Russia to create new national parks and reserves the size of Switzerland

© WWF Russia/Polar Bear Patrol/ V Kavry

Nine new nature reserves and thirteen national parks

July 2010: Polar bears, walruses, sea otters, and other endangered species are all set to benefit from a Russian decision to boost its national protected areas to nearly three per cent of its territory by 2020, a move that helps the country to meet its international obligations to protect biodiversity.

The Russian government's decision establishes nine new nature reserves and 13 national parks covering a total area of over 3.8 million ha by 2020. Russia is also introducing marine buffer zones of more than 1 million ha.

‘For the first time, development of protected areas in Russia will be based on the analysis of all available data on biological diversity of Russia,' said Vladimir Krever, WWF-Russia biodiversity coordinator. ‘The creation of protected areas is crucial to save Russia's diverse and unique biodiversity.

The existing nine reserves and a national park will see their areas increased by a total of 500,000 ha.

The decision was based on an analysis of WWF in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and MAVA Foundation, carried out between 2006-2008, and is aimed at fulfilling Russia's commitment under the Convention on Biodiversity to establish effective protected area systems that safeguard biodiversity.

The UN has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity, culminating in October at the tenth Conference of the Parties in Nagoya. WWF is calling on governments in Nagoya to adopt a clear roadmap and allocate additional financing to halt biodiversity loss by 2020.

In 2002 governments pledged to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 but despite individual conservation successes, such as in Russia, governments have not met their commitment and biodiversity continues to be lost at alarming rates, international studies show. ‘We need to understand that protecting biodiversity means not only protecting nature but also our economy and wellbeing. By allowing biodiversity loss to continue we are undermining our future,' said Rold Hogan, Biodiversity Manager at WWF International.