100 years ago, the 11th of January, 1917, there was founded the first in the history of Russia state reserve on the shore of the Baikal Lake – Barguzinsky. It was created thanks to the efforts of the members of the Permanent Nature Protection Commission of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in order to protect Barguzin sable, population of which had reduced drastically.
The 30th of May (the 17th of May according to the Old Style), 1916, the Governor-General of Irkutsk issued a decree about organization of the Barguzin sable reserve, and the 11th of January, 1917 (the 29th of December, 1916, according to the Old Style) this document was approved by the Government of Russia. The 2nd of February (the 20th of January according to the Old Style), 1917, the law was published.
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The reserve is located in the north-east coast of the Baikal Lake, on the western slopes of the Barguzin ridge. The total square of the reserve makes 366 870 hectares and includes biosphere polygon – 111 146 hectares and 3-kilometer strip in coastal waters of the Baikal Lake with the area of 15 000 hectares. The fauna of the Barguzin Nature Reserve is typical taiga, but with some features, caused by the mountainous terrain and by the close proximity of the Baikal Lake. It includes 41 species of mammals, 281 species of birds, 6 species of reptiles, 3 species of amphibians, 46 species of fish and more than 800 species of insects.
From the moment of foundation of the Barguzin Nature Reserve there started formation of the modern Russian system of Specially Protected Areas, which celebrates its centenary in 2017. The Year of specially protected areas in Russia is timed to this official date. The corresponding decree was signed by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
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There is published a booklet, prepared by the Commission for Tourism Development of the Russian Geographical Society on the website of the Digital library of the Society, - «The development of cultural tourism in Barguzin Biosphere Reserve». The interesting facts about the Barguzin Reserve, about its natural and man-made attractions, are presented on the pages of illustrated edition.
Holding of the Year of Specially Protected Areas will make it possible to attract attention to the preservation of the natural heritage. Specially protected natural areas is one of the most effective forms of environmental activities, allowing to withdraw the land fully or partially from the economic use, the land which is the most important for the conservation of biological and landscape diversity.
There has been made a lot by the reserve community for one hundred of years: populations of endangered animals, such as bison, sables, otters are recovered; modern technologies have been implemented, they let to study and protect nature effectively, without disturbing the inhabitants of protected areas; the unique geographical objects are open, new species of animals and plants have been identified. Since the year of 1997, there has been celebrated annually the Day of reserves and national parks in Russia. The employees of Specially Protected Areas are spending this day at work – protecting, studying and popularizing the wild nature.
Nowadays there are more than 13 thousand of specially protected areas of various levels (from federal to municipal) and categories (reserves, national and natural parks, nature reserves of federal and regional significance, natural monuments, etc.) in our country. The federal system of Specially Protected Areas, which has been formed during the century, at this stage includes 103 state natural reserves, 48 national parks, 64 state nature reserve of federal importance. The total area of all the federal specially protected areas makes almost 3% of the territory of Russia, and specially protected areas of all categories make 12%.