Closer to nature: the number of specially protected natural areas is increasing in Russia and ecotourism is developing

The nature of Russia is beautiful and unique. On the territory of our country there is a harsh Arctic desert, tundra, boreal forests, majestic mountains, endless steppes and hot deserts, thousands of rivers and lakes. To preserve them and pass them on to descendants is one of the main tasks of the federal project "Conservation of biological diversity and development of ecological tourism". To do this, new specially protected natural areas are being created throughout the country. Since August 2018, their area has increased by 5 million hectares.

Specially protected natural areas (protected areas) include nature reserves, national and natural parks, nature reserves, natural monuments, arboretum parks and botanical gardens. The project involves the creation of 24 new protected areas. Currently, 19 have already been created. These include the national parks "Lena Pillars" (Yakutia) and "Koigorodsky" (Komi Republic), the reserves "Kazantipsky" and "Bear Islands", the reserves "Karkinitsky" and "Maloe Phyllophoric Field" (Crimea).

In addition to increasing the number of protected natural areas, the project has several other directions:

● Conservation and reintroduction of rare and endangered animal species. Programs have been launched to restore the population of 13 endangered animals: Amur tiger, Central Asian and Far Eastern leopard, snow leopard, bison, saiga, Przewalski's horse, Altai mountain sheep, dzeren, polar bear, sturgeon, bowhead and gray whales.

● Development of eco-tourism and promotion of integrated tourism programs. To do this, a tourist infrastructure is being created in the territories of protected areas, eco-tours to the most interesting natural attractions of Russia are organized.

● Formation and implementation of a long-term state policy in the field of environmental protection, which will be aimed at protecting, reproducing the natural and ecological potential of our country and improving the level of environmental education and environmental culture of citizens.

The project is being implemented within the framework of the State Program of the Russian Federation "Environmental Protection" and the national project "Ecology".