A 614,803 hectare nature reserve will be created within The Great Vasyugan Mire, the largest swamp system in the Northern Hemisphere, which is located in the Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions. The reserve will preserve the unique and diverse ecosystem, which is of great significance for nature conservation. The decision will provide the legal foundation for taking special measures to protect the ecosystem and facilities in the nature reserve.
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The proposal was submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in keeping with the Federal Law On Specially Protected Nature Areas.
The Government gave the green light to the creation of a state nature reserve in the Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions as per the Plan for Implementing the Concept for the Development of Specially Protected Natural Areas of Federal Significance to 2020 (approved by Government Directive No. 2322-r of 22 December 2011) and the Plan for Marking the Year of the Environment in Russia in 2017 (approved by Government Directive No. 1082-r of 2 June 2016).
The resolution signed by the Government provides for the creation of the Vasyugansky State Nature Reserve to include 614,803 hectares of woodland in adjacent territories of the Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions.
The nature reserve is located within the Great Vasyugan Mire, the largest swamp system in the Northern Hemisphere.
The mire accumulates up to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and holds 400 cubic kilometres of fresh water; over 20 rivers flow from this area. The area provides a home for 242 plant species, 40 mammal species, 185 bird species, 5 amphibian and reptile species, and about 340 species of insects and at least 10 species of fish in the water bodies. Some species of plants and animals have protected status, for example, 41 species of animals and eight species of plants are in Russia’s Red Data Book and the Tomsk Region’s Red Data Book. Migrant birds flock to the area during their seasonal migration.
The Great Vasyugan Mire has been included on the preliminary list of UNESCO world natural heritage sites.
The initiative to establish a nature reserve aims to preserve the unique and diverse ecosystem, which is of great significance for nature conservation.
The results of a comprehensive ecological survey and inspection of the area, which provide grounds for designating Vasyugansky State Nature Reserve a federal nature protected area, have gone through public hearings and have received a positive response in a state environmental report.
The decision will provide the legal foundation for taking special measures to protect the ecosystem and facilities within the nature reserve.
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