In recent years, environmental problems have become more and more acute. In order to preserve nature not only for itself, but also for future generations, the government has developed a number of measures to help preserve unique natural systems. The functioning and development of protected areas is provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation.
History of reserves
From time immemorial, our ancestors kept nature, worshiping it as the source of all human benefits. The term "Reserve" originated in Russia back in the 6-7 centuries, when the most unusual and most beautiful corners of nature, places with healing springs and meadows with medicinal herbs were declared sacred, and hunting, felling and plundering were prohibited here. The word itself was synonymous with inviolable.
In the chronicles of the time of Princess Olga, there are references to large lands in different parts of the Kiev principality, which were declared reserved and were subject to protection. The image of a devil, a faithful guardian of the forests, is familiar to each of the old fairy tales. And later, real foresters came to replace this fabulous figure, stereotypically not differing much from their mythical counterparts.
In November 1703, Peter I issued an environmental decree, according to which some geographic territories of the Russian state were declared protected. It was not allowed to fish, beep, cut wood or hunt here. Violation of these provisions was punishable by death - regardless of the social status of the offender. At the same time, the first attempts were made to make an "inventory" of national wealth - to create an account of animals, describe their varieties, estimate the area of forests and the length of rivers, compile tables and divide natural zones into categories according to their characteristics. Border forests were also called "reserved", at the same time the definition of "huntsman" appeared in Russian from German.
In the 19th century, the main focus was on the preservation of forest lands. By the decree of the Senate of November 1832, many oak forests, thickets and forests received the status of inviolable, and their protection was carried out by local officials, volost boards with a rather strict system of punishments with insufficient diligence in fulfilling these duties.
In the late 19th - early 20th centuries, outstanding Russian scientists played a huge role in the development of the "reserve case": geologist Vasily Dokuchaev, botanist Ivan Borodin, forester and soil scientist Georgy Morozov and others. These naturalists traveled far and wide across Russia, compiling detailed descriptions of natural zones with unique properties.
In 1916, a national act on nature protection was adopted, and in the same year the first official reserve called Barguzinsky appeared, which still exists today. Soon the network of protected areas expanded rapidly - Ilmensky, Kavkazsky, Kondo-Sosvinsky and other reserves, protected natural objects with unique characteristics, appeared.
Conservation of nature in the 20th century
The Soviet government, the successor to the monarchy, continued to develop the noble cause of nature conservation, rightly believing that the unique resources of the Russian expanses should be protected for posterity, and simply as an emergency reserve. This was partially justified during the Great Patriotic War, when the game and plants of nature reserves often literally fed thousands of people, and at the same time provided the necessary materials for the military industry.
Unfortunately, the horrors of war created paranoia in society, and forest areas along the borders of the state began to be destroyed under the pretext that spies might be hiding there. But the most tragic period for Russian forests was 10 years, during which the state program for the elimination of reserves was carried out. The number of protected lands has decreased 10 times, many priceless species of plants, insects and animals were simply exterminated. And only some of the natural systems were restored only after 30-40 years.
Present time
Today, perhaps, every Russian knows how protected areas are deciphered - these are “specially protected natural areas”. The 1995 law on protected areas also mentions the abbreviation OKN - cultural heritage site. An example is Kizhi, an absolutely unique natural complex of Lake Onega, into which the architectural church ensemble of the 18th century is beautifully inscribed.
Unfortunately, the negligence of officials and the negligent attitude of the people themselves in nature, as well as the thirst for profit, sometimes become the reason for the pollution of the most irreplaceable, unique natural complexes. For example, the safety of the legendary Baikal is already under threat, due to poor financing of environmental activities and active, albeit very profitable, foreign tourism.
Categories of protected areas
1. Reserves of national importance
These are specially protected geographical areas with a unique ecology, in which any activity, except for research, is absolutely excluded. It is to them that the meaning of "inviolable" is most applicable. For example, Big Arctic, Wrangel Island, Caucasian Biosphere Reserve and others. You can read more about such objects in Wikipedia.
2. National parks
It is a nature reserve where human activities are allowed to a very limited extent, but hunting is excluded and tourism is very limited. Examples - Prielbrusye, Shor National Park. Each of these territories has its own charm, is filled with “living” treasures and is carefully preserved intact.
3. Natural parks
This is a vast landscape that includes PAs and OKNs. The softest rules for tourism are in force here, and strictly controlled economic and scientific activities are carried out. These, usually rather small, PAs are taken care of by the regional authorities.
4. Reserves
Zakazniks are amazingly interesting protected areas with rare or endangered plants, insects and animals. But not only - they are working to restore endangered species, preserve cultural archaeological sites, educational tourism and research activities are flourishing. But no infrastructure for tourism is expected here.
5. Natural monuments
Relic forests, volcanoes, glaciers, caves, meteorite craters, springs, grottoes, lakes, waterfalls, as well as old parks, man-made structures of ritual purpose - all these are natural monuments, sometimes short-lived, unique and irreplaceable objects of historical heritage, which have a high aesthetic, natural and scientific value. Any human activity that can create even an indirect threat to the integrity of the monument is excluded in this area.
But, for example, swimming in some bodies of water for Epiphany or amateur fishing is allowed. In short, exclusively controlled human activity. Examples - Ribbon relict pine forests near Chelyabinsk, the pearl of the Urals - the beautiful Lake Turgoyak, the only deposit of pink topaz in Russia - Zhukovskaya mine, an obelisk of the 19th century near Zlatoust called "Europe-Asia".
6. Dendrological and botanical gardens
These nature conservation objects have a single purpose - the enrichment of the biosphere, the preservation and multiplication of unique plants in the closest possible natural environment. Active educational, research and scientific work is being carried out here. These nature conservation objects exist in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Barnaul, Yekaterinburg.
7. Resorts
The resort areas are natural complexes with generous natural healing reserves and are adapted for active exploitation. Resorts are usually equipped with the necessary infrastructure for medical tourism or production (for example, mineral water). The most famous are the Siberian mud springs of Lake Karachi, the Caucasian Mineral Waters, a famous resort for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Karelia (marcial waters) and many others.
