to be quite in tune with our erning Senate. That date can be con- time. Listen to Dokuchaev in 1895: sidered the beginning of the state-run “We are sorry to say that our virgin system of zapovedniks. Now, at the black-earth steppes with their origi- turn of the new millennium, when nal charm, boundless expanses, one’s thoughts naturally turn both to feather grass, unique dwellers like looking back and looking forward, babacs, great bustards, wolfberry, the need to summarize the achieve- etc., are surprisingly quickly disap- ments of zapovedniks has arisen. We pearing from the face of the Russian are recalling all those who pioneered land.” Today, virgin steppes are, the cause of nature conservation in alas, virtually non-existent. Russia at the end of the 19th and the Russia’s first scientific zapovednik beginning of the 20th century: pro- was founded by Dokuchaev in the fessors and academicians such as Luganskie steppes in 1892. Scien- V.V. Dokuchaev, Grigori A. Koz- tists had raised the alarm: forests 48 The George Wright FORUM were being cut down, steppes were whole, would represent a number of in danger, populations of the most the most characteristic and the sci- valuable fur-bearing animals were entifically valuable types of vegeta- catastrophically decreasing — the tion. It was this principle that was natural resources of Russia were, it employed in the Soviet Union, and was realized, not infinite. Semyonov- continues to be today in post-Soviet Tyan-Shansky’s papers and talks Russia, when forming the network of developed an understanding of these zapovedniks. problems among the enlightened In a 1913 article titled “Protect part of the Russian society. He Nature!,” Taliev wrote that “the wrote: “Large areas of undamaged beauty of nature is the highest value forest must be transformed, as has of its own, and it must be protected been done in many places in North irrespective of narrow practical America, into zapovednik areas to tasks—a beautiful landscape, a scenic conserve the taiga intact forever.” In road, a precipice associated with a 1908 paper (which has come to be recollections, etc., are the national regarded as a classic), Kozhevnikov heritage in the spiritual area just the enunciated the principles of estab- same as minerals and so forth are our lishing natural areas as zapovedniks: heritage in the area of material cul- “These areas must be ‘zapovedniks’ ture.” These ideas did not become in the full sense of the word.... Here, popular in Soviet Russia; the rational any actions violating the natural con- and utilitarian attitudes toward na- ditions of the struggle for existence ture, including its protection, took are not permissible and nothing the upper hand. Today, the nature- should be eliminated, nothing should conserving community begins to re- be added or improved, nature should turn to those remarkable ideas. be left as it is and we shall watch the In 1914, the first proposals for results. The areas within zapoved- founding zapovedniks in the Baikal niks are of enormous significance, so area were put forward by Franz F. their establishment must be primarily Shillinger. This passionate traveler, the concern of the state; though it an enthusiastic and gifted man, was can, of course, be a matter of a public directly involved in the establishment and private initiative, the state must of almost twenty zapovedniks, be ahead here.” How up-to-date among them Altaisky, Pechoro- these words sound now. Ilychsky, and Kondo-Sosvinsky, Morozov, a well-known specialist both in Russia and in other parts of in forestry, said in 1910 that the se- the Soviet Union. In 1929, Shillinger lection of areas for zapovedniks conducted investigations in the area should be carried out according to a between the Pechora and the Ilych plan so that each botanical-geo- rivers. He wrote then that “the graphical region had wild protected beauty of the park we are working at natural areas which, taken as a does not yield in many ways to the Volume 18 • Number 1 2001 49 renowned Yellowstone Park in the All three approaches were employed North American United States; as for during the creation of the first its economic aspect and its contribu- zapovedniks. But subsequently Rus- tion to the growth of well-being of sian society’s attitude toward living the local people, it will exceed that nature started changing, and the at- park in many ways.” In 1930, titude toward zapovedniks changed Pechoro-Ilychsky Zapovednik was as well. In the 1930s, zapovedniks founded; it has since been added to were influenced by activities aimed at the list of World Heritage Sites. “improving” nature. Authorities However, few people, whether in promoted the introduction and ac- Russia or beyond, know about the climatization of species of plants and beauty of Pechoro-Ilychsky, and it animals alien to the country; for ex- should be noted that its contribution ample, raccoon-like dogs and to the growth of the well-being of the skunks, which are now ubiquitous. region has been very insignificant so Such predators as wolves, lynx, birds far. The ideas and plans developed of prey, and so on were considered by Shillinger have not yet been put harmful and were destroyed. into practice. The history of estab- The rise to power in the 1930s lishing zapovedniks in Russia, as ex- and 1940s of the heterodox geneti- emplified by Pechoro-Ilychsky, has cist and agronomist Trofim D. been contradictory and far from easy. Lysenko proved disastrous to the Approaches to the purposes and zapovednik movement. Lysenko’s objectives of zapovedniks have views—he believed that ecology and changed many times over the dec- genetics were hostile to the Soviet ades. During the formative years dis- regime—received enthusiastic official cussed above, three main competing support. Unfortunately, Lysenko’s ideas were put forward: beliefs were based upon the sup- · Some felt that a network of posed necessity of radically altering zapovedniks patterned upon nature in favor of the material inter- North American national parks ests of human beings. The impact on should be created in order to the zapovednik system was tragic: in conserve wild nature and to the 1950s and early 1960s according show its beauty to people. to the “highest” verdicts, zapoved- · Others believed that a network of niks and the science dealing with zapovedniks must serve scientific them were branded as useless. Many investigations exclusively. zapovedniks were liquidated, and the · Still others promoted a strictly area of surviving ones was consid- practical approach: zapovedniks erably cut down. Beginning in 1951, must become hunting reserves in 21 of the 37 zapovedniks in Russia order to conserve and increase proper were liquidated; in the Soviet populations of valuable commer- Union as a whole the number was cial species. 88. The area of the remaining ones 50 The George Wright FORUM was reduced catastrophically. For alone, 31 new zapovedniks were es- example, Pechoro-Ilychsky Zapov- tablished. At the same time, up-to- ednik was cut to just 7% of its former date legislation was passed. In 1991, area, while that of Sikhote-Alinsky a new Statute of State Nature Zapovednik went from 1.8 million ha Zapovedniks in Russia was approved to 100,000 ha. in which attempts were made to take In the 1970s, the network of into consideration the interests of zapovedniks began to be restored, nature protection and people as well and good progress was made in de- as to phrase the rights and duties of veloping new ones. One might say the zapovedniks’ law enforcement that the scientists “took revenge” for (ranger) service. In 1995, a federal the persecution of zapovedniks dur- law on protected areas, including ing the previous period! In 1981, the zapovedniks, entered into force. One General Statute of National provision was the creation of a con- Zapovedniks was approved. It estab- servation, research, and environ- lished a strict nature conservation mental education body to serve regime for the entire area of zapovedniks. Zapovedniks are now zapovedniks, prohibited any inter- federal properties, and are com- ference in natural processes, and pletely exempt from any economic stated the priority of scientific activi- use. Today, when Russian protected ties. The statute reflected the inter- areas are mentioned, it is the state ests of nature conservation in detail nature zapovedniks that are mostly and rather completely, and has un- meant.