STRATEGY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERABLE SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUNTING ACTIVITIES IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION UNTIL 2030

I. General provisions, goals and objectives

This Strategy defines the priorities and main directions of implementation public policy in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the development of hunting and economic activities and measures aimed at improving the efficiency of public administration in this area.

The strategy was developed in accordance with the provisions of the Environmental Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 31, 2002 No. 1225-r, the Concept of Long-Term Socio-Economic Development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2020, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 17, 2008 No. 1662-r, Main directions of activity of the Government of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2012, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated November 17, 2008 No. 1663-r, Fundamentals of state policy in the field of environmental development of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030, approved by the President of the Russian Federation on April 28, 2012, other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, as well as taking into account the accumulated scientific knowledge in the field of biology, ecology and related sciences, Russian and international experience in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the organization of hunting use on a sustainable basis.

The strategy is based on: (1) fundamental scientific knowledge in the field of biology, ecology, hunting and related sciences; (2) evaluation state of the art rare and endangered objects of animal and flora and impact on these objects of limiting factors; (3) recognition of the need to create and implement economic and financial mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna; (3) the position that objects of the animal world, primarily those that are objects of hunting, constitute an important part of the natural capital of the Russian Federation and provide a flow of ecosystem services of a consumer and environment-forming nature; (4) recognition of the importance of environmental education and awareness for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna; (5) taking into account the fullest range of partners in the field of conservation of rare and endangered objects and the organization of hunting use on a sustainable basis.

The strategy takes into account the provisions of the recommendations of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio de Janeiro, 2012) and other international forums on environment and sustainable development, as well as the decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The strategy is an integral part of the implementation of the goals of the state policy in the field of development to solve the problem of preserving biological diversity and natural resources to meet the needs of present and future generations. This problem is extremely relevant both at the global level and in Russia. At the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development “Rio + 20”, concern was expressed about the intensive destruction of natural ecosystems and the disappearance of many species of living organisms. Thousands of species of plants and animals are under threat of extinction - more than 9,000 animal species and almost 7,000 plant species were included in the IUCN (World Conservation Union) Red List in 2000. Since 1600, 484 animal species and 654 plant species have been recorded extinct. In reality, the number of extinct and endangered species is many times greater. The main reasons for the reduction of species diversity are recognized: (1) destruction, destruction and pollution of habitats; (2) excessive removal and extermination of natural populations of animals and plants; (3) introduction of alien species; (4) the spread of animal and plant diseases.

The global scale of the problem of conservation of rare species of animals and plants is determined by the awareness of the importance of the conservation of biological diversity as a guarantee of sustainable development not only of the Russian Federation, but of all countries of the world. In this context, biodiversity must be considered as a basic natural asset, the loss of which can lead to the degradation of a number of ecosystem services, which will harm the well-being of people. Thus, the issues of biodiversity loss have moved beyond the traditional debate about the importance of wildlife conservation, taking a significant place in discussions about human well-being, the sustainability of existing lifestyles, including consumption patterns.

Hunting resources make up a significant part of the natural capital of the Russian Federation. The wider the species diversity of plants and animals that make up the ecological pyramid, the higher the stability of ecosystems as a whole, and, consequently, of hunting use. This is explained by the fact that at the top of the ecological pyramid are the largest representatives of predators - the Amur tiger, snow leopard, leopard, polar bear and others. The principle of the ecological pyramid is such that their numbers cannot be very high, but the well-being of the existence of their populations directly depends on the species diversity and abundance of their food objects, mainly wild ungulates, which, in addition, are the main objects of hunting. Thus, the tasks of conservation and maintenance of biodiversity and the tasks of hunting (increasing the most important objects hunting) are very close and require an integrated management approach.

Hunting use must be sustainable, which, in the context of biodiversity conservation, can be formulated as ensuring the maximum income of present and future generations while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited animal species and their habitat. In other words, the improvement of the state management of hunting resources, as well as the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, implies an increase and preservation for present and future generations of income streams from hunting activities, both due to the products obtained, and due to the expansion and improvement of the quality of recreational activities. services, development of appropriate infrastructure (hotel business, transport services, production of modern high-tech equipment, etc.) and creation of additional jobs. The latter is especially important in connection with the global trends of urban growth and reduction of economic activity in vast rural areas.

Determining the scientific foundations, principles and methods for the conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna and determining approaches to the development of hunting use on a sustainable basis, the Strategy proceeds from the priority of the population principle of conservation of species diversity and the method of conservation of these objects in the natural habitat. The objects of the Strategy are rare and endangered animals and plants and their populations, as well as animal species that are objects of hunting. Although the objects allocated on the basis of the ecosystem approach - ecosystems, biocenoses and biotopes - are not the direct objects of this Strategy, conservation and restoration natural environment habitats of rare and endangered species are a prerequisite and a priority for the conservation of such species.

1.1. Goal of the Strategy

The aim of the strategy is to ensure the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the development of the hunting economy on a sustainable basis, which is understood as a complex active action, which includes both direct measures for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of these essential elements of biodiversity, and the use of socio-economic mechanisms that limit and regulate the impact on biodiversity of various population groups and economic structures in order to increase their resource productivity. The goal of the Strategy determines the general direction of movement in the long term. Specific targets the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the development of the hunting economy, which must be achieved or maintained in a certain period of time, are determined depending on the state of biodiversity, the socio-economic changes taking place in the country and the success of the implementation of the Strategy.

1.2. Objectives of the Strategy

The goal of the Strategy is achieved through comprehensive actions in the scientific, legal, economic, organizational and technological spheres in solving the following tasks:

1. (1) Development and implementation of a set of measures aimed at preserving and increasing the number of rare and endangered species of animals and plants. To do this, ensure:

• improvement legal framework and organizational mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants;
• development and implementation of economic and financial mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants;
• organization of a phytocontrol service for supervision in the field of the spread of invasive plant species (vehicles, river and air transportation).
• development and implementation of a system of categories and criteria for identifying and classifying rare and endangered species of animals, plants and determining priorities for their protection;
• conducting an inventory and compiling a cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals and plants according to unified unified methods;
• organization and monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals and plants;
• creation and maintenance of the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation according to a single methodology;
• organization of scientific research in the field of studying the biological characteristics of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the mechanisms of action of limiting factors on them;
• development and improvement of measures for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species in the natural habitat and in the artificially created habitat;
• development and implementation of a system of measures in the field of enlightenment and education;
• development and implementation of necessary measures in the field of international cooperation, including interaction with the CIS countries.

2. Development and implementation of a set of measures aimed at maintaining and increasing the resource productivity of hunting activities on a sustainable basis. To do this, ensure:

• creation, with the participation of the state, of system-forming elements of hunting management and the formation of a favorable legal environment for their subsequent development,
• Creation unified system complex control and protection of hunting resources, with the assignment to it of the functions of preserving rare and endangered species of animals and plants;
• modernization of existing methods and technologies for the use and protection of hunting resources and their habitat.
• reproduction and identification of new (including innovative) areas and technologies for the extraction of hunting resources, including the use of humane hunting methods. This is especially relevant in the light of the participation of the Russian Federation in international agreements and treaties.
• periodic clarification and forecast of priorities for the use of hunting resources;
• providing access to hunting to the maximum number of hunters, obtaining the maximum possible income from maintaining a fixed hunting economy;
• increase in the number of individual species of animals, taking into account the regional characteristics of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation;
• stimulation of the initiative and entrepreneurship of domestic developers and manufacturers of hunting equipment, including small and medium-sized enterprises;
• development of a system of training and retraining of personnel in the field of hunting;
• implementation international standards for humane trapping of wild animals, certification of trapping methods and protection of intellectual property while respecting the interests of environmental safety.

1.3. Concepts used

Biodiversity - the variability of living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this concept includes diversity within species, between species and ecosystem diversity (Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).

Species - the smallest genetically closed system with a unique gene pool; a species is, as a rule, a system of interconnected local populations, intraspecific forms, and subspecies.

Population - a form of existence of a species, is an elementary unit of the evolutionary process and has a unique gene pool.

Organism - smallest unit life, independently existing in the environment and being the carrier of hereditary information about the main properties and characteristics of the species.

Sustainable growth is growth that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. With regard to hunting resources, this is expressed in maintaining a balance between their consumption, as a factor in ensuring the gross domestic product, and the possibilities of reproduction, subject to environmental restrictions.

Ecosystem services are functions of ecosystems that provide economic benefits for consumers of these services, based on the provision of various regulatory functions by nature (narrow interpretation).

Rare and endangered species of animals - objects of the animal and plant world are allocated to this category from a biological and legal point of view. From a biological point of view, the category "rare and endangered" includes two main groups of objects of the animal and plant world: (1) naturally rare species, potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics; (2) species that are widespread, but endangered or reducing their numbers and range as a result of anthropogenic impact. From a legal point of view, the category "rare and endangered" includes species listed in: the Red Book of the Russian Federation; red books of subjects of the Russian Federation; Red Book of the CIS; CITES applications; Applications of international agreements (with the USA, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the DPRK, India).

Hunting resources - objects of the animal world that are used for hunting purposes.

Hunting objects are species and populations of animals that have economic and social value as a hunting resource, which implies the organization of their sustainable use and protection.

Hunting economy - a field of activity for the conservation and use of hunting resources and their habitat, for the creation of hunting infrastructure, the provision of services in this area, as well as for the purchase, production and sale of hunting products.

Preservation of hunting resources - activities to maintain hunting resources in a condition that allows ensuring species diversity and maintaining their numbers within the limits necessary for their expanded reproduction.

Extraction of hunting resources - catching or shooting of hunting resources.

Hunting is an activity associated with the search, tracking, pursuit of hunting resources, their extraction, primary processing and transportation.

Hunting tools - firearms, pneumatic and edged weapons classified as hunting weapons in accordance with the Federal Law of December 13, 1996 No. 150-FZ "On Weapons", as well as ammunition, traps and other devices, devices, equipment used in hunting .

Hunting methods - methods and techniques used in the implementation of hunting, including the use of hunting facilities, dogs of hunting breeds, birds of prey.

Hunting products - caught or shot wild animals, their meat, furs and other products, determined in accordance with the All-Russian classifier of products.

Services in the field of hunting - services provided to hunters, services for the study of hunting grounds and other services determined in accordance with the all-Russian classifiers of types of economic activity, products, services.

Hunting grounds - territories within which it is allowed to carry out activities in the field of hunting.

2. Status and scientific basis for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, the organization of sustainable hunting

The territory of the Russian Federation, which occupies 1/6 of the world's land, plays an important role in preserving the biological diversity of the planet. The fauna of the country includes about 270 species of mammals (7% of the world population), 732 (about 17%) bird species, about 75% of reptiles (1.2%), 27% of amphibians (0.6%), more than 500 species of fish (2 .5%), more than 20,000 (more than 8%) species of higher plants. According to tentative estimates, about 20% of the flora and fauna of the Russian Federation are endemic species. A number of species of living organisms are classified as rare and endangered. Most of them are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the international list of endangered species (the international "Red Book"). Thus, the Russian Federation is responsible for international level for the conservation of the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard, the Siberian Crane, the snow leopard, the Russian muskrat, the bison and others.

Hunting and game management in Russia is the traditional and most common way of using the wildlife and territorial natural complexes - hunting grounds. This type of nature management is an integral part of the culture of the majority of the peoples of our country, as well as the main sources of livelihood for the indigenous and small peoples of the North and Far East more than 50 titles. The hunting resources in our country include 226 species of wild animals and birds. In terms of reserves of some of them, the Russian Federation occupies one of the first places in the world. A number of species of game animals are unique and live mainly only in our country - these are sable, Siberian roe deer. The hunting grounds of Russia are recognized as the most extensive in the world: they are 1.7 times more than in the USA and Canada and 4 times more than in all EU countries. However, in terms of the level of hunting animals, the Russian Federation lags far behind many countries. Western Europe. The estimated value of hunting resources as of 2011 is about 87 billion rubles, and the value of the products and services received annually is 16.2 billion rubles. More than 80,000 people are employed permanently and temporarily in the field of hunting, and most of them are in rural areas and remote areas where there are no alternative jobs.

Hunting on a sustainable basis can significantly contribute to the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants. So, a significant reason that seriously hinders the increase in the number of many valuable species of ungulates, including rare ones, is the high number of wolves. According to scientists, at present, in most regions of the Russian Federation, the balance between predators and their prey, which is optimal for hunting management, has been violated. At least 370,000 wild ungulates (34,000 moose, 140,000 reindeer, 123 thousand roe deer, 40 thousand wild boars), almost three million hares and 70 thousand beavers, as well as various farm animals with a total biomass of about 400 tons. Without taking urgent measures to regulate the number of this predator, it is not possible to predict a significant increase in the number of wild ungulates.

2.1. Biological features of rare and endangered species of animals and plants

From a biological point of view, rare and endangered species of animals and plants are divided into two main groups: (1) naturally rare species that are potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics, and (2) species that are widespread but endangered or reducing their number and range as a result of anthropogenic impact.

Naturally rare species, potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics. This group includes species of animals, plants and fungi, which, due to their biological characteristics, are the most vulnerable and have less ability to withstand anthropogenic impact. These include rare, narrow-range, endemic, relict, highly specialized and stenobiont species of animals, plants and fungi, as well as species that enter the territory of the Russian Federation at the edge of their range.

Biological features of these species: small number; small area of ​​the range (relict, narrowly endemic, edge of the range); low density; low ecological valence (stenobiont, high specialization); low rate of population reproduction; negative attitude towards human presence.

Species that are widespread, but endangered or reducing their numbers and range as a result of anthropogenic impact. This group includes species of animals, plants and fungi that have a variety of biological characteristics, which were not previously rare and became so as a result of the impact of anthropogenic limiting factors. Some migratory species of animals, having a generally vast range, concentrate in an extremely limited area at certain periods of their life cycle. The destruction of such a key habitat or the negative impact on the accumulation of the animals themselves can put the species in a critical situation.

2.2. Limiting factors

The set of anthropogenic limiting factors and the forms of their impact are extensive and varied. The whole variety of forms of impact of limiting factors on rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are conditionally divided into two main groups: direct and indirect impacts.

Direct impacts are the destruction or removal of organisms of this species from natural populations as a result of excessive harvesting (collection), low culture of harvesting, illegal fishing, collection and collection of living organisms, irrational and indiscriminate control of weeds and pests in agriculture and forestry, death of animals on engineering structures, the destruction by the population of animals and plants that are considered dangerous, harmful, unpleasant or, conversely, of economic or other value, and other actions.

Indirect impacts are a change in the natural habitat of organisms, leading to a deterioration in the state of the species. There are four directions of such influences:

Physical - a change in the physical characteristics of the environment (destruction and change in relief, violation physical properties soil or soil, destruction and change of the air environment, water basin, natural ecosystems) in the process of their intensive exploitation: transformations of vast natural areas for cities and other settlements and building sites, deforestation, plowing of steppes, drainage of swamps, peat extraction, regulation of river flow, creation of reservoirs, seismic exploration and blasting, the effect of electromagnetic fields and radiation, noise exposure, thermal pollution, etc.

Chemical - pollution of the water basin, air, soil as a result of the activities of industrial enterprises and mining companies (pollution with industrial waste), the agro-industrial complex (pollution with pesticides, mineral and organic fertilizers, pesticides), the transport complex (pollution with industrial waste and oil products), housing and public utilities (pollution with domestic wastewater, solid waste dumps), military facilities (pollution with rocket fuel and fuels and lubricants, raw sewage and emissions), as well as as a result of man-made accidents and global pollution transfer (oil spills, acid rain, etc. .).

Climatic - change in climatic characteristics in the general context of global climate change due to anthropogenic or natural causes, leading to a radical restructuring of habitats (forest attack on the steppe or foresting of mountain tundra, displacement natural areas, the emergence of southern species of animals and plants in the northern regions, etc.).

Biological - violation of the structure of natural biocenoses as a result of human activity (intentional and unintentional introduction) and self-dispersal of alien species; spread of pathogens of diseases of animals and plants; outbreaks of numbers of certain species; possible penetration into natural ecosystems of living genetically modified organisms; eutrophication of water bodies; destruction of animal food resources. Different kinds anthropogenic activities have both direct and indirect effects, are complex and are accompanied by synergistic and cumulative effects.

One of the main reasons for species falling into the category of rare and endangered is the destruction or complete destruction of the habitats of these species. The negative consequences of human impact on rare and endangered species, depending on a diverse combination of impact factors and specific territorial conditions, are different. The main ones are: downsizing; deterioration of the physiological state of organisms; violation of reproduction (violation of gametogenesis, decrease in the frequency and success of fertilization; prenatal mortality, non-viable offspring); increased mortality at the initial stages of development of organisms; increased mortality of adults; violation life cycles, including migration; violation of the sex and age structure of the population; violation of the genetic structure of populations, loss of genetic diversity; violation spatial structure populations; violation of the population structure of the species; maladaptive change in animal behavior.

All these consequences ultimately lead to a reduction in the number and extinction of individual populations and the species as a whole. The analysis of limiting factors and mechanisms of their influence is the most important prerequisite for the development of an effective program for the conservation of any kind of living organism. Such an analysis should be carried out on a case-by-case basis and take into account how biological features species, and the socio-economic specifics of the region in which it lives.

It is necessary to separate the processes of changes in biological diversity as a result of anthropogenic activities from the natural processes of its development. Natural factors should be taken into account when developing programs for the conservation of biological diversity, but their prevention is impractical, and in most cases impossible. From anthropogenic factors, first of all, those that most strongly affect biosystems or are critical for them are prevented.

2.3. Principles and methods for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants

Rare and endangered species of animals and plants; their populations and individual organisms belong to different levels of organization of living nature and are characterized by different structure, laws of development and functioning. At different hierarchical levels, it is necessary to define the principles, that is, particular methodological approaches based on the initial scientific provisions on objects of biological diversity, and the main tasks for the conservation of objects. Based on the principles, methods of conservation are determined - a set of basic methods and techniques for the conservation of rare and endangered species, and on their basis - measures and devices, that is, specific organizational technical means for their implementation.

Species principle. Main tasks: preservation of the abundance and ranges of species (subspecies); preservation of the spatial genetic population structure of the species; preservation of the diversity of the population, intraspecific forms (seasonal races, ecological forms, etc.).

Methods of conservation in the natural habitat: conservation of populations and species, control of their condition; preservation and restoration of the natural habitat, reconstruction of biotopes; protection of species in specially protected natural areas (SPNA); reintroduction (reacclimatization) of species, restoration of lost populations.

A necessary condition for the sustainable conservation of a species is the preservation of its population structure. Local populations, intraspecific forms and subspecies are carriers of unique adaptations of a species to specific environmental conditions. Their destruction or violation of the normal degree of isolation leads to the destruction of the adaptive spatial-genetic structure of the species that has developed in the course of evolution, the loss of unique adaptations. To maintain the spatial genetic structure of a species, it is necessary to preserve the degree of population isolation and form that is characteristic of undisturbed natural populations. Both the increased isolation of populations and forms, and the destruction of natural barriers between them, their artificial mixing are destructive.

population principle. Main tasks: preservation or restoration of the number and range of natural populations sufficient for their sustainable existence; maintaining optimal health of organisms in populations; preservation of intrapopulation genetic diversity and genetic originality (uniqueness) of the population; preservation of the diversity of the population structure (spatial, gender, age, ethological and social).

Conservation methods in an artificially created habitat: conservation of populations of rare and endangered species in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, implementation of an optimal scheme for the exchange of individuals between nurseries, zoos and botanical gardens to preserve genetic diversity both within individual groups of organisms and in the population as a whole.

Methods of conservation in the natural habitat: conservation of populations of rare and endangered species and control of their condition; preservation and restoration of the natural habitat, reconstruction of biotopes; protection of populations of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi in protected areas; artificial reproduction of natural populations; technological and organizational measures to protect animals from death on engineering structures during economic work; assistance to animals in emergency situations; development and implementation of a system of measures to prevent the uncontrolled spread of invasive alien species and eliminate the consequences of these processes; preventing the penetration of living genetically modified organisms into the natural environment and further hybridization with conserved populations; elimination of factors leading to the deterioration of the health of living organisms; reintroduction (reacclimatization) of extinct populations in natural habitats, restoration (genetic "recovery") of small populations; resettlement of populations from habitats inevitably destroyed as a result of economic activity (for example, the construction of reservoirs, etc.) and the impact of natural factors (for example, an increase in the level of lakes with flooding of adjacent lowlands, etc.).

When preserving populations, their numbers are of paramount importance. Reducing the number increases the likelihood of random extinction of the population and is accompanied by a reduction in intrapopulation genetic diversity. In this case, not only the minimum level of abundance reached by the population is important, but also the duration of the period during which the population was small. There is no single value of the minimum number for populations of different species that exist in different conditions. The minimum or critical values ​​of the number and density of populations, which determine the moment of their transition from a safe state to a state of danger of extinction, can only be determined in each specific case. These values ​​depend on many factors: the characteristics of biology, the rate of population growth, the degree of its differentiation into subpopulations, the nature of the crossing of individuals, the conditions for the existence of the population, etc.

Genetic diversity, ethological-social, spatial, age and sex structures of a population determine its stability, ability to adapt and the ability to survive in changing environmental conditions. Intrapopulation genetic diversity determines the possibilities of its adaptation and survival in changing environmental conditions, including anthropogenic impacts.

Reducing intra-population diversity reduces the ability of a population to adapt to change external environment, makes the population unstable, reduces its stability. The size and genetic diversity of a population are not sufficient to assess its state, since a number of forms of human impact on natural systems lead to a strong deterioration in the health of individuals, while the size of populations and their genetic diversity may still remain unchanged or even grow for some time. Therefore, an important indicator of the state of populations, which determines the possibility of their long-term sustainable preservation, is the health of individual individuals in the population.

Another necessary condition for the full-fledged long-term preservation of a population is the preservation of its typical natural habitat. Long-term and full-fledged preservation of the gene pool of a species is possible only in a historically typical environment for it. If a population persists for a long time in an environment uncharacteristic for it, a transformation of its genetic structure inevitably occurs due to a change in the direction of selection. The population principle should form the basis of a strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species, since only the conservation of individual natural populations can ensure the full conservation of the species.

Organism principle. Main tasks: preservation of individual individuals and ensuring their reproduction; conservation of genotypes. Methods of conservation in an artificially created habitat: keeping and breeding individual individuals in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc.; storage of genetic materials (gametes, zygotes, somatic cells, embryos) in low-temperature genetic banks, in banks of cell and tissue cultures, as well as in seed banks; introduction of species into culture. The organismic principle makes it possible to preserve only a part of the genetic diversity of natural populations. In gene banks, various nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc., as a rule, only individual individuals (genetic material) or their small groups are preserved. The genetic diversity of even very large populations recreated from individuals preserved in an artificially created habitat will be based only on those genes that the founder individuals possessed (with the exception of new mutations). With long-term breeding in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens of small groups of living organisms, the genetic processes inherent in natural populations are disturbed in them, and genetic diversity is reduced. The introduction of species into culture also cannot preserve the gene pool of natural populations and species, since significant changes in the properties of organisms and the genetic structure of the population are inevitable during domestication.

The organismic principle can be considered as the main one only in cases when all reserves for the preservation of a population/species in the natural habitat have been exhausted, namely: the species/population has disappeared from nature; the threat of extinction for the species/population is so great that it is impossible to guarantee conservation in the natural habitat; in cases of uncontrolled introduction and hybridization, leading to the loss of the purity of the gene pool of natural populations.

2.4. Special actions for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals and plants

Priority programs for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants are methods of their conservation in the natural habitat, since only in such an environment is it possible to fully and long-term preservation of living organisms and the continuation of their natural evolution. Measures for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi outside the natural habitat are part of the programs for the restoration of species and their return to nature. Conservation of rare species in an artificially created habitat should be applied in the following cases:

• if it is currently impossible to stop or reduce the effect of the main limiting factors;
• at a critically low total number, causing an unacceptably high probability of the accidental disappearance of a species (population) from nature;
• with severe disturbances in the genetic structure of populations (including a decrease in genetic diversity), leading to inbreeding depression, a decrease in the viability of individuals and the manifestation of traits atypical for the species;
• with the destruction of the mechanisms of self-healing of the population and the need for its artificial reproduction.

In parallel with the preservation of the species outside the natural habitat, the tasks of restoring its habitats and stopping/reducing the impact of the main limiting factors are being solved. An exception to this rule is the conservation in an artificially created habitat of species that have disappeared from nature and whose reintroduction is not possible in the near future, which is an independent task. These species are conserved for scientific and educational purposes, and as carriers of genetic information potentially useful to humans in the future.

Methods of conservation in the natural habitat. Conservation of populations of rare and endangered species and control of their condition. The main tasks in this area are to maintain the abundance of populations and species, the preservation of the intrapopulation structure and the maintenance of the population structure of the species. This requires: combating the illegal exploitation of natural populations of rare species; regulation of their legal use for various purposes (recreational, scientific, cultural, etc.); carrying out ecological expertise of economic projects affecting the habitats of species and influencing their abundance.

The tasks of protecting populations of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, monitoring their condition may be assigned to specialized inspectorates established in accordance with the established procedure for the protection of rare and endangered species of animals and plants (an example of such an inspection is the current specialized inspection " Tiger", which protects the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard and other species of animals and plants and their habitat, as well as the prevention and fight against offenses in the field of nature management and environmental protection). It is necessary to develop such specialized structures to strengthen the fight against poaching and illegal trafficking of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

Protection of populations of rare and endangered species of animals and plants in protected areas and other protected natural areas. Protection in protected areas is one of the most effective methods for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants. For many of them, the organization of protected areas is currently a key measure for their conservation; however, many protected areas have been established specifically to conserve rare, endangered species. Populations and species of animals and plants, distributed in an extremely limited area, can be entirely preserved in protected areas. If the protected areas cannot cover the entire range of the species, it is necessary that the most important (key) habitats for the conservation of the species (reproductive zones, wintering areas, key sections of migration routes, etc.) turn out to be in the protected areas.

In addition to protected areas, populations of rare and endangered species of animals and plants can be successfully preserved in other protected natural areas (PAs), where economic use natural complexes limited: especially protective forest areas ("forests with growth of rare plant species", "forests with growth of endemic species", etc.), reproduction areas of the state forest fund, water protection zones, etc.

The greatest effect is achieved by organizing a network of protected areas with different protection regimes, connected by "ecological corridors" (ecological network). The structure of the ecological network should take into account the spatial and temporal structure of the species being conserved; conservation and restoration of the natural habitat of species, reconstruction of biotopes. Preservation and restoration of the habitat of rare species is extremely important in regions with intensive human activities. Often, in order to maintain and preserve a disappearing population, it is necessary and sufficient to restore its typical habitat, to reconstruct the disappeared biotopes.

Artificial reproduction of natural populations. This method involves obtaining reproductive material from nature and growing organisms at the most vulnerable stages of development under controlled conditions. The grown offspring are transferred to the natural environment, where they spend most of their lives, and replenish natural populations. Artificial reproduction is an important way to maintain and restore populations of rare and endangered animal and plant species whose natural reproduction mechanisms have been disrupted. However, with a partial, and even more complete transition to artificial reproduction, the natural mechanisms for the formation of the genetic structure of a population are violated, its gene pool is depleted. It is necessary to strive to restore the natural system of reproduction of the natural population.

The most common is artificial reproduction in hunting use - as game breeding in semi-free conditions and artificially created habitat. Currently, game breeding in the Russian Federation is limited, but the prospects for this area of ​​hunting are enormous. On millions of hectares of abandoned and overgrown agricultural land, there is an opportunity to grow and harvest tens of thousands of ungulates, millions of game birds every year. Intensive game breeding will reduce the shortage of hunting resources and increase the economic value of hunting resources, reduce the hunting pressure on the natural hunting fauna. In regions where there are programs for the conservation and reintroduction of predatory animals (the Persian leopard, the Far Eastern leopard, the Amur tiger), the breeding and release of deer and roe deer into the lands will help improve the food supply of these rare cat species.

Reintroduction (reacclimatization) of species, restoration of lost populations involves the return of a species to its historical range, where it was exterminated or extinct. The species can be reintroduced into former habitats both from preserved natural populations and from groups bred in an artificially created habitat (specialized breeding centers: nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc.). The efficiency of reintroduction can be significantly increased by organizing special protected areas. Reintroduction should take into account the habitat requirements of the species, the genetic structure of the species, and the impact of reintroduction on ecosystems.

Technological and organizational protection measures include measures to protect animals from death on engineering structures (power lines, highways and other highways, on farmland fences, in hydroelectric power plant turbines, etc.), during agricultural, logging, reclamation and other anthropogenic processes; assistance to animals in emergency situations (man-made accidents, natural disasters, weather anomalies, etc.).

Measures to prevent the uncontrolled spread of invasive alien species include the development and implementation of a system of measures to: identify the main transit routes of the invasive process, inventory and monitor alien species throughout their length, prevent hybridization of individuals in conserved populations with representatives of close alien species, eliminate the consequences of the invasive process, predicting and assessing the risk of potential invasions of alien species due to increased interstate exchange.

Prevention of the penetration of living genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the natural environment and their impact on conserved populations is based on an assessment of the environmental risks of using live GMOs associated with their possible infectivity, pathogenicity, ability to compete and transfer genes to other organisms. The guiding principle in this area is the precautionary principle set out in such fundamental documents international importance such as the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 (Program 21), Convention on Biological Diversity, UNEP International Biotechnology Safety Guidelines.

Methods of conservation in an artificially created habitat. Storage of genetic materials (gametes, zygotes, somatic cells, embryos) in low-temperature genetic banks, cell and tissue culture banks, as well as seed banks. Technologies for cryopreservation and creation of other types of repositories of genetic material, schemes and basic practical methods for recreating living organisms from genetic material are being developed. The reproduction of organisms from the preserved genetic material is carried out by obtaining partheno-, andro- and gynogenetic individuals, transplantation of gonads, the creation of interspecies chimeric individuals from normal and cryopreserved embryos, embryo transfer to the yolk of another species, cloning by transplantation of somatic nuclei and nuclei of cells of the germ line into an enucleated egg.

The cryopreservation method is also used in cases where, due to low numbers, it is not possible to catch mature males and females at the same time. Genetic material from storage facilities can be used to restore extinct populations and species, as well as to maintain or restore genetic diversity in severely disturbed populations.

Maintenance and breeding of individual individuals in an artificially created habitat. Preservation of individuals and their groups in specialized breeding centers - nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc. - includes the development, improvement and implementation of methods of keeping and reproduction (both natural and artificial) of rare and endangered species. The exchange of individuals or their genetic material between different breeding centers, as well as the maintenance of pedigree books and the selection of the best reproductive pairs, minimizes the negative consequences of inbreeding. This method is used to: create a "reserve" of a critically endangered natural population/species; prompt restoration of the population/species in the natural habitat in case of their disappearance from nature; reducing the pressure of consumer demand on natural populations at the expense of individuals grown in an artificially created habitat.

Introduction of species into culture. The introduction of species whose numbers are declining due to their excessive exploitation into culture weakens or removes this pressure from their natural populations, although it leads to significant changes in the properties of organisms and the genetic structure of the population.

2.5. Organization of hunting use on a sustainable basis

Hunting on a sustainable basis should be considered from the standpoint of maintaining the sustainable use of the natural capital of the Russian Federation and preserving the flow of ecosystem services for present and future generations. Its difference from the traditional provisioning type of hunting management is that sustainable hunting management takes into account the importance of maintaining the flow of all types of ecosystem services: supporting, regulating and cultural. A landmark in understanding this approach was the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), which put forward the sustainable use of biodiversity components as one of its main goals. This position was supported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in its Policy Statement on the Sustainable Use of Living Wildlife Resources (Amman, 2000). The statement reaffirmed the 1990 IUCN position that "ethical, wise and sustainable" use of wildlife can be compatible with and promote conservation, and stated that the sustainable use of wild living resources "is an important tool for conservation, as socio-economic utility such use encourages people to protect these resources.

At the beginning of the 21st century, deployed practical advice on the sustainable, three-pronged use of living wildlife resources. A number of countries have developed a set of principles, criteria and indicators for sustainable hunting management. The principles are divided into:

Ecological, according to which the purpose of hunting is to preserve and improve wildlife habitats; hunting practices must, through protection and use, guarantee the conservation and enhancement of the diversity of game animals; the natural genetic diversity of game animals must be protected and stimulated by appropriate hunting practices;

Economic, according to which the goals of hunting use are to strengthen and increase its profitability; maintaining and promoting the good condition of game; prevention of damage to agriculture and forestry; implementation of joint actions with other sectors of the economy;

Sociocultural, which are focused on taking into account the interests of all groups of hunters in the hunting use of territories; whether the hunting use has the goal of providing local employment; broad public support for hunting; maintaining game welfare; reproduction of animals in natural conditions; preservation of hunting traditions as a way of sustainable hunting use.

The following should be mentioned as the most important tasks of sustainable hunting management:

(1) identification and assessment of ecosystem services that are consumed in the process of hunting, as an important component of natural capital, the capital of sustainability of countries and regions, (2) territorially specific and timely assessment of the potentially dangerous depletion of hunting resources, which was especially relevant after Russia's accession to the WTO , as well as the reflection of relevant data in the documents of the territorial hunting management, in investment projects, etc., (3) the development of market mechanisms for the return of part of the funds received through the use of ecosystem services for the conservation of their sources - objects of hunting use, (4) the assessment of ecosystem services in the field of hunting on the basis of the methodology of the relevant socially-oriented market economy, (5) development of a system for monitoring ecosystem services in the field of hunting; (6) development of a system of statistical indicators of hunting use adequate to the new tasks; (7) organization of integrated control on the basis of hunting inspections in each municipality.

3. The main directions and tasks of improving the state management of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the use of hunting on a sustainable basis

The state policy to improve the management of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the use of hunting on a sustainable basis involves the development and implementation of a system of measures and specific organizational and technical measures of an administrative, economic and other nature in the following key areas:

• strengthening the institutional and organizational framework for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants; as well as increasing the productivity of the hunting economy while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited animal species and their habitat;
• preparation of strategies and plans for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, including regional ones; targeted modernization programs and territorial schemes for hunting management;
• improvement of the informational, including statistical, management base for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the state management of hunting resources;
• development of a market organizational infrastructure in the field of hunting on a sustainable basis;
• scientific support and environmental education;
• the international cooperation.

3.1. Strengthening the institutional and organizational framework

In the Russian Federation, as a whole, a regulatory legal framework has been formed that regulates relations in the field of protection of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, in the field of hunting and conservation of hunting resources. Nevertheless, the implementation of the principles of sustainable development involves strengthening the institutional and organizational foundations for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as increasing the productivity of the hunting economy while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited animal species and their habitat. It is important to ensure an integrated approach, taking into account the environmental and socio-economic conditions of each region in the development of strategies and action plans. Particular attention should be paid to improving the investment climate in the field of rational use of hunting resources.

The specifics of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants; as well as the organization of hunting use on a sustainable basis implies the need for effective state regulation. Such regulation should take into account generally accepted norms international law, international treaties of the Russian Federation. Along with the development of legislative norms, it is necessary to improve the mechanisms that ensure the implementation of legislation and the improvement of law enforcement practice, primarily in the field of restrictions and regulations on hunting activities, stimulating environmental innovations, including the dissemination of humane hunting methods.

An important role in creating institutional conditions favorable for increasing the productivity of the hunting economy while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited animal species and their habitats is played by the system of tax and budgetary incentives aimed at a general revitalization of activities, structural restructuring of the organization of the use of biological resources, as well as the formation of an appropriate infrastructure .

The main tasks in this direction include the following.

1. Improving the legislative and regulatory support of public administration, as well as creating regulatory and legal conditions that ensure the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as increasing the productivity of the hunting economy while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited animal species and their environment a habitat.

2. Strengthening and expanding the powers of hunting inspections, empowering them with the functions of protecting rare species of animals and plants outside the territory of protected areas. It should be taken into account that the main part of the ranges of rare and endangered species of animals (about 90%) is located outside the protected areas, namely, in the territories of hunting grounds.

3. Regulatory support for a comprehensive system of measures and specific mechanisms to stimulate entrepreneurial activity in the field of rational use of hunting resources.

4. Creation of a favorable environment for attracting private investment in financing activities to increase the number of certain types of hunting resources and preserve their habitat. Development and implementation of a system of tax incentives, direct budget subsidies.

To eliminate the contradictions between the individual provisions of various regulatory legal acts, to fill in the gaps, in terms of strengthening measures to combat poaching, it is necessary:

Improvement of the norms regulating the subject and procedure for concluding hunting management agreements aimed at developing the institution of responsible hunting users;

Determination of indicators of the effectiveness of hunting use;

Consolidation of the possibility of creating self-regulatory organizations those carrying out activities for conducting on-farm hunting equipment;

Determining the role of all-Russian public hunting organizations in the system of hunting use and teaching knowledge about the animal world and the requirements of the hunting minimum;

Strengthening the system of federal state control (supervision) relating to this area, as well as vesting a number of state powers to control full-time employees of hunting users.

It is also advisable to introduce amendments to the legislation of the Russian Federation aimed at strengthening responsibility for the illegal extraction and trafficking of especially valuable hunting resources, as well as rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as products from them.

The key element in the system of protection of rare and endangered species of animals and plants should be called the maintenance of the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Therefore, it is so important to increase the importance of maintaining the "red books", giving them the status of basic legal documents for planning and organizing activities for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, including the justification of budgetary costs in this area of ​​activity. The preparation of red books should be based on modern approaches and technologies that ensure the minimization of subjectivity in its preparation, the maximum possible efficiency of its maintenance. For this you need:

develop and accept modern system criteria for assessing rare and endangered species of animals and plants, including: biological criteria for assessing the state, criteria for the significance of a taxon for the conservation of biodiversity in general, socio-economic and technological criteria for assessing a taxon;

Develop and approve an optimal system of categories of the rarity status of species (subspecies, populations) of animals and plants of the Red Books, based on real priorities, needs and possibilities for ensuring their protection;

Ensure continuity and consistency in the maintenance of the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, based on the need to optimize the interaction of bodies state power different levels and bodies of local self-government in the field of protection of flora and fauna, including hunting resources and aquatic biological resources;

Develop and approve the Procedure for maintaining the Red Book of the Russian Federation, which meets modern scientific and technological trends;

Make appropriate changes to the Regulations on the Commission on Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi, approved by Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia dated October 21, 2002 No. 699 “On ensuring the maintenance of the Red Book of the Russian Federation”;

Ensure regular updating of the Red Books and revision of the approved lists of objects of the animal and plant world, the species of animals and plants listed in them, based on new approaches to maintaining the Red Book of the Russian Federation;

Provide the constituent entities of the Russian Federation with technological and methodological support in the field of maintaining the Red Book of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

3.2. Preparation of strategies and action plans, targeted modernization programs and territorial planning documents

Strategies for the conservation of individual rare and endangered species of flora and fauna and regional strategies should be based on the principles defined in the Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals and Plants. At the same time, such strategies should take into account the biological specificity of specific species, their current state and conditions within the range or region.

The central issue in developing strategies and plans for the conservation of individual rare and endangered species is the choice of priorities and performance indicators. The critical state of rare and endangered species, as a rule, is the result of a complex set of anthropogenic factors and biological characteristics of species. However, attempts to block all negative factors, to save everything at once and everywhere, as a rule, lead only to dissipation of funds and do not give the desired result.

Strategies for the conservation of certain rare and endangered species of animals and plants. In order to coordinate and ensure effective measures aimed at the conservation of certain rare and endangered species of animals and plants, specific strategies for their conservation are being developed. Currently, strategies have been developed and adopted for the conservation of the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern leopard, bison, snow leopard, Sakhalin musk deer. Strategies for the conservation of certain rare and endangered species of animals and plants are based on the provisions of this Strategy. The strategies take into account the biological specificity of specific species, their current state and habitat/growth conditions within the range, are formed for a certain period of time and after which they are revised.

Although strategies for the conservation of individual rare and endangered species of animals and plants will have their own specifics, based on the accumulated experience in the development of such strategies, it is recommended that the following approximate structure of the strategy be used.

Introduction

1. Purpose and objectives of the strategy

1.1. The goal of the strategy

1.2. Strategy objectives

2. Systematic position

2.1. Russian, English and Latin names

2.2. taxonomic status

3. Distribution in Russia

4. Number

5. Features of biology and prerequisites for conservation

5.1. Features of biology and rates of reproduction

5.2. Habitat Requirements

5.3. Features of nutrition and foraging behavior

5.4. Human reaction

6. Limiting factors

6.1. Direct Impact Factors

6.2. Factors of indirect influence

7. Security status

7.1. Legal basis for protection

7.1.1. Major international agreements

7.1.2. National legislation, including the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Books of the subjects of the Russian Federation

7.2. Territorial protection, including specially protected natural areas

7.3. Breeding in captivity

8. Priority conservation measures

8.1. Development of international cooperation

8.2. Improving the regulatory legal framework

8.3. Improving the network of specially protected natural areas

8.4. Increasing the effectiveness of protection outside specially protected natural areas

8.5. Scientific research

8.6. Population status monitoring

8.7. Special security measures

8.8. Environmental education activities

9. Strategy implementation partners

10. Action plan for the implementation of the strategy

Due to the limited resources allocated for the implementation of measures to conserve rare and endangered species, priority should be given to species listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation with the rarity status category “endangered” when choosing an object for developing a conservation strategy.

The activities envisaged by these strategies are included in federal and regional state programs. A special role in the implementation of these measures, based on the current delimitation of powers in the field of protection and use of wildlife, hunting and conservation of hunting resources, belongs to the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Regional Strategies for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals and Plants. They can be developed both for individual subjects of the Russian Federation and for ecoregions (basins of rivers, lakes and seas, mountain systems and other natural complexes). It is necessary to prepare a model structure and recommendations for the development of regional strategies for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants.

The development of regional strategies includes the following main stages: (1) inventory of rare and endangered species of the region and analysis of their condition; (2) allocation of priority objects of protection; (3) the actual development of strategies for the conservation of individual rare and endangered species. When drawing up a regional Action Plan, it is necessary to ensure the coordination of measures for the conservation of individual species in the region with each other and with measures for their conservation at the federal level, as well as with measures for their conservation in other regions.

Territorial schemes of hunting management - on-farm and inter-farm - represent a system of documents for territorial planning of the development of the hunting economy of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation. They should be developed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and taking into account the broadly understood geographical conditions of the regions. The development of such documents is most important for the territories of compact residence of indigenous peoples, for whom the role and traditions of hunting use are especially significant.

Programs of compensatory measures. At the pre-project stage, as part of the justification of intentions for the construction of industrial facilities and infrastructure facilities (including linear facilities), an environmental impact assessment (EIA) must be carried out without fail. As part of the project documentation (sections "List of measures for environmental protection" and "Construction organization project"), measures should be set out to reduce and compensate for damage to the environment, including the conservation of certain rare and endangered species of animals and plants and hunting resources. This block of measures should be developed by organizations with specially trained personnel and appropriate material and technical support. Therefore, it is advisable to provide for the issuance of special permits for the development of these issues by design organizations within the framework of the SRO system.

It is important to ensure the unification of the requirements for the composition of environmental sections so that investors cannot receive either preferences or excessive requirements, depending on the institutional situation in specific regions of the country. This requires the development and adoption of uniform requirements for the composition of environmental documentation for assessing damages and determining the list and scope of measures to compensate for damage caused to wildlife, in conjunction with the industry specifics of industrial and infrastructure facilities.

Target modernization projects and programs. For the effective modernization of the country's hunting economy, it is necessary to introduce a system of mechanisms for direct support of investment and innovation projects aimed at implementing the latest methods of organizing the hunting economy, which are characterized by the greatest economic efficiency. Its implementation implies the existence and updating of a system for evaluating the effectiveness of projects in the field of hunting. Also, for the effective promotion of especially significant projects, state support is required for the development of business proposals and feasibility studies and familiarization with a wide range of investors. The main tasks in this direction are:

Development of mechanisms for public-private partnership in the implementation of innovative projects in the field of sustainable hunting.

Development, approval and periodic updating of the list of fishing gear that comply with the best international practices and ensure humane hunting methods;

Organization of competitive selection of the most significant investment and innovative projects in the field of hunting resources for the organization of public-private partnerships. Formation of an independent expert council to evaluate projects during competitive selection;

Formation and implementation of federal and regional targeted programs for the practical development of mechanisms for interaction between state authorities and hunting users in the process of implementing the most significant mechanisms in the field of rational use of hunting resources;

Creation of conditions for the participation of small enterprises in federal, regional, interdepartmental and sectoral programs for the implementation of priority investment and innovative projects in the field of rational use of hunting resources;

Coordination of actions in order to widely replicate the results of the implementation of the best investment and innovative projects in the field of hunting (thematic publications, booklets, exhibitions and fairs of the most effective projects, holding seminars and training events).

3.3. Improving the information, including statistical, base in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and sustainable hunting

The basis of the information system for ensuring the management of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as the state management of hunting resources, is state accounting, state monitoring and the state cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals. Accounting for rare and endangered species of animals and plants is a set of periodic measures to obtain information on the distribution, abundance and use of these objects permanently or temporarily living in the territory of the Russian Federation, as well as within the internal sea waters, territorial sea, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation. Accounting for rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world is carried out at intervals determined by the executive authorities of the Russian Federation.

The cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals and plants is an official document containing a set of data on individual rare and endangered species (subspecies, populations, groups of species) of animals and plants, a comprehensive description of these objects, as well as an assessment of the complete ecological - economic and social value of objects (if data are available).

The cadastre is intended for information support of the decision-making process in the field of protection, restoration and sustainable use of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world, resources of game animals, as well as for use as a source of official information when regulating relations between state authorities in the region. protection and management of these objects and nature users.

The information contained in the cadastre includes: information on the systematic and conservation status, distribution on the territory of the country/region, characteristics of the main habitats, information on the abundance and indicators of its annual dynamics, information on biology and ecology, resource value, conservation measures, their effectiveness and sufficiency. The basic information for maintaining the cadastre is accounting data. Keeping records of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world is carried out at two levels: federal (for the entire territory of the Russian Federation) and regional (for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and their individual administrative units). The cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is maintained in the form of a computer database, its individual elements are published in text, tabular and cartographic form.

The cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals and plants is part of the state cadastre of flora and fauna of the Russian Federation and is maintained according to uniform rules, using unified forms of information storage and observing the principles of compatibility and comparability with state cadastres of natural resources.

Of the strategic tasks in the field of accounting and cadastre, the priorities are:

Improvement of approaches to state provision of record keeping and inventory of rare and endangered species of animals and plants;

Development of a regulatory legal framework in the field of accounting and inventory of rare and endangered species of animals and plants;

Monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as hunting resources is a comprehensive system of regular observations of the distribution, abundance, physical condition of these objects, as well as the state of their natural habitat (structure, quality and area) in order to timely identify , analysis and forecasting of possible changes against the background of natural processes and under the influence of anthropogenic factors, assessment of these changes, timely prevention and elimination of the consequences of negative impacts.

The monitoring parameters of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and hunting resources include: the fact of the presence (or absence) of a species and its abundance (primary and most important parameters), as well as parameters associated with biological criteria for assessing the state of species.

Monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as hunting resources, performs the following tasks:

Assessment of the current state of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world; as well as hunting resources;

Identification of trends, dynamics, scale and causes of changes in the state of these objects, assessment of the consequences of such changes for rare and endangered species of animals and plants and hunting resources, human health, socio-economic development of the country/region;

Determination of corrective measures aimed at the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world, hunting resources; identification of means to prevent the threat of extinction of species and individual populations, promotion of sustainable development of regions and the country as a whole;

Security government agencies the authorities with the necessary information necessary for making decisions in the field of nature protection and nature management;

Information support of procedures for environmental regulation and control over the implementation of environmental standards, as well as environmental expertise of projects in the field of nature management;

Information support for maintaining regional cadastres of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and cadastres of hunting resources;

Information support for the maintenance of the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Monitoring of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world, as well as hunting resources, is carried out at two levels: federal (for the entire territory of the Russian Federation) and regional (for the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and their individual administrative units).

The monitoring system brings together a variety of networks of structures that monitor biodiversity in general, located throughout the country. It includes all types of potential executors who are really connected with the study and protection of rare species, other biodiversity objects and with the assessment of the state of the natural environment: a network of reserves and other protected areas; system of biological stations; a network of specialized scientific institutions and universities; public environmental organizations; network of correspondents among the population; zoos, nurseries and botanical gardens; sectoral bioresource accounting systems.

Monitoring materials contain an analysis of the situation on rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world, hunting resources, as well as on individual species (subspecies, populations) and on individual, the most significant problems. The materials include, in addition to textual reviews of the database, tabular and cartographic materials.

Of the strategic tasks in the field of monitoring, the priorities are:

Improvement of approaches to state provision of monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals and plants; hunting resources;

Development of a regulatory legal framework in the field of monitoring rare and endangered species of animals and plants and hunting resources;

Development of unified guidelines for monitoring rare and endangered species of animals and plants and hunting resources at the federal level as a whole, as well as in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and in specially protected natural areas.

In the medium term, it is important to focus on improving: (1) systems for collecting, storing and information on the state of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, providing for the development of information and analytical databases associated with geographic information systems for use in decision-making in the field of management preservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and (2) the methodological basis for the state registration of animal and plant species, including the use of modern capabilities of satellite systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, and innovative methods of study.

In organizational terms, it is necessary to ensure the coordinated work of the network of structures involved in maintaining state records of hunting resources and state monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals and plants. Provide for the inclusion in this network of: state nature reserves and other specially protected natural areas; systems of biological stations; hunting farms; specialized scientific institutions and universities; interested public environmental organizations; correspondents among the population; zoos, specialized nurseries and botanical gardens; sectoral accounting systems for biological resources.

Providing state management of hunting resources with modern statistical and departmental socio-economic and environmental information. In order for hunting users to receive maximum income while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited species of game animals, it is necessary to create an appropriate information system that makes it possible to evaluate in dynamics: (1) the investment attractiveness of the sector for the use of hunting resources in the regional aspect; (2) current and prospective value of stocks and flows of use of hunting resources; (3) the state of the main markets for hunting products and services in the field of hunting use; (4) the effectiveness of the activities of state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation in the implementation of the delegated powers of the Russian Federation in the field of hunting and conservation of hunting resources. The main tasks in this direction are:

Organization of monitoring of the main markets for hunting products and services in the field of hunting use (state of supply and demand, market capacity, transparency of operations, compliance with equal conditions of competition, etc.);

Carrying out a monitoring assessment of the motivation of hunting users and hunters in the main, having the greatest socio-economic importance, areas of use of hunting resources (including reproduction, extraction and environmental activities);

Development and implementation of a system of measures of state support for hunting management, maintaining databases on priority resource-saving technologies in order to improve the information support of hunters and businesses about the modernization processes in the field of hunting management, as well as to monitor the state of the relevant markets.

Development and implementation of the environmental and economic accounting system in the activities of the state management bodies of hunting resources, which allows to assess the economic value of the assets of hunting resources in the current hunting use, make forecasts and, on this basis (1) evaluate the economic and social efficiency of hunting use and, from these positions, evaluate investments in development hunting economy, as well as (2) timely diagnose and prevent negative scenarios for the use of hunting resources, leading to the depletion of economically significant assets.

Works on integrated environmental and economic accounting based on the System of National Accounts (SNA) were developed within the framework of the Federal Target Program “Development of Russian State Statistics in 2007-2011” and are currently ongoing. They reflected the requirements for harmonization of the regulatory and legal framework as part of the country's preparations for joining the OECD. In accordance with the OECD Directive C(2008)40 dated March 28, 2008, one of the priority tasks is the development of common principles and guidelines for resource return (including the sustainable use of hunting and fishing resources). In this aspect, it is necessary to adapt the existing domestic practice of collecting, evaluating and summarizing statistical data in the field of hunting to the methodological principles of the SNA.

3.4. Development of market organizational infrastructure in the field of hunting on a sustainable basis

The main task of improving the organizational infrastructure of the hunting economy of the Russian Federation is to ensure an increase in the productivity of the hunting economy while maintaining the optimal structure of the population of exploited animal species and their habitat. At present, the organizational infrastructure in the field of hunting is represented by a fairly extensive network of organizations, among which the following types can be distinguished: (1) performing work on the study of the state of the hunting resources of the territories; (2) providing design and consulting services to business entities and authorities in the field of ensuring the rational use of hunting resources; (3) carrying out production and technological activities for the reproduction of natural resource potential in the interests of the development of the hunting economy; (4) providing services for the organization of hunting, as well as producing appropriate equipment; (5) providing financial, informational, legal support for the functioning of the infrastructure itself in the field of rational use of hunting resources.

Taking into account the course adopted in the Russian Federation for the modernization of the economy and the fact that the infrastructure of the National Innovation System of the Russian Federation is based on innovation and technology centers, high technology transfer centers, technology parks, research and development support funds, start-up and venture financing, centers for training specialized personnel, as well as other business entities of various organizational and legal forms and forms of ownership to create competitive science-intensive products, it is obvious that these same organizational forms should be developed as infrastructural elements of support in improving the organization of management of hunting resources, and also in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants.

Another important area is the development of entrepreneurship (especially small and medium-sized businesses) in the field of rational use of hunting resources. As practice shows, the stage of formation and initial development of small enterprises cannot be effectively carried out without state support, since it is costly. Public funds will reduce the risks of private investors, play the role of a catalyst in attracting private funds for the implementation of transparent and legal activities in the field of the use of hunting resources.

The foundation of the development potential for the rational use of hunting resources is an effective education system. It is designed to provide hunters and business organizers in this area, which requires the coordinated development of a multi-level system of training, retraining and advanced training of specialists in the field of hunting and, directly, hunters, as well as regular adjustments to the state order for personnel training.

The ultimate goal of improving the infrastructure in the field of rational use of hunting resources is not just the creation of specific economic entities for more efficient economic activity, but ensuring their effective interaction, including the diversification of the list of services provided and products; creation of new jobs, as well as the development of the hunting economy in the direction of ensuring rational nature management and environmental protection.

The main measures in this direction should be developed: (1) in the field of development of industrial and technological infrastructure; (2) in the credit, financial and investment areas; (3) in the field of staffing.

3.5. Scientific support and environmental education

Scientific support is the most important element in ensuring effective public administration in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and sustainable hunting. The basis for the organization of such research is a system of priorities, developed taking into account the strategic objectives of scientific support for ongoing activities, the specific features of wildlife objects, taking into account their species specificity, the needs of public authorities in obtaining up-to-date scientific information.

The priority areas are:

Study of the biological characteristics of rare and endangered species;

Development of a unified system of categories and criteria for identifying and classifying rare and endangered species, assessing their status and prioritizing their protection;

Identification of limiting factors and causes of species degradation;

Development of technologies for the conservation of species in artificial conditions and in the natural habitat;

Development of scientific and methodological foundations for inventory, monitoring, a system for collecting, processing and analyzing data in accordance with modern environmental requirements, the creation of a federal database and GIS, as well as an information and analytical system for rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;

Scientific support for the maintenance of the Red Book;

Scientific support of federal and regional state programs for the protection and use of rare and endangered species;

Development of methods for recording and evaluating hunting resources, as well as rare and endangered species of animals and plants within the framework of the system of environmental and economic accounting.

Scientific support of species and regional programs for the conservation of rare and endangered species.

The solution of these problems requires the involvement of both applied and fundamental science. At the same time, it is important not only to solve the issues of financing scientific research, but also to ensure the coordination of research. The basis for the organization of research activities is a system of priorities, developed taking into account the natural specifics of each territory, as well as the potential needs of the relevant government authorities in obtaining scientific information.

Environmental education. In order to raise public awareness about the uniqueness of each species of animals and plants, to form a responsible attitude to natural complexes and objects, to develop environmentally responsible methods of nature management and to generate interest and need for active personal support for events and actions aimed at preserving rare and endangered species animals and plants, as well as their habitats, it is planned to implement a set of information and communication activities, environmental education and environmental propaganda using forms, methods and technologies available to each of the priority population groups.

The priority areas of environmental education activities in the context of various population groups are:

Politicians and decision-makers: creating an interest in the conservation of rare and endangered species, ensuring that these people include this issue in their professional activities; achieving a clear understanding among them of the value of rare and endangered species (environmental, economic and cultural); mastering the key provisions of environmental law;

Entrepreneurs: active involvement in extra-budgetary financing of activities aimed at the conservation of rare and endangered species, organization of voluntary material support for socially significant non-commercial activities;

Schoolchildren: strengthening the environmental aspects of general and environmental education, the formation of a humane attitude of children to wildlife, involvement in mass environmental campaigns, competitions, festivals, exhibitions dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants in Russia; establishing close contacts between schools and institutions additional education children (palaces and houses of creativity for children and youth, stations for young naturalists, school forestries, interest clubs, etc.), as well as with zoos and botanical gardens, nature houses and museums, national parks and nature reserves (organization of summer camps);

Students: special attention to working with electronic media, involvement in mass environmental campaigns through information through specialized websites on the Internet and social youth networks, involvement in the volunteer movement, primarily with the implementation of trips to specially protected natural areas, holding youth competitions for the implementation joint scientific and environmental projects;

Journalists: organization of competitions for the best publications, production of programs and films dedicated to the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants in Russia;

Researchers and teachers: improving environmental and pedagogical qualifications through the implementation special programs additional vocational education(courses, seminars, creative workshops, etc.); psychological, pedagogical and methodological training (mastery of modern psychological and pedagogical technologies of communication, environmental education and environmental education in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species).

A wide range of tools (environmental education, environmental education, environmental propaganda and environmental art activities), which are implemented with the help of relevant organizational institutions for the formation of environmental culture (reserves, national parks, botanical gardens, zoos, museums, nature houses, libraries, facilities mass media, state and non-governmental environmental organizations, etc.), makes it possible to ensure the complexity of emotional and intellectual means of influencing various categories of the population, to achieve the goals and objectives set.

3.6. The international cooperation

In order to further develop international cooperation in the field of protection of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, the organization of hunting activities on a sustainable basis, it is necessary:

Ensure the fulfillment of the obligations of the Russian Federation arising from the current international conventions and agreements, as well as Russia's membership in international organizations;

Develop Russia's participation in international cooperation in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants on a bilateral and multilateral basis, including through Russia's accession to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds;

Promote the development of partnerships in the field of protection of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, involving scientific institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the circle of partners from the Russian side, educational institutions organizations subordinate to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, hunting farms, state nature reserves and national parks, public environmental organizations, including through the exchange of experience and information, the implementation of joint projects and programs.

4. Funding of the Strategy

The financing of this Strategy is envisaged to be carried out at the expense of the federal budget, the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation, local budgets, funds of individual entrepreneurs and legal entities and other extrabudgetary sources. The federal budget funds are supposed to be used to solve the following tasks:

Ensuring legal regulation in the field of conservation of biological diversity and hunting;

Development of systematic scientific and methodological support for the management of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, the development of hunting on a sustainable basis (informational, institutional and organizational aspects);

Carrying out fundamental and applied scientific research aimed at preserving rare and endangered species of animals and plants;

Improving approaches to maintaining the Red Book of the Russian Federation, ensuring its regular revision and publication;

Ensuring effective public administration in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, the development of hunting, as well as the development of information and analytical support;

Development and implementation of necessary measures in the field of international cooperation;

Development of environmental education activities in the field of conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals and plants in specially protected natural areas of federal significance;

Monitoring and accounting of rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as hunting resources.

Along with financing the implementation of tasks at the federal level, it is planned to continue allocating subventions to the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the exercise of their powers in the field of protection and use of wildlife, hunting and conservation of hunting resources, the implementation of which has been transferred to the state authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It is necessary to improve the efficiency of budget expenditures carried out in the form of subventions. This will require an increase in budget allocations.

Funds from the budgets of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are supposed to be used to solve the following tasks:

Organization of special measures for the protection and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and their habitats, including the organization of new and ensuring the functioning of existing specially protected natural areas;

Maintaining state records, state monitoring, state cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals and plants;

Development of environmental education activities in the field of conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals and plants.

Extrabudgetary funds will be directed to the implementation of the adopted programs, projects and activities for the conservation of specific rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as to activities that increase the efficiency of their conservation.

State financing of measures to implement this Strategy in 2012-2014 will be carried out in accordance with the Budget Code of the Russian Federation within the budget allocations provided for by the Federal Law "On the federal budget for 2012 and for the planning period of 2012 and 2014", subsequently - in within the limits of budget appropriations provided for the specified purposes in the federal budget for the corresponding year and for the planning period.

The composition and scope of work, as well as the amount of their financing from the federal budget, are determined when preparing measures to ensure the implementation of this Strategy, within the budget allocations provided for by the interested federal executive authorities in the federal budget for the corresponding financial year and planning period.

Financial support for the implementation of the measures of this Strategy at the expense of the federal budget for the fulfillment of the assumed expenditure obligations will be specified based on the results of consideration of these obligations in the prescribed manner when preparing the federal budget for the next financial year and planning period.

The creation of such a system of indicators is based on the methodological approaches of environmental and economic accounting (SEEA), developed under the auspices of the UN and since the beginning of the 90s have been actively used in many countries of the world at various levels of government - national, regional, local.

Appendix to the order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia dated April 6, 2004 No. 323

SUMMARY

One of the problems accompanying economic development and scientific and technological progress, is the reduction of biological diversity, including the reduction of species diversity.

Evolution is a natural, continuous process of extinction and speciation. However, according to paleontologists' calculations, climatic, geological and other restructurings of the earth's surface determined the average lifespan of a bird species of about 2 million years, and of mammals - about 600 thousand years. Only a few species of birds and mammals have a shorter "life" and is measured in tens of millennia. Man has become a kind of "catalyst" for the process of extinction of species, increasing the rate of extinction hundreds of times. The loss of several, and sometimes even one, biological species from an ecosystem leads to a violation of the integrity and stability of the ecosystem, and in some cases can lead to its destruction.

Over the past 400 years, 9 species and subspecies of mammals and birds have disappeared from the territory of Russia. In the list of species exterminated by humans that lived on the territory of Russia, there are also those that, due to the qualities of their gene pool, could be used to improve breeds and breed new domestic animals: tour, steppe tarpan, sea cow (the most promising species for domestication among marine mammals) .

Currently, the main reasons for the reduction of species diversity are:

Destruction, destruction and pollution of habitats;

Excessive removal and extermination of natural populations of animals and plants;

Introduction of alien species (at the same time, the list of invasive alien species in our time can be replenished due to the introduction of genetically modified plant varieties and animal breeds into the economy, the consequences and scale of the impact of which on natural ecosystems and populations of indigenous species are unpredictable);

Spread of animal and plant diseases.

To create and implement mechanisms for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, a Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi has been developed.

The Strategy is a long-term planning document and defines the goal, objectives, priorities and main activities in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi.

The strategy is based on the Environmental Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated August 31, 2002 No. 1225-r, the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Art. 42 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Federal Law "On Environmental Protection", the Federal Law "On the Animal World", other federal laws and regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, international treaties Russian Federation in the field of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, as well as on:

Fundamental scientific knowledge in the field of biology, ecology and related sciences;

Assessment of the current state of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world and the impact of limiting factors on these objects;

Recognition of the need to create and implement economic and financial mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world;

Recognition of the importance of environmental education and enlightenment for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world;

Taking into account the most complete range of partners in the field of conservation of rare and endangered objects.

The strategy also takes into account the recommendations of the UN Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), subsequent international forums on the environment and sustainable development, as well as decisions of the Conferences of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Defining the scientific foundations, principles and methods for the conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, the Strategy indicates the priority of the population principle of conservation of species diversity and the method of conservation of these objects in the natural habitat. Priority measures aimed at the conservation of rare and endangered species are:

Conservation of populations in their natural habitat;

Recovery of lost populations.

Based on the scientific foundations for the conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, the Strategy defines the following main areas of activity:

Organization and maintenance of state accounting, state cadastre and state monitoring of rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna according to uniform methods;

Creation and replenishment of a database on rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world;

Entering in the prescribed manner in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (or exclusion from it) objects of flora and fauna;

Preparation and implementation of proposals for special protection measures, including the organization of specially protected natural areas, the creation of breeding centers and genetic banks for objects of flora and fauna listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation;

Development of state programs for the protection of objects of flora and fauna and their natural habitat.

As a tool for determining the main directions of state policy in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna at the federal level, the Strategy also provides the basis for the development of regional strategies and action plans for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and mushrooms.

Effective results of the implementation of the Strategy can only be achieved through partnerships between public authorities, public organizations and associations, business structures, international environmental organizations and charitable foundations, as well as with the active involvement of citizens of the country in the implementation process.

INTRODUCTION

Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are the most fragile but very important part of biodiversity. Species diversity, due to the long process of evolution, is the basis of the integrity of ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole. The loss of several, and sometimes even one biological species, which seemed to be of little value, leads to a violation of this integrity and can lead to the destruction of ecosystems. As natural communities lose their constituent species, the resilience and resilience of communities to human impacts declines. The extinction of any species is the irretrievable loss of unique genetic information. Any kind of living organism, even if not currently used by people, has potential value, since it is impossible today to predict exactly which biological properties will turn out to be useful or even indispensable for the survival of mankind in the future. Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are of great scientific, educational, ethical and aesthetic value. Many of them are relics of past geological eras, others have become symbols of wildlife and efforts to protect it. The disappearance of any population, and even more so of the entire biological species, is an irreparable loss for the biological diversity of the Earth and irretrievably lost “opportunities” for humanity.

According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) from 1600 to 1975. 74 species and 86 subspecies of birds (1.23%) and 63 species and 44 subspecies (1.43%) of mammals disappeared from the face of the Earth. The death of 75% of mammal species and 86% of bird species is associated with human activities.

The relevance of the Strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is determined by the importance of the task of their conservation as elements of biodiversity. The need to conserve such species is set out in the Ecological Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of August 31, 2002 No. 1225-r, as well as in the National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation of Russia. At the same time, the Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi is an important element in fulfilling Russia's international obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).

The Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi (hereinafter referred to as the Strategy) is a long-term planning document and defines the priorities and main directions of activity in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi.

The strategy includes scientific, legal, organizational bases and economic mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, designed to assist in decision-making at the federal and regional levels.

The strategy is the basis for the development of strategies and action plans for the conservation of individual rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world, as well as regional strategies.

The strategy is being implemented through partnerships between public authorities, non-governmental organizations and associations, business structures, citizens of the country, as well as international environmental organizations and charitable foundations.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTS OF THE STRATEGY

The purpose of the Strategy is to create and implement mechanisms for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and their intraspecific diversity to the extent that ensures their sustainable existence.

This goal is achieved through complex actions in the scientific, legal, economic, organizational and technological spheres, while solving the following tasks:

Improving the legal framework and organizational mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;

Development and implementation of economic and financial mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;

Development and implementation of a system of categories and criteria for identifying and classifying rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and determining priorities for their protection;

Conducting an inventory and compiling a cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi according to unified unified methods;

Organization and monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;

Creation and maintenance of the Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation according to a single methodology;

Organization of scientific research in the field of studying the biological characteristics of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and the mechanisms of action of limiting factors on them;

Development and improvement of measures for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species in the natural habitat and in the artificially created habitat;

Development and implementation of a system of measures in the field of enlightenment and education;

Determining the circle of partners for the implementation of the Strategy;

Development and implementation of necessary measures in the field of international cooperation, including interaction with the CIS countries.

The strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is based primarily on the population-species approach. Its objects are rare and endangered species (subspecies) of animals, plants and fungi, their populations and organisms. Although the objects allocated on the basis of the ecosystem approach - ecosystems, biocenoses and biotopes, are not the direct objects of this Strategy, the conservation and restoration of the natural habitat of rare and endangered species is a necessary condition and a priority way for the conservation of such species.

Naturally rare species, potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics;

Species that are widespread, but endangered or reducing their numbers and range as a result of anthropogenic impact.

Red Data Book of the Russian Federation;

Red Books of the subjects of the Russian Federation;

Red Book of the CIS;

CITES applications;

Applications of international agreements (with the USA, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the DPRK, India).

SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERABLE SPECIES OF ANIMALS, PLANTS AND MUSHROOMS

The territory of the Russian Federation, covering an area of ​​17,075 thousand km² (11.4% of the planet's land area), is represented by ecosystems of 8 natural zones: polar deserts, arctic and subarctic tundra, forest tundra, taiga, deciduous forests, steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. On the territory of Russia there are large plains and mountain ranges, more than 120 thousand rivers and about 2 million fresh and salt lakes, over 6 million km² are occupied by forests and 1.8 million km² by swamps. Such a variety of natural complexes has led to a significant diversity of the flora and fauna of Russia. On the territory of Russia, 11,400 species of vascular plants, 320 species of mammals, about 732 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, 29 species of amphibians, 343 species of freshwater fish, 9 species of cyclostomes, 130-150 thousand species of invertebrates. Over 1500 thousand marine fish are found in the seas washing Russia. According to tentative estimates, about 20% of the flora and fauna of Russia are endemic species.

A number of species of living organisms are classified as rare and endangered.

BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RARE AND ENDANGERATED SPECIES OF ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FUNGI

From a biological point of view, rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are divided into two main groups: naturally rare species that are potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics, and species that are widespread, but endangered or declining in number and area as a result of anthropogenic impact.

Naturally rare species potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics

This group includes species of animals, plants and fungi, which, due to their biological characteristics, are the most vulnerable and have less ability to withstand anthropogenic impact. These include rare, narrow-range, endemic, relict, highly specialized and stenobiont species of animals, plants and fungi, as well as species that enter the territory of Russia at the edge of the range.

Biological features of these species:

small number,

Small area of ​​the range (relict, narrowly endemic, edge of the range),

low density,

Low ecological valence (stenobiont, high specialization),

Low rate of population reproduction,

Negative attitude towards human presence.

The main and obligatory sign of naturally rare species is their small number. All other features are additional and, occurring in various combinations, increase the risk of a decrease in the number and extinction of the species.

Small number. All rare species of animals, plants and fungi are few in number. A small number increases the probability of population extinction both due to changes in natural factors and as a result of anthropogenic impacts. There is a threat of extinction of the species, even in stable and favorable conditions, only due to random fluctuations in births and deaths. In addition, changes in natural factors and anthropogenic impacts can lead to populations/species reaching a critical abundance, and this, in turn, leads to a reduction in genetic diversity and sharp decline viability.

Small area of ​​the range. Many species of animals, plants and fungi, which are components of unique or relict ecosystems, have a small area. This group also includes insular forms, species entering the territory of Russia at the edge of the range, and some migratory animal species. The small area of ​​the range increases the risk of extinction of the species, since even local environmental disturbances in a small area can be fatal for this species. Additional difficulties arise due to the limited or lack of control over the environmental situation in the territories of neighboring states.

Low density is closely related to the two previous characteristics. The structure of natural biocenoses, as a rule, is characterized by the presence of a certain number of species of animals, plants and fungi, which occur with low frequency. This pattern is of a general nature. Low density increases the risk of species extinction in a given area, since even the destruction of a small number of individuals leads to local extinction of the species. In addition, low density can be a factor hindering the process of population reproduction. However, not all low-density species need special protection measures, as some of them may have a wide range and a large total population. The objects of the strategy are only those of them that have a low total number.

Low ecological valence (stenobiont, high specialization). The rigid dependence of organisms on individual limited resources or the possibility of their existence in a narrow range of environmental conditions makes them extremely vulnerable. The disappearance or reduction of the resource they need, as well as the destruction of their specific habitats, put such species in a critical situation. This can happen even with relatively weak impacts on natural ecosystems.

The low rate of population reproduction reduces the ability of the species to withstand negative impacts on it. Such species simply do not have time to restore their numbers in case of destabilization of the environment or an increase in the frequency of negative impacts on them. With the same level of exposure to negative factors, species of animals, plants and fungi that slowly restore their numbers are always more likely to be endangered than rapidly breeding species. These species include most large animal species.

Negative attitude towards human presence. A negative reaction to the presence of a person is manifested in some large species of mammals and birds, as well as some plants (for example, orchids). Representatives of other systematic groups of animals, plants and fungi usually show a neutral reaction to humans. Animal species that react most strongly to the presence of humans (anthropophobic species) practically do not tolerate the frequent appearance of humans in their habitats. However, the attitude towards a person in such animals can change to neutral and even interested behavior, if contacts with a person do not harm the animals.

Species that are widespread, but endangered or reducing their numbers and range as a result of anthropogenic impact

This group includes species of animals, plants and fungi that have a variety of biological characteristics, which were not previously rare and became so as a result of the impact of anthropogenic limiting factors.

Some migratory species of animals, having a generally vast range, concentrate in an extremely limited area at certain periods of their life cycle. The destruction of such a key habitat or the negative impact on the accumulation of the animals themselves can put the species in a critical situation.

LIMITING FACTORS

The set of anthropogenic limiting factors and the forms of their impact are extensive and varied. The whole variety of forms of impact of limiting factors on rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are conditionally divided into two main groups: direct and indirect impacts.

Direct impacts are the destruction or removal of organisms of this species from natural populations as a result of excessive harvesting (collection), low culture of harvesting, illegal fishing, collection and collection of living organisms, irrational and indiscriminate control of weeds and pests in agriculture and forestry, death of animals on engineering structures, the destruction by the population of animals and plants that are considered dangerous, harmful or unpleasant, and other actions.

Indirect impacts are a change in the natural habitat of organisms, leading to a deterioration in the state of the species. There are four directions of such influences:

Physical, i.e. change in the physical characteristics of the environment (destruction and change in the relief, violation of the physical properties of the soil or soil, destruction and change in the air, water basin, natural ecosystems) in the process of their intensive exploitation: transformation of vast natural areas into cities and other settlements and building sites, deforestation , plowing of steppes, drainage of swamps, peat extraction, regulation of river flow, creation of reservoirs, seismic exploration and blasting, the effect of electromagnetic fields and radiation, noise exposure, thermal pollution, etc.

Chemical, i.e. pollution of the water basin, air, soil as a result of the activities of industrial enterprises and mining companies (pollution with industrial waste), the agro-industrial complex (pollution with pesticides, mineral and organic fertilizers, pesticides), the transport complex (pollution with industrial waste and oil products), housing and communal services (pollution by domestic wastewater), military facilities (pollution by rocket fuel and fuels and lubricants, raw sewage and emissions), as well as as a result of man-made accidents and global pollution transfer (oil spills, acid rain, etc.).

Climatic, expressed in global change climatic conditions, caused by anthropogenic or natural causes, leading to a radical restructuring of habitats (forest attack on the steppe or foresting of mountain tundra, displacement of natural zones, the appearance of southern species of animals and plants in the northern regions, etc.).

Biological, expressed in violation of the structure of natural biocenoses as a result of human activity (intentional and unintentional introduction) and self-dispersal of alien species; the spread of pathogens of diseases of animals and plants; outbreaks of numbers of certain species; possible penetration into natural ecosystems of living genetically modified organisms; eutrophication of water bodies; destruction of animal food resources.

Various types of anthropogenic activities have both direct and indirect effects, are complex and are accompanied by synergistic and cumulative effects.

One of the main reasons for the state of species that fall into the category of rare and endangered is the destruction or complete destruction of the habitats of these species.

The negative consequences of human impact on rare and endangered species, depending on a diverse combination of impact factors and specific environmental conditions, are different. The main ones are:

Downsizing;

Deterioration of the physiological state of organisms;

Violation of reproduction (violation of gametogenesis; decrease in the frequency and success of fertilization; prenatal mortality, non-viable offspring);

Increase in mortality at the initial stages of development of organisms;

Increased adult mortality;

Violation of life cycles, including migration;

Violation of the sex and age structure of the population;

Violation of the genetic structure of populations, loss of genetic diversity;

Violation of the spatial structure of the population;

Violation of the population structure of the species;

Non-adaptive change in animal behavior.

All these consequences ultimately lead to a reduction in the number and extinction of individual populations and the species as a whole.

The analysis of limiting factors and mechanisms of influence is the most important prerequisite for the development of an effective program for the conservation of any kind of living organism. This analysis should be carried out for each specific case separately and take into account both the biological characteristics of the species and the socio-economic specifics of the region in which it lives.

It is necessary to separate the processes of changes in biological diversity as a result of anthropogenic activities from the natural processes of its development. Natural factors should be taken into account when developing programs for the conservation of biological diversity, but their prevention is impractical, and in most cases impossible. From anthropogenic factors, first of all, those that most strongly affect biosystems or are critical for them are prevented.

The system of criteria is the basis for identifying rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, determining priority objects of protection and distributing efforts for their protection.

To protect rare and endangered species in the Russian Federation, six categories of rarity status of taxa and populations have been adopted according to the degree of threat of their extinction: 0 - probably extinct, 1 - endangered, 2 - declining in number, 3 - rare, 4 - indeterminate by status, 5 - recoverable and recovering.

Probably disappeared taxa and populations that previously lived in the territory (water area) of the Russian Federation, and whose presence in nature has not been confirmed (for invertebrates - in the last 100 years, for vertebrates - in the last 50 years, for plants and fungi, the dates have not been determined) .

Decreasing populations include taxa and populations with steadily declining numbers, which, if the impact of limiting factors continues, can quickly fall into the category of endangered species.

Rare are taxa and populations that have a natural low abundance and / or are distributed in a limited area (water area) or sporadically distributed in large areas (water areas).

Those taxa and populations that probably belong to one of the previous categories are classified as indeterminate in status, but there is currently no sufficient information about their state in nature, or they do not fully meet the criteria of all other categories.

Restoring and recovering - these are those taxa and populations, the number and distribution of which, under the influence of natural causes or as a result of conservation measures taken, have begun to recover, and which are approaching a state where they will not need urgent conservation and restoration measures.

Identification of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, assessment of their condition, development of parameters for monitoring and determination of priorities for their protection is carried out on the basis of an appropriate system of categories and criteria. Such a system includes three groups of criteria (both qualitative and quantitative) that allow assessing the relative importance of objects and assigning them one or another environmental status (category):

Biological criteria for assessing the status of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;

Criteria of the significance of the object for the conservation of biodiversity in general;

Socio-economic and technological criteria.

In addition, it is necessary to determine the procedure for assessing objects and setting priorities. If an object receives opposite assessments according to different criteria (for example, it has a small number, but is distributed over a wide area), the decision on its conservation status is made on the basis of an assessment according to a more significant criterion (in this example, based on a small number).

Biological criteria for assessing the state of species (Table 1) make it possible to identify rare and endangered species of animals, plants, and fungi and give them an appropriate conservation status. These criteria are also the basis for developing a system of monitoring parameters for rare and endangered species.

Table 1

Biological criteria for assessing the status of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi

Criterion	State		Change trends
population (when assessing trends in change, one should distinguish between natural fluctuations in numbers and its anthropogenic changes)	high Low		is increasing stable Slowly shrinking Decreasing fast
Population change rate	High Short		stable Increase in mortality and/or reduction in reproduction
Population structure of the species	Complex Simple		stable Disappearance of local populations, ecological forms
Density (occurrence)	Numerous Rare Unit		is increasing stable Decreasing (the species is becoming rarer)
Range sizes (when assessing trends in change, one should distinguish between natural fluctuations in the range and its anthropogenic changes)	Big Narrow		Expanding stable Slowly shrinking Decreasing fast
Range structure (for individual species, when assessing the structure of the range, one should distinguish between seasonal and ecological modifications of the range: reproductive, trophic, seasonal, wintering and summer parts of the range)	Solid Intermittent Spotted dotted		Recovering stable Fragmentation of the continuous range (continuous areas of the range) Disappearance of areas of discontinuous range
Ecological valence	eurybiont species Specialized (stenobiont in one factor) species Highly specialized (stenobiont in many ways)		There are changes in some factor No state changes
Genetic structure of the population (level of genetic diversity in a population)		High variety Low variety		Recovering stable shrinking
Gender, age and social structure populations (It is necessary to distinguish between natural fluctuations in the population structure and its anthropogenic disturbances).		Optimal Satisfactory Critical (lack of juveniles)		Recovering stable violated
The physiological state of organisms		Optimal Satisfactory critical		Improving stable getting worse
Relative effective strength		high Low		growing stable Decreases
Settlement degree		Sedentary (habitats are permanent) Has a seasonal change of habitats nomadic migratory		There are changes in sedentary status (migratory species becomes sedentary) No changes
Attitude towards a person		synanthropy Neutral anthropophobia		Anthropophobia changes to a neutral (synanthropic) attitude No relationship changes
Habitat status		Optimal Satisfactory critical		are recovering stable are degrading Disappear

The rare and endangered species of animals, plants, and fungi identified on the basis of the above criteria can also be assessed by their significance for the conservation of biodiversity in general (Table 2).

table 2

Criteria for the significance of a taxon for the conservation of biodiversity in general

Criteria	Comparative estimates (in order of increasing importance)
1
Level of possible genetic loss	population loss Subspecies loss Loss of a species from a numerous higher taxon Loss of a species from a small higher taxon Loss of a higher taxon (genus, family, order, class)
The role of the species in the biocenosis	Is not key key
Share of area in Russia (region)	A small part of the range in Russia (in the region) A significant part of the range in Russia (in the region) Endemic - the entire range in Russia (in the region)

The next group of criteria makes it possible to assess the socio-economic and technological aspects of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi. These criteria are especially important when developing specific programs for the conservation and restoration of these species.

Table 3

Socio-economic and technological criteria for assessing a taxon

Criterion	Comparative scores
resource value	unknown High commercial value High scientific, aesthetic, recreational, other value low value
The degree of knowledge	high Low
Monitoring level	Monitoring is established No monitoring
Technology of artificial reproduction of natural populations	Designed for this type Designed for closely related species Absent

Socio-economic and technological criteria for assessing a taxon

The final decision on classifying a species as rare and endangered, as well as on assigning it one or another conservation status (category) is made on the basis of its assessment according to all criteria.

Creation of a scientifically substantiated and maximally objective system of criteria for identifying rare and endangered species and determining their conservation priorities is a strategic task.

PRINCIPLES AND METHODS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERABLE SPECIES OF ANIMALS, PLANTS AND MUSHROOMS

Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, their populations and individual organisms belong to different levels of organization of wildlife and are characterized by different structure, laws of development and functioning. At different hierarchical levels, it is necessary to determine: principles, that is, particular methodological approaches based on the initial scientific provisions on objects of biological diversity, and the main tasks for the conservation of objects. Based on the principles, conservation methods are determined - a set of basic methods and techniques for the conservation of rare and endangered species, and on their basis - measures and devices, i.e. specific organizational and technical means of their implementation.

species principle

Object: view (subview).

Initial scientific position: a species is the smallest genetically closed system with a unique gene pool; a species is, as a rule, a system of interconnected local populations, intraspecific forms, and subspecies.

Main goals:

Preservation of the abundance and ranges of species (subspecies);

Preservation of the spatial-genetic population structure of the species;

Preservation of the diversity of populations, intraspecific forms (seasonal races, ecological forms, etc.).

Conservation of populations and species, control over their condition;

Preservation and restoration of the natural habitat, reconstruction of biotopes;

Protection of species in specially protected natural areas (PAs);

Reintroduction (reacclimatization) of species, restoration of lost populations.

A necessary condition for the sustainable conservation of a species is the preservation of its population structure. Local populations, intraspecific forms and subspecies are carriers of unique adaptations of a species to specific environmental conditions. Their destruction or violation of the normal degree of isolation leads to the destruction of the adaptive spatial-genetic structure of the species that has developed in the course of evolution, the loss of unique adaptations. To maintain the spatial genetic structure of a species, it is necessary to maintain that degree of isolation of populations and forms, which is characteristic of undisturbed natural populations. Both the increased isolation of populations and forms and the destruction of natural barriers between them and their artificial mixing are fatal.

population principle

Object: population.

Initial scientific position: populations represent a form of existence of a species, are elementary units of the evolutionary process and have a unique gene pool.

Main goals:

Preservation or restoration of the number and range of natural populations sufficient for their sustainable existence;

Maintain optimal health of organisms in populations;

Preservation of intrapopulation genetic diversity and genetic originality (uniqueness) of the population;

Preservation of the diversity of the population structure (spatial, gender, age, ethological and social).

Conservation methods in an artificially created habitat: conservation of populations of rare and endangered species in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, implementation of an optimal scheme for the exchange of individuals between nurseries, zoos and botanical gardens to preserve genetic diversity both within individual groups of organisms and in the population as a whole.

Methods of conservation in the natural habitat:

Conservation of populations of rare and endangered species and control over their condition;

Preservation and restoration of the natural habitat, reconstruction of biotopes;

Protection of populations of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi in protected areas;

Artificial reproduction of natural populations;

Technological and organizational measures to protect animals from death at engineering structures, during economic work; assistance to animals in emergency situations;

Development and implementation of a system of measures to prevent the uncontrolled spread of invasive alien species and eliminate the consequences of these processes;

Prevention of penetration into the natural environment of living genetically modified organisms and further hybridization with conserved populations;

Elimination of factors leading to the deterioration of the health of living organisms;

Reintroduction (reacclimatization) of extinct populations in natural habitats, restoration (genetic "recovery") of small populations;

Resettlement of populations from habitats that are inevitably destroyed as a result of economic activity (for example, the construction of reservoirs, etc.) and the impact of natural factors (for example, an increase in the level of lakes with flooding of adjacent lowlands, etc.).

When preserving populations, their numbers are of paramount importance. Reducing the number increases the likelihood of random extinction of the population and is accompanied by a reduction in intrapopulation genetic diversity. In this case, not only the minimum level of abundance reached by the population is important, but also the duration of the period during which the population was small. There is no single value of the minimum number for populations of different species that exist in different conditions. The minimum or critical values ​​of the number and density of populations, which determine the moment of their transition from a safe state to a state of danger of extinction, can only be determined in each specific case. These values ​​depend on many factors: the characteristics of biology, the rate of population growth, the degree of its differentiation into subpopulations, the nature of the crossing of individuals, the conditions for the existence of the population, etc.

Genetic diversity, ethological-social, spatial, age and sex structures of a population determine its stability, ability to adapt and the ability to survive in changing environmental conditions. Intrapopulation genetic diversity determines the possibilities of its adaptation and survival in changing environmental conditions, including anthropogenic impacts. The reduction of intrapopulation diversity reduces the ability of the population to adapt to changes in the external environment, makes the population unstable, and reduces its stability.

The size and genetic diversity of a population are not sufficient to assess its state, since a number of forms of human impact on natural systems lead to a strong deterioration in the health of individuals, while the size of populations and their genetic diversity may still remain unchanged or even grow for some time. Therefore, an important indicator of the state of populations, which determines the possibility of their long-term sustainable preservation, is the health of individual individuals in the population.

Another necessary condition for the full-fledged long-term preservation of a population is the preservation of its typical natural habitat. Long-term and full-fledged preservation of the gene pool of a species is possible only in a historically typical environment for it. If a population persists for a long time in an environment uncharacteristic for it, its genetic structure inevitably undergoes a transformation due to a change in selection directions.

The population principle should form the basis of a strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species, since only the conservation of individual natural populations can ensure the full conservation of the species.

Organismal principle

Object: individual.

Initial scientific position: the organism is the smallest unit of life, independently existing in the environment and being carriers of hereditary information about the main properties and characteristics of the species.

Main goals:

Preservation of individual individuals and ensuring their reproduction;

Preservation of genotypes.

Conservation methods in an artificially created habitat:

Storage of genetic materials (gametes, zygotes, somatic cells, embryos) in low-temperature genetic banks, cell and tissue culture banks, as well as seed banks;

Introduction of species into culture.

The organismic principle makes it possible to preserve only a part of the genetic diversity of natural populations. In gene banks, various nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc., as a rule, only individual individuals (genetic material) or their small groups are preserved. The genetic diversity of even very large populations recreated from individuals preserved in an artificially created habitat will be based only on those genes that the founder individuals possessed (with the exception of new mutations). With long-term breeding in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens of small groups of living organisms, the genetic processes inherent in natural populations are disturbed in them, and genetic diversity is reduced. The introduction of species into culture also cannot preserve the gene pool of natural populations and species, since significant changes in the properties of organisms and the genetic structure of the population are inevitable during domestication.

The organismic principle can be considered as the main one only in cases when all reserves for the preservation of the population/species in the natural habitat have been exhausted, namely:

The species/population has disappeared from nature,

The threat of extinction for the species/population is so great that it is impossible to guarantee conservation in the natural habitat;

In cases of uncontrolled introduction and hybridization, leading to the loss of the purity of the gene pool of natural populations

Director General of ANO Far Eastern leopards» Elena Gangalo - about the holiday and not only

On the occasion of the World Wildlife Day celebrated on March 3, Elena Gangalo, CEO of the autonomous non-profit organization Far Eastern Leopards, gave an interview to the organization's website. Last year, which was celebrated as the Year of the 100th Anniversary of Russian Nature Reserves and the 5th Anniversary of the National Park "Land of the Leopard", the most remarkable fact can be recognized as "excellent replenishment": the appearance of 15 kittens was noted in Far Eastern leopards.

As part of preparations for the field season, “winter route censuses of animals are carried out in all specially protected natural areas of Russia.” Employees of specially protected natural areas of the Far East monitor large wild cats, tigers and Amur leopards. In particular, their number will be specified.

Significant work has been done with the creation in 2008 of a new federal reserve "Leopardovy", and, even more so, after the organization of the national park "Land of the Leopard" with an area of ​​262 thousand hectares in the Primorsky Territory. According to Elena Gangalo, the systemic efforts of state environmental authorities, scientific and public environmental organizations undertaken over the past decade have brought tangible results: the observed number of leopards “began to grow”. The population of these animals covering the southwestern Primorye and adjacent regions of China has reached 90 individuals (of which 42 individuals are in China). Research by scientists and their support from the Far Eastern Leopards Foundation will continue.

Noting the stages of formation of ANO "Far Eastern Leopards", General Director of the organization Elena Gangalo noted that the ANO was established in 2011, and its supervisory board is headed by Sergey Ivanov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for environmental protection, ecology and transport. As Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, he “actually supervised this topic, in every possible way supporting the initiatives of scientists and conservationists to save the leopard in the Far East. It was Sergey Borisovich who initiated the creation of ANO "Far Eastern Leopards".

By the time work began on the protection of Far Eastern leopards in Primorye, there were the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve (small in area), the Barsovy Federal Reserve and the Borisovskoye Plateau Regional Reserve. But they had different departmental subordination and did not initially have a conservation status. Gradually, a model of a new structure was built, and, finally, by a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of April 5, 2012, a national park"Land of the Leopard" Work on the organization of protection, provision of food supply, conservation of lands suitable for their habitation made it possible to achieve comfortable conditions for increasing the number of taiga cats. Taking into account new broods, the number of leopards has reached 90 animals. Today, one of the largest groups of the Amur tiger in the Far Eastern specially protected natural areas is also concentrated on the "Land of the Leopard": it is about 30 individuals.

Today, with the participation of the ANO "Far Eastern Leopards", research work is carried out, monitoring of animal populations is carried out both in federal protected areas and in adjacent areas. The number of camera traps now reaches almost 400, the observation area is 360 thousand hectares. There is nothing else like it in Russia.

The aspect of combating human threats to leopards, manifested in the form of poaching and forest fires, is seen as very important. According to Elena Gangalo, the organization she leads provides the inspectors of the Land of the Leopard security service with modern technology, equipment and ammunition. In September 2017, in the village of Barabash, a new central estate of the National Park "Land of the Leopard" was solemnly opened - "a complex of buildings built according to a special project as part of the federal targeted investment program." A considerable part of the funds for the realization of the plan was transferred, just to ANO "Far Eastern Leopards". The estate has become a modern scientific, environmental education and educational complex, which involves holding various conferences, scientific seminars and many other events.

Somewhat earlier, in March 2016, the Narva road tunnel began to operate. Being located on the highway separating the Land of the Leopard National Park and the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve, it "was built for the first time in our country precisely with the aim of minimizing the impact of the highway on the populations of large predators - the Far Eastern leopard and the Amur tiger." And this project has fully justified itself, because with its help it is possible to ensure almost unhindered communication between the two territories, and according to this ecoduct, tigers and leopards, tigers and leopards move from one of them to another.

Two plots of land in the Khasansky district of Primorsky Krai with a total area of ​​12,000 hectares were donated to ANO "Far Eastern Leopards" in 2017 by a major businessman. These territories "will become part of the Land of the Leopard National Park as a cluster for scientific research and educational tourism."

Among other important work, Elena Gangalo named activities to popularize the idea of ​​​​preserving the Far Eastern leopard - interaction with the media, organizing exhibitions and other events, among which an important place is occupied by the environmental festival "Leopard Day" held in Moscow in August 2017, filming the documentary film "Leo80 . The story of a leopard” and other events. In collaboration with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, ANO "Far Eastern Leopards" held an action (PrimReporter has already reported about it) to decorate the urban area in Vladivostok by the famous South African graffiti artist Sonny.

Speaking about the prospects and problems being solved by ANO "Far Eastern Leopards", the General Director of the organization noted the need for systematic efforts to maintain success - to overcome the subspecies survival limit - and to create a "sustainable population of the Far Eastern leopard of at least 120 individuals per natural conditions”, which can guarantee its survival.

In addition to fighting poaching and forest fires, maintaining a sufficient food supply for the leopard (the relevance of these problems remains), topical and "preventing the death of wild animals from various diseases", since the risk of a sudden epizootic, which "may a short time destroy the fruits of all our efforts." To this end, the task is put forward to start cooperation "with the best specialists both in our country and in the world."

Another question is about the expansion of territories associated with the prospect of the return of the leopard to other territories of Primorye. It is possible that leopards will be reintroduced in the areas of the Lazovsky Reserve, in the Ussuri Reserve and its environs, and there is even talk of expanding the territory of the Land of the Leopard National Park.

An important aspect of the protection of the Far Eastern leopard is real international cooperation. Within the framework of cooperation with the scientific and environmental structures of the PRC, the issue of creating "an extensive transboundary (Russian-Chinese) reserve that preserves the habitats of Far Eastern leopards and Amur tigers" is being worked out.

Such work, according to Elena Gangalo, was started back in 2011. Since the approval of the draft agreement between our countries on the creation of a transboundary reserve within the Russian territory (in the area of ​​Lake Khanka), some results have been achieved, but then this process has stalled. However, according to the head of the ANO "Far Eastern Leopards", "now is the time to return to this issue." This is, firstly, due to the intensification of cooperation between Russian and Chinese specialists in the study and monitoring of large cats in the border areas. The second factor is the reorganization of the network of protected areas on the border between China and Primorsky Krai: China has created a single national tiger and leopard park with an area of ​​1.5 million hectares in the provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang. That's why Russian specialists consider it expedient to "immediately begin discussions with our Chinese colleagues on proposals for the creation of a Russian-Chinese transboundary reserve."

A separate issue raised in an interview with the head of the organization, Elena Gangalo, published on the website of ANO "Far Eastern Leopards", is the possibility of perpetuating the memory of one of the famous researchers and creators of the PA system, Professor N.N. Vorontsov, who made a significant contribution to the work of protecting the nature of the Far East and, in particular, Primorye.

A separate moment of the dialogue is devoted to the possibility and world practice of creating “non-state national funds that accumulate voluntary donations and implement significant projects aimed at preserving natural heritage". Elena Gangalo highly appreciated the existing international environmental structures (WWF, Greenpeace, IFAW), but pointed out that “there is a lack of a specialized national fund.”

In Russia today there are also non-profit organizations, collecting extrabudgetary funds to support activities for the conservation of specific rare species of animals (ANO Far Eastern Leopards, ANO Center Amur tiger»» and others), but there is a need and desire to «move from non-state support for the protection of individual flag species to more systematic work on the conservation of rare species in general». It is time to talk about the advisability of creating in Russia a national non-state charitable foundation specializing in the conservation of biological and landscape diversity. At the same time, the tasks of protecting and restoring populations, "threatened with extinction of objects of the animal and plant world, and their key habitats, primarily within the boundaries of protected areas," could become a priority for him.

In order to realize such a plan, Elena Gangalo outlined the need to support this kind of activity from the business community: this practice is quite widespread in the world, and it is also being developed in Russia. Moreover, "this is not just a tribute to the time or fashion, it is a tool to increase competitiveness." We are talking about the "environmental rating of the company" as an important indicator of business performance. The topic of social and environmental responsibility of business is becoming more and more popular when communicating with potential investors, attracting new customers. The so-called "green reputation" is increasingly becoming "one of the very effective elements of sustainable development."

As Elena Gangalo emphasized, “... for a serious business, environmental responsibility should not be only a part of the image policy, it should be based on real, tangible deeds, projects that give concrete results. In this regard, the topic of contributions to the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals is very rewarding both in terms of image and concrete results.”

Therefore, the Director General of ANO "Far Eastern Leopards" believes that the project for the conservation and restoration of the population of the rarest cat in the world, implemented by the organization, is almost ideal for this. Today, this organization works with the most successful Russian companies such as Gazprom, Gazprombank, Sibur, SUEK, Sberbank, Russian Railways and others. The project implemented by Primorsky ecologists together with the Rossiya airline is seen as unique: since the spring of 2017, the Leolet has been taking to the skies: the Boeing of the Rossiya airline with the image of the Far Eastern leopard is carrying more and more passengers.

Such achievements allow us to look to the future with optimism.

Speaking about the environmental theme, one cannot ignore the results of the Year of Ecology - in the assessment of the ANO "Far Eastern Leopards", which was reported by the RIA Novosti agency shortly before the New Year.

Thus, a unique exhibition "Eco-treasures of Russia" was held. The fourth all-Russian festival "Pristine Russia" was held, organized by public lesson at the school, where conservationists told students about the amazing rescue of the Leo 80M leopard and introduced students to the work of saving the Amur leopard population.

On August 27, a big holiday was held in Moscow's Krasnaya Presnya Park - Leopard Day, which was attended by 30 thousand people. And within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, “a traditional race to protect Red Book cats was held and a charity auction was held in support of projects to protect endangered and rare species of animals in the Far East.”
In the Year of Ecology, the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the National Park "Land of the Leopard" was held, in which a new ecological route "The Leopard Path" was opened.

In a word, good traditions are being continued and developed.

TO rare and endangered species include animals whose numbers are so small that their continued existence is threatened. They need careful protection. Most of the rare and endangered species in our country belong to commercial species. In the past they were widespread and numerous. The predatory use of animal resources in Russia led to the fact that by the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. many species have become rare or are on the verge of extinction. At Soviet power they were taken under protection, hunting for them was prohibited. Reserves were organized in places where the most valuable species (bison, river beaver, sable, wild ass, muskrat) were preserved.

The main task of protecting rare and endangered species is to achieve such an increase in their numbers by creating favorable conditions for their habitat, which would eliminate the threat of extinction. It is important to restore the natural stocks of animals in order to include them in the number of commercial ones.

In Russia, a large and painstaking work has been carried out to restore the population of the river beaver, sable, elk, saiga, which were on the verge of extinction. At present, their numbers have been restored, they have again become commercial.

All rare and endangered species of animals, like plants, are brought into Red Book, created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN). The Red Book, first published in 1966 and translated into Russian in 1976, included 292 species and subspecies of mammals, 287 species and subspecies of birds, 36 species of amphibians and 119 species of reptiles, including 16 species of animals and 8 species of birds inhabit the territory of our country. In 1978, the Red Book of the USSR was published, which included (species and subspecies): mammals - 62, birds - 63, reptiles - 21, amphibians - 8.

The Red Book of Russia (1983) included (species and subspecies) of mammals - 65, birds - 108, reptiles - 11, amphibians - 4, fish - 10, molluscs - 15, insects - 34.

The lists of species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (1997) with additions (1999) include species: invertebrates - 154, fish - 44, amphibians - 8, reptiles - 21, birds - 124, mammals - 65, insects - 94, shellfish - 41.

Listing a species in the Red Book is a signal of the danger that threatens it, of the need for urgent measures to protect it. Each country, on the territory of which a species included in the Red Book lives, is responsible to its people and all mankind for its conservation.

To preserve rare and endangered species, nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries are organized, animals are settled in areas of their former distribution, fed, shelters and nests are created, and they are protected from predators and diseases. At very low numbers, animals are bred in captivity and then released into conditions suitable for them. These measures are producing positive results.

Here are some of the species whose numbers have been restored with great effort:

bison(Bison bonasus - big bull body weight up to 1 t (Fig. 14, A). In the past, it was distributed in the forests of Western, Central and South of Eastern Europe, in the east - to the river. Don and in the Caucasus. By the beginning of the XX century. in their natural state bison survived only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha (727 heads) and in the Caucasus (600 heads). The last free bison in Belovezhskaya Pushcha was killed in 1919, in the Caucasus - in 1927. Only 48 bison remained living in zoos and at acclimatization stations.

This lower limit species abundance. The animal was on the verge of extinction. Work began on the restoration of the bison. It was most actively carried out in Poland and in three reserves of the USSR: in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Prioksko-Terrasny and Kavkazsky. By 1975, there were 320 purebred Bialowieza bison in Poland, 155 purebred Bialowieza bison in the USSR, and more than 500 bison were in the Caucasus. Successful work on bison breeding made it possible from 1961 to move on to the creation of free herds. By 1981, the number of bison in the USSR reached 830, in the world more than 2000 (Red Book of the USSR, 1984).

saiga (Siga tatarica) - a small antelope weighing 23-40 kg (Fig. 14, b). Previously, it was distributed over vast areas of the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Europe, Kazakhstan and Central Asia. In the XVII-XVIII centuries. herds of saigas were common in the steppes of Eastern Europe and Asia, as early as the beginning of the 18th century. met in Moldova and west of the Dniester. The plowing of the steppes has forced the saiga out of many areas. The reduction in numbers was facilitated by increased hunting for meat, skins and horns, which were sold to China as medicinal raw materials.

By the beginning of the XX century. the saiga is preserved in the remote areas of the right bank of the Lower Volga and in Kazakhstan. In 1919, a law was passed banning saiga hunting. By this time, only a few hundred of its individuals remained. As a result of protection, the number of saiga by the end of 1940 reached the commercial one, and in the early 1950s, fishing was allowed. The number of saigas has stabilized; from 100 to 500 thousand individuals are harvested annually, which gives the national economy about 6 thousand tons of meat, 20 million dm 2 of skin and medicinal raw materials.

Amur tiger(Panthera tigris altaica) - the largest subspecies (body weight up to 272 kg), characterized by long thick fur. In the past, he was an ordinary inhabitant of the Ussuri taiga. Excessive hunting and trapping led to a reduction in its numbers in the late 1930s to 20-30 individuals. In 1947, tiger hunting was prohibited. In the 1950s-1960s, there were already 90-100 individuals; since 1960, the capture of tigers for zoos has been allowed. Currently, the tiger is found in Primorsky and eastern regions. Khabarovsk Territory. The length of the range from north to south is about 100 km, from west to east - 600-700 km. In 1969-1970. 150 tigers were counted, in 1978 - 200 tigers. Outside of Russia, in China and Korea, apparently, no more than 100 individuals have survived. The zoos of the world (1979) contain 844 individuals.

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) - the largest representative of the family and the entire order of predatory mammals (body weight up to 1000 kg). Vi-da range - circumpolar region, limited north coast continents, the southern limit of the distribution of floating ice and the northern boundary of warm sea currents. Over the past few centuries, the total area and boundaries of the territory of the permanent habitat of the species have changed little. The exception is the European sector of the Russian Arctic, where fishing has long existed polar bear. On the coasts of the Kola, Kaninsky peninsulas, Timan, Malozemelskaya and Bolshezemelskaya tundras, the polar bear is no longer there. It is still regularly found on the islands and ice fields of the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi Seas.

In addition to Russia, the polar bear is common in the Arctic sectors of Norway, Greenland, Canada and the USA (Alaska). The total number of polar bears in the early 1970s was approximately 20 thousand, including 5-7 thousand in the Soviet Arctic. At the end of the 70s, the number of the species reached 25 thousand individuals. For the purpose of protection in our country, since 1938, the shooting of bears from ships was prohibited, and since 1956, hunting has been closed everywhere. On Wrangel Island, in one of the places of mass breeding of the polar bear, in 1976 a reserve was organized. In 1975 came into force international agreement for the protection of polar bears.

Kulan(Equus hemionus) is an equine animal of the equine family, a semi-donkey (Fig. 14, c). Lived in the desert regions of Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

northern sea otter(Enhydra lutrix lutrix) is a medium-sized marine animal (body weight up to 40 kg), one of the subspecies of the only species and genus endemic to the northern part Pacific Ocean(Fig. 14, d). Formerly found near reefs and rocks of the Commander Islands and the northeastern coast of Kamchatka. It is believed that before the start of intensive fishing in the XVIII century. its total number was 15-20 thousand individuals. The sea otter was hunted for the sake of thick, elastic and warm fur. By the end of the XIX century. he was almost exterminated. Preserved in small numbers near the Commander and Aleutian Islands. The ban on sea otter fishing in our country was announced in 1924 with a population of 350 individuals, and at present it is 2.5-3 thousand individuals.

Sterkh, or white crane(Grus leucogeranus), - large bird (body weight from 5 to 8 kg), endemic Russia, an endangered species (Fig. 14, e). Breeds in two separate areas - in the north of Yakutia and in the lower reaches of the Ob. Winters in China, India and northern Iran. The decrease in numbers is believed to be due to the deterioration of conditions in wintering areas (drying of water bodies, reduction in food supply, competition with other species). The total number is catastrophically low - about 250 birds. The Yakut population is relatively stable, the Ob population continues to decline. From the arrows of the Siberian Crane in the territory of our country was prohibited. On migration, birds are protected in the Astrakhan Nature Reserve and in the Thana-Bharatpur National Park of India. Several nurseries have been set up to grow the Siberian Crane from eggs, followed by the release of grown birds into the wild. One of these nurseries exists in Russia (Oksky reserve), two - abroad.

Bustard(Otis tarda) is one of the largest birds in our fauna (body weight 16 kg). Distributed in the plains and mountain steppes of Northwest Africa, Europe and Asia. The main wintering areas are in Transcaucasia, Northern Iran, Southwestern Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Within the entire range, the number of bustards has been steadily declining since the beginning of our century, but especially sharply since the 50-60s. The number of individuals has decreased tenfold and now in Russia is about 3 thousand, the European subspecies O. tarda tarda - 13.3 thousand.

The main reason for the sharp decline in numbers is the widespread deterioration, and in some places the complete disappearance of suitable biotopes. The plowing of the steppes, the grazing of livestock in the few remaining areas of the virgin steppe deprived the bustard of land suitable for nesting. In Russia, bustard hunting is prohibited. To preserve and restore the population of this species, reserves have been created in the Saratov region and Buryatia. In Hungary, Austria, the GDR and Poland, there are stations for incubating eggs from abandoned clutches with the subsequent release of grown birds into the land.

little bustard(Otis tetrax) is a medium-sized bird (body weight 600-950 g) (Fig. 14, f). Distributed in the steppes and semi-deserts of Southern Europe, the western coast of the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa to the foothills of Altai and Kashgaria. In our country, it is found in the steppe regions of the European part, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia. Winters in North Africa, Western Asia, India, in small numbers in the Crimea, Transcaucasia, Central Asia. The number of little bustards is declining everywhere.

So, in 1978-1980. there were 4800 individuals, but in ten years their number fell by 40%. The main reasons for the decline in the number of this species are the same as for bustards. Hunting for little bustards is prohibited. To preserve its populations, it is necessary to strictly protect nesting sites, areas with high herbage that shelter nests and incubating birds, and create reserves in these areas; need to protect the wintering places of birds.

Rare and protected species and subspecies of animals in our country include muskrat, Atlantic walrus, red-footed ibis, barnacle goose, red-breasted goose, scaly merganser, relict gull, Tibetan saja and some others.

In other countries, Przhevalsky's horse (Mongolia), a wild bactrian camel(Mongolia), Indian rhinoceros (India, Nepal), big panda(PRC), Asiatic lion (India), koala (Australia), Californian condor (USA), tuatara (New Zealand) and other animals.

Protection of the most important groups of animals

Protection of aquatic invertebrates. Sponges- marine and freshwater animals leading an attached lifestyle and forming colonies in areas with hard rocky soil. They live in the seas and oceans littoral to a depth of 6 thousand m. Their ability to filter water is remarkable. Sponges catch and use to feed bacteria, unicellular algae, protozoa; mineral particles stand out and settle to the bottom. The role of sponges in the biological purification of water is great: a freshwater sponge 7 cm long filters 22.5 liters, and a colony of a marine organosilicon sponge with 20 mouth openings - 1575 liters of water per day.

The number of sponges in Lately decreased due to overfishing (the skeletons of glass sponges are used as decorations, and toilet sponges are used for medical purposes), disturbance of bottom biocenoses and water pollution. In order to preserve the role of sponges as biofilter feeders, it is necessary to reduce their fishing, use fishing gear that does not damage aquatic ecosystems, and also reduce the entry of various pollutants into water bodies.

coral polyps- marine colonial organisms. Of particular interest is the detachment of madrepore corals - the most extensive group of the entero-cavitary type. Representatives of this order have a powerful external calcareous skeleton. It is constantly growing, and the skeletons of individual polyps merge into a single monolith, the diameter of which can reach 8-9 m. Madrepore corals form coastal, barrier reefs and horseshoe-shaped islands - atolls. They are inhabited by many animals - polychaetes, molluscs, barnacles, echinoderms, fish. Coral reefs are a kind of oases of relatively unproductive biocenoses of the ocean.

The prosperity of corals is possible only under certain conditions: at a constant salinity of sea water (3.5%), high temperature (not lower than 20 ° C), good air walkie-talkie and illumination. Pollution of sea water, violations of light and aeration cause the death of coral polyps, promote the reproduction of animals that destroy coral reefs. Thus, the Great Barrier Reef of Australia was badly damaged by the invasion of large starfish (d = 60 cm) called the crown of thorns (Acauthaster plani). It is believed that their mass reproduction is associated with a decrease in the number of natural gates of the crown of thorns - one of the species gastropods Charonia tritonis with a beautiful shell, which divers get for souvenirs.

For the population of tropical countries, a vast space occupied coral reefs, is a huge natural lime factory. Tiny polyps extract CaCO2 from sea water and deposit it in their bodies. Madrepore corals are widely used by people for building houses, piers, embankments, paving streets, as a raw material for obtaining high-quality lime, for polishing wooden and metal products, making jewelry, and souvenirs. The economic use of coral reefs should be local and strictly controlled. The destruction of coral islands during the testing of atomic and thermonuclear weapons is unacceptable. Strict protection of the unique biocenoses of coral islands is necessary.

shellfish- a type of marine and freshwater (less often terrestrial) invertebrates, which are characterized by a hard calcareous shell covering the body. Widespread in the seas, oceans and fresh waters. bivalves feed on plankton, passing through the mantle cavity a large number of waters with suspended particles, precipitate them, purifying the water and contributing to the accumulation of bottom sediments. Mollusks serve as food for fish, birds and mammals, as well as a delicacy for humans. Oysters, mussels, scallops, squids, cuttlefish, octopuses are mined.

There is a fishery for pearl oysters and mother-of-pearl shells. The volume of fishing is increasing: before World War II, 5 million centners per year were mined, in 1962 - 17 million centners, which accounted for 50% of the production of marine invertebrates, or 4% of all marine products (Akimushkin, 1968). By 1980, the share of molluscs in the marine fishery reached 6%. However, water pollution, disturbance of bottom biocenoses (oyster jars) by fishing gear, and overfishing have sharply reduced the stocks of mollusks. Much attention is paid to the breeding of mollusks to restore their numbers in natural communities and obtain biological products. Mussels, oysters, scallops are successfully bred in Japan, Spain, France, Holland and some other countries. There is experience in breeding mollusks in Russia.

Crustaceans different according to lifestyle, body shape and size (from fractions of a millimeter to 80 cm). Representatives of this class are very numerous: marine plankton at different latitudes and depths, it consists mainly (up to 90% by weight) of crustaceans, their share is also high in the plankton of fresh waters.

Crustaceans play an important role in aquatic ecosystems. Organic matter in water bodies is created mainly by unicellular microscopic algae. The crustaceans that feed on them are, in turn, eaten by fish. Thus, they act as intermediaries, making organic matter, created by algae, available to fish. In addition, crustaceans use dead animals as food, ensuring the purity of the reservoir.

The existence of many marine and freshwater fish is largely dependent on crustaceans. Some fish (for example, herring) feed on them all their lives, others use them after leaving the eggs, and then move on to other food. Some crustaceans are bred to feed fish fry. For the most [large mammals - baleen whales - crustaceans serve as the main food. A person uses representatives of the class of crustaceans as food. The fishery of shrimps, crabs, lobsters, langoustines and some other species is developed.

Due to their large size and good taste, representatives of the decapod crayfish are of the greatest commercial importance. In 1962, about 1 million tons of crustaceans (shrimps, crabs, lobsters, lobsters) were caught in the world. Their fishing [is developed in China, USA, India, Japan. In Russia, the king crab is hunted, the stocks of which have been undermined by intensive fishing and cannot be restored without special measures to limit it due to slow growth and reproduction.

Thus, for the majority of commercial and those marine invertebrates, the number of which is declining, protection, rational use (regulation of catching rates, acclimatization, captive breeding) and the fight against pollution of water bodies are necessary.

Insect pollinators. About 80% of all flowering plants are pollinated by insects. The absence of pollinating insects changes the appearance of the vegetation cover. In addition to the honey bee, whose income from plant pollination is 10-12 times higher than the income from honey and wax, pollen is carried by 20 thousand species of wild bees (of which 300 are in central Russia and 120 in Central Asia). Bumblebees, flies, butterflies, beetles participate in pollination.

Unfortunately, environmental pollution and other anthropogenic factors have recently drastically reduced the number of pollinating insects. Near large industrial centers, it has become relatively difficult to meet even ordinary pollinators. The protection of pollinating insects is the most important measure to increase the yield of cultivated and preserve the diversity of wild-growing plants. Strict dosing of pesticides is necessary and their use only to suppress the mass reproduction of pests. Plants on which the development of pollinating insects occurs should be preserved.

Entomophagous insects that destroy pests are extremely diverse. In Russian agriculture, 11 species of entomophages are used against 20 species of plant pests.

To protect against ruin, anthills are covered with caps from a methodical mesh, fenced, covered with spruce branches. Sometimes ants are artificially resettled.

Great benefit in the extermination of pests of agricultural and forest plants bring different types ground beetles, lacewings, ladybugs, etc.

Insects-orderlies belong to the family of beetles and Diptera. These are numerous and widespread groups of dead beetles, dung beetles, kaloeds and flies, numbering thousands of species.

From the family of dead eaters, a group of gravedigger beetles can be distinguished. The black gravedigger (Necrophorus humator) gathers for carrion in groups. These beetles are able to perceive the smell of carrion for several hundred meters. They bury the corpses of small animals (rodents, birds) in the ground, and the females lay eggs there, from where the carrion-eating larvae come out. Larvae of dung beetles and kaloeds feed on manure, which is dragged into burrows and earthen passages by adult beetles before laying eggs.

This beneficial group of insects has been drastically reduced in numbers due to the overuse and misuse of pesticides. To restore it, it is necessary to reduce the use of chemicals and more often resort to the biological method of struggle.

Fish protection. In human protein nutrition, fish ranges from: 17 to 83%. World fish catches are rapidly increasing due to the development of the edge of the continental shelf and the depths of the open sea, where up to 85% of fish are now caught, as well as due to the use of new species. Permissible annual removal of fish from the oceans is estimated at 80-100 million tons, of which more than 70% are now caught. In the inland waters of most countries, including Russia, fish catch has reached the limit, stabilized or began to decline.

Over the past decades, the stocks of the most valuable commercial fish (sturgeon, salmon, partial fish) have sharply decreased. Among the many factors affecting the decrease in fish stocks, and consequently, the catch, highest value have the following.

Overfishing- a phenomenon common in many marine and inland waters. At the same time, young fish that have not reached sexual maturity are caught, which reduces the population and can lead to the extinction of the species. The fight against overfishing is the most important task of fisheries, protection and rational use of fish resources.

Pollution of marine and freshwater reservoirs with a variety of substances has taken on a wide and ever-increasing scale. Pollution from industrial wastewater containing salts of heavy metals, synthetic detergents, radioactive waste and oil is especially dangerous for fish. In recent years, a lot of work has been carried out on wastewater treatment. Emergency measures have been developed in case of emergency oil spills. However, these measures are clearly not enough, or they are applied too late, when pollution reaches catastrophic proportions.

Hydraulic structures. Dams block the access of migratory fish to spawning grounds, disrupting natural reproduction. To eliminate this unfavorable influence, the most reliable measure is the construction of special fish-breeding plants in the downstream. Here, fish approaching the dam are used for artificial insemination and breeding of fry with their subsequent release into the rivers.

Fluctuations in the water level in reservoirs, sometimes reaching 8 m, negatively affect the state of fish stocks. Dams retain nutrients that serve as the basis for the development of phytoplankton and other organisms, thereby reducing food supplies for fish.

The reduction in the volume of fresh river water entering the seas increases their salinity in the pre-estuary areas and negatively affects the fish living here.

Shallowing of rivers reduces stocks of fish. It is the result of deforestation of banks and watersheds, as well as water diversion for irrigation. Measures have been developed to increase the water level in rivers and inland seas, which is of great importance for fisheries, agriculture, climate mitigation, etc.

A cardinal measure to increase the water level in reservoirs is the afforestation of river banks, which requires constant care and a long time.

The most important measures for the protection of freshwater fish include the protection of spawning grounds, wintering pits, and the fight against winter kills. To increase the biological productivity of water bodies, work is being carried out to acclimatize fish, invertebrates and plants that serve as their food.

Particular attention is drawn to the protection and reproduction of fish stocks in inland waters. Every year, millions of fry of valuable fish species, including sturgeons, are released into rivers and lakes. It is necessary to continue the construction of fish breeding facilities and effective fish protection devices near water intakes and dams.

Protection of amphibians and reptiles. These two groups of animals include a small number of species ( amphibian- 4500, reptiles- 7000), but are important in natural biocenoses. Amphibians are carnivores, and there are also herbivorous species among reptiles.

Amphibians, feeding on insects and other invertebrates, regulate their numbers and themselves serve as food for reptiles, birds and mammals. The importance of amphibians for humans is due to the fact that some of them are eaten (giant salamander, pond, edible, Chinese, bullfrog, etc.), are widely used in laboratories for biological experiments. According to incomplete data, 1 million individuals a year are caught for this in our country. India in 1970 exported 25 million, and Italy in three years (1968 -1970) - 47 million frogs. The high cost of frogs (about 20% more expensive than the best varieties of fish) has led to their overfishing in many countries. In the USA, their numbers fell by 50%, the populations of pond and lake frogs in Italy, France, Romania, and Bulgaria have sharply decreased.

Given the great practical importance and role of amphibians in the biological control of the number of pests of forest and agricultural plants, many countries have taken measures to protect them. Decrees have been issued prohibiting the capture and destruction of amphibians. During the period of migration of frogs to reservoirs for spawning, special signs are posted near the highway, requiring drivers to be careful, driving on these roads at night is prohibited. From economic use and pollution protected spawning grounds for amphibians. In the Red Book IUCN European Proteus, giant salamander, etc. are included. If earlier 4 species of amphibians were listed in the Red Book of Russia (1983), now there are 8 of them (1999).

Reptiles, no less than other groups of animals, suffer from overfishing. Great damage was done to the populations of crocodiles, turtles, monitor lizards and some snakes. Turtles and their clutches are used as food in many tropical countries. On the Amazon and Orinoco islands ( South America) annually harvest 48 million eggs of the Arrau turtle; soft-skinned turtles are eaten in Japan and China. Due to overfishing, the number of the green (soup) sea turtle and the hawksbill were catastrophically reduced and found themselves on the verge of destruction.

Reptiles suffer greatly during anthropogenic transformations of natural landscapes. To preserve "living fossils": the tuatara, the elephant tortoise, the giant Komodo dragon, reserves have been created, strictly protected areas on small islands near

New Zealand, the Galapagos and the islands of Komodo and Flores. In Costa Rica, a nursery has been established for breeding green turtles in artificial nests and rearing them with their subsequent release into the sea. On the Zapata Peninsula (Republic of Cuba) there is a nursery for breeding the Cuban crocodile. Of great importance for the protection of reptiles was the creation of the IUCN Red Book, the Red Book of Russia and the Red Books of some other countries.

With increasing speed, snakes begin to disappear. They suffer from the draining of swamps, changes in vegetation cover, and the widespread use of pesticides that destroy small animals that snakes feed on. Snakes are caught to obtain poison used in medicine. Serpentaria (nurseries) have been created in which snakes are kept (but not bred) for repeated poisoning from them. Naturally, the systematic capture of snakes causes significant damage to their natural populations. For the protection of snakes in most European countries, it is forbidden to catch them without special permits. The Red Book of Russia, published in 1983, includes 11 species of reptiles, including 6 species of snakes, currently (1999) -21 species, including 13 species of snakes.

Protecting and attracting birds. In addition to poultry farming and fishing, the importance of birds in the national economy is the extermination of pests in forestry and agriculture. Most birds are insectivorous and insectivorous-herbivorous. During the nesting period, they feed their chicks with mass species of insects, among which there are many pests of cultivated and forest plants. To combat insect pests, birds are attracted by hanging feeders and artificial nests, which are used more often than others by hollow nesters - tits, flycatchers, redstarts, wagtails.

Birds of prey are of great interest for pest control in agriculture. Previously, they were exterminated, considering human competitors in the hunting economy. Later, when the true role of birds of prey in regulating the number of prey in biocenoses was found out, they were taken under protection and shooting was forbidden. They try to disturb the birds less, guard the nests, make artificial nests and perches. Positive results are obtained by the experience of breeding in captivity and releasing into the wild individuals of species that are on the verge of extinction. However, the restoration of the number of birds of prey is slow.

The use of pesticides (DCT, hexachloran, etc.) in agriculture and forestry caused great harm to birds of prey. Their greatest concentration is in the body of birds of prey occupying the upper trophic levels, which negatively affected their reproduction. Direct and indirect human impact is detrimental to many species of birds of prey. The Red Book of Russia (1983) included 20 species of birds of prey, in 1999 - 25.

The most ancient way of using birds by man is hunting. Commercial and amateur hunting was widely practiced with hunting birds - falcons, hawks, eagles. Until now, hunting with birds of prey has not lost its significance in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and some European countries.

Birds are an object of commercial hunting, which occupied an important place in the economy of many countries. As a result of overfishing, a sharp reduction in hunting grounds, environmental pollution, and the use of pesticides, the stocks of game birds have been greatly reduced and continue to decline.

In our country, measures are being taken to protect game birds: setting deadlines and norms for shooting, prohibiting hunting for rare species and predatory methods of obtaining, combating poaching, implementing biotechnical measures aimed at increasing the capacity of lands, increasing the population density of birds, protecting nests from ruin, etc. In order to increase the stocks of hunting birds, in addition to reserves, wildlife preserves are organized where hunting is prohibited for several years, hunting farms have been created in which hunting is normalized in accordance with the number and the possibility of restoring commercial species.

Some species are promising for captive breeding. Pheasants, gray partridges, quails, mallards are successfully bred and released into hunting grounds. Hunting farms and pheasants in Poland grow up to 100 thousand pheasants per year, of which 50 thousand per year are released into hunting grounds. In Krakow Voivodeship alone, about 300 hunting farms are engaged in game breeding. In France, about 2,000 hunting grounds breed game. In just one year (1968) they delivered about 2 million pheasant eggs and chicks, over 1 million partridge eggs and chicks, 1.6 million quails and 1 million duck eggs. These farms release 2.5 million pheasants and 0.4 million partridges into hunting grounds per year.

Mammal protection. Representatives of the class of mammals, or animals, play an important role in biocenoses and serve as an object of fishing. Breeding of ungulates is the basis of animal husbandry; rodents and carnivores are used in fur farming. Of the terrestrial mammals, rodents, lagomorphs, predators, and of aquatic species, cetaceans and seals are of the greatest importance for fishing.

Considering that no more than 15% of the land area is used for agriculture, the relevance of finding ways to exploit the phytomass of non-agricultural lands through game animals is obvious.

The most important measure for the protection of game animals is the strict observance of laws on hunting, which provide for the timing and methods of obtaining them. Hunting is regulated by the Regulations on hunting and hunting economy. It lists the species of animals and birds, hunting of which is prohibited or allowed under licenses. It is forbidden to kill animals in reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, green areas of cities. Mass production of animals, hunting from cars, aircraft, motor boats, destruction of burrows, lairs, nests is not allowed. Shooting or trapping standards are established for each type of animal. Violation of the laws and rules of hunting is considered poaching and entails administrative, financial and criminal liability.

All of these measures are aimed at the protection and rational use of mammals. Recently, more attention has been paid to the protection of wild animals.

245 species of mammals live on the territory of Russia, of which 65 species were included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation in 1983, in 1999 this number did not change (together with protected subspecies - 89).

Legal protection of wildlife

Protection and rational use of wild animals are determined by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, resolutions and other legislative acts. The most significant of them are the laws of the Russian Federation "On the protection of the natural environment" (1992) and "On the animal world" (1995). According to the latest law, " animal world is the property of the peoples of the Russian Federation, an integral element of the natural environment and biological diversity of the Earth, a renewable natural resource, an important regulating and stabilizing component of the biosphere, protected in every possible way and rationally used to satisfy the spiritual and material needs of citizens of the Russian Federation ".

This law provides for the use of game animals, monitoring of wild animal populations, measures for the protection and restoration of rare and endangered species.

The legal norms of fisheries in Russia are determined by the Regulations on the protection of fish stocks and on the regulation of fish farming in water bodies of the USSR, approved by the Council of Ministers of the USSR in 1958, and the “Fishing Rules” issued for each republic and basin. They ban fishing with explosives firearms, toxic substances, prisons, nets, fishing at dams and locks. The rules determine the timing and areas of commercial fishing, the size of the cells in the nets.

In the system of measures for the protection of animals, one of the central places is given to the maintenance of the Red Book of the Russian Federation and the Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation as the most important element that contributes to the conservation of biodiversity.

In accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation "On the Red Book of the Russian Federation" (1996), it is maintained by the State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection (included in the Ministry of Natural Resources since the summer of 2000) with the participation of federal bodies of the natural resource block and RAN. The procedure for its maintenance is regulated by the Regulations on the procedure for maintaining the Red Book of the Russian Federation, approved by the State Committee for Ecology of Russia (October 1997) and registered by the Ministry of Justice of Russia (December 1997).

As of November 1, 1997, 415 species of animals are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (including 155 species of invertebrates, 4 - cyclostomes, 39 - fish, 8 - amphibians, 21 - reptiles, 123 - birds and 65 species of mammals ). Compared to the previous Red Book of Russia (1983), the number of animal species has increased by 1.6 times. At the same time, 38 species of animals were excluded from the new Red Book of the Russian Federation, the state of populations of which, thanks to the protection measures taken, does not currently cause concern.

At the end of 1997, red books were created in 18 subjects of the Russian Federation, lists of rare and endangered species of animals and plants were compiled and approved in 39 subjects of the Federation.

Control questions

1. What role do animals play in the cycle of substances in nature and what is their significance for humans?

2. What is the direct and indirect human impact on animals?

3. What species of animals have died out over the historically documented time, and what are the reasons for their extinction?

4. What is the essence of the rational use and protection of game animals?

5. What is the rational use and protection of fish resources?

6. Name the rare species of animals listed in the IUCN Red List.

7. How are rare and endangered animals protected in our country? How are aquatic invertebrates protected?

8. What measures are used to protect beneficial insects?

9. What is the complexity of the protection of amphibians and reptiles?

10. How are insectivorous and birds of prey protected and attracted?

11. What measures are used to protect rare and endangered mammals?

Full title of the work topic
Direction	My small home
	Pavlov Mikhail Vladimirovich
Name of the educational institution	Municipal budgetary educational institution "Secondary school No. 14 in Nazarovo Krasnoyarsk Territory»
Class	5 "B" class
Supervisor	Tyuleneva Svetlana Mikhailovna, teacher of biology, MBOU "Secondary School 14",

Relevance: Every day economic activity man is expanding. More and more natural areas are included in it, and it often happens that only specially protected areas remain the last refuge for certain species of plants and animals whose lives are in danger. Such is the reserve "Arga", part of which is located on the territory of our Nazarovsky district.

Problem question:How to preserve rare species of plants and animals in our area?

Methods: study of sources, questioning.

I conducted a survey among students of class 5 "B" (21 students in total) in order to identify the opinions of classmates on this issue.

Hypothesis: If a reserve was created on the territory of the Nazarovsky district, then it is of great importance for the habitat and preservation of rare representatives of flora and fauna.

Target: The study of biodiversity and the identification of rare species of plants and animals in the reserve.

Tasks:

• identify the purpose of creating a reserve;

• study its species composition;
• show the need for the existence of a protected zone;
• find out what measures of nature protection are carried out in the reserve.

Introduction

The state complex reserve "Arga" is a specially protected natural area of ​​regional significance. Creation date October 25, 1963. It is located on the territory of the Achinsk, Bogotol and Nazarovsky districts, includes the mountain range of the Arga ridge and a section of the floodplain of the river. Chulym. The total area is 89,885.0 ha, including 489.3 ha in the Nazarovsky district.

It was organized with the aim of protecting and reproducing hunting species of animals, preserving and restoring the number of rare and endangered species of animals and birds that are valuable in economic, scientific and aesthetic terms, as well as protecting their habitats.

Species diversity

The flora and fauna of "Arga" is rich. 466 plant species from 76 families are registered here. The predominant families are cereals, sedges, rosaceae, Asteraceae, legumes, umbrellas, and borage.

Currently, 13 typical species of animals live on the territory of the reserve: elk, deer, roe deer, fox, beaver, squirrel, hare, hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie, mallard, teal, pintail.

The average number of characteristic representatives of the animal world, trends in dynamics (for the period 2001-2012)
	view	individuals
waterfowl	mallard
	teal
	pintail
	shoveler
upland game	capercaillie
	black grouse	2204
	grouse	2308
Ungulates	Siberian roe deer
	deer
	musk deer
	elk
	wild boar
	reindeer
Predatory	bear
	wolf	0,42
	fox
	sable
	ermine
Other characteristic species	white hare
	hare	0,92
	squirrel

Protected species

On the territory of the reserve live and are taken under protection (Regulations on the state complex reserve of regional significance "Arga" dated 19.01.2007):

1. rare and endangered animal species listed in the Red Book of the Krasnoyarsk Territory:

• birds: white-tailed eagle, demoiselle crane, peregrine falcon, osprey, black stork, eagle owl, gray crane, curlew, godwit or marsh wader, moorhen or marsh hen,
• bats: water bat, Siberian tube-billed bat,
• fish: sterlet, sturgeon; lenok;

1. animal species that need special attention to their condition in the Krasnoyarsk Territory: deer, Siberian roe deer; lynx, nelma; medium curlew;
2. hunting animals:moose, sable, Brown bear, badger, Siberian weasel, American mink, East European beaver, capercaillie, black grouse;
3. rare and endangered plant species:

real lady's slipper, large-flowered lady's slipper, Siberian brunner, lung lobaria, leafless chin, curly sparassis, incised violet, helmet-bearing orchid, feather grass, Ledebour's gill, Iona's astragalus, spotted lady's slipper, winter larkspur, woolly larkspur.

The ridge itself is a unique landscape complex of island forests among the surrounding forest-steppe and is also taken under protection as a habitat for wildlife.

"Arga" - pantry of medicinal raw materials. Here you can find birch and pine buds, chaga, bracken, May rose hips, common blueberries, common lingonberries, medicinal burnet, oregano, medicinal sweet clover.

Special protection mode reserve

• hunting management and hunting;
• clear and selective felling of forest plantations for timber harvesting;
• mining;
• blasting;
• timber alloy;
• mass collection medicinal plants, with the exception of the procurement and collection by citizens of these resources for their own needs;
• grass burning;
• industrial fishing;
• washing of any vehicles within the coastal protective zone of water bodies;
• clogging with household, construction, industrial and other waste and garbage;
• travel and parking of vehicles off public roads and so on.

Permitted activities and nature use:

• economic activity not prohibited on the territory of the reserve;
• construction, reconstruction, overhaul of facilities on the territory of the reserve can be carried out according to projects that have received positive conclusions from state expertise in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;
• use of objects of the animal world for scientific purposes;
• protection, protection and reproduction of forests;
• sanitary and recreational activities on the territory of the reserve;
• selective felling of forest plantations;
• permitted types of fishing;
• rest of citizens in compliance with the Rules fire safety in the forests and more.

Negative impact to the reserve.

Despite the prohibitions, poaching cuttings of coniferous species (mainly pines), plowing and grazing, collecting plants and fishing, including nets, are carried out on the territory of the Arga reserve. Illegal hunting of animals has led to a strong reduction in the number of hunting species. Often (especially in spring) fires occur. At present, the native vegetation is severely disturbed by logging and fires. The smoke components of the Achinsk Alumina Refinery and the Nazarovskaya State District Power Plant (sulphurous anhydride, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides) have a slight negative impact. To a large extent, the construction of power lines and other objects on the territory of the reserve violates the habitat of animals and plants.
Our offers

To improve the work of the reserve, it is necessary to stop deforestation, grazing, ban fishing, strengthen the fight against poaching and stray dogs.

conclusions

Our hypothesis was confirmed: the Arga reserve is of great importance for the habitat and conservation of rare representatives of flora and fauna. Thanks to him, many species of useful, valuable and beautiful plants and animals are preserved and propagated on the territory of our region.

Information sources:

• Consolidated list of specially protected natural territories of the Russian Federation (reference book). Part II.
  Potapova N.A., Nazyrova R.I., Zabelina N.M., Isaeva-Petrova L.S., Korotkov V.N., Ochagov D.M.
  Moscow: VNII Nature (2006): 364
• Atlas of Specially Protected Natural Territories of the Siberian Federal District
  Kalikhman T.P., Bogdanov V.N., Ogorodnikova L.Yu.
  Irkutsk, Ottisk Publishing House (2012) : 384
• State Cadastre of Specially Protected Natural Territories
• http://zakon.krskstate.ru/doc/5311