Russia Creates New National Parks

By David Rutter

The Russian government has moved to create 13 new national parks and 9 new nature reserves, covering an area of over 3.8 million hectares - boosting its national protected areas to nearly 3 percent of its territory. The creation of the parks and reserves is to take place by 2020.

The move follows analysis by World Wildlife Fund in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy and the MAVA Foundation carried out between 2006 and 2008. The initiative is aimed at fulfilling Russia’s commitment under the Convention on Biodiversity to safeguard biodiversity.