Conservation of rare species of plants and animals. Plant protection: some aspects and facts. Substantiation of social significance

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 of the city of Nazarovo, Krasnoyarsk Territory"
Class	5 "B" class
Supervisor	Tyuleneva Svetlana Mikhailovna, teacher of biology, MBOU "Secondary School 14",

Relevance: Every day the economic activity of 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:elk, sable, brown bear, badger, Siberian weasel, American mink, Eastern European beaver, capercaillie, black grouse;
3. rare and endangered plant species:

real lady's slipper, large-flowered lady's slipper, Siberian brunner, pulmonary lobaria, leafless chin, curly sparassis, incised violet, helmet-bearing orchis, 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 regime reserve

• hunting management and hunting;
• clear and selective felling of forest plantations for timber harvesting;
• mining;
• blasting;
• timber alloy;
• mass collection of 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;
• recreation of citizens in compliance with the rules of fire safety in the forests and more.

Negative impact on the reserve.

Despite the prohibitions, poaching cuttings of coniferous species (mainly pines), plowing of land 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.

Sources of information:

• Consolidated list of specially protected natural areas 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, Otisk Publishing House (2012) : 384
• State Cadastre of Specially Protected Natural Territories
• http://zakon.krskstate.ru/doc/5311

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 for the implementation of state policy in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the development of hunting and hunting 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 order of the Government of the Russian Federation of 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 plants and hunting management on a sustainable basis.

The strategy is based on: (1) fundamental scientific knowledge in the field of biology, ecology, hunting and related sciences; (2) 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; (3) 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; (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 enlightenment for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of the animal and plant world; (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 environmental issues and sustainable development, and 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 - in the Red List of the IUCN (World Conservation Union) in 2000, more than 9 thousand animal species and almost 7 thousand plant species were listed. 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 preserving biological diversity as a guarantee of sustainable development not only for the Russian Federation, but for 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's livelihoods. 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 preserving and maintaining biodiversity and the tasks of hunting (increasing the most important hunting objects) 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 in the growth of cities and the reduction of economic activity in vast rural areas that have intensified in recent decades.

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, 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.

1.1. Goal of the Strategy

The goal of the strategy is to ensure the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and the development of hunting on a sustainable basis, which is understood as a set of active actions that includes both direct measures for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of these essential elements of biodiversity, and application 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 for 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 of the 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 the system-forming elements of hunting management and the formation of a favorable legal environment for their subsequent development,
• creation of a unified system of integrated 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 animal species, 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;
• introduction of international standards for the 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.

An organism is the smallest unit of life that independently exists in the environment and is 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 the 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 that are 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 is 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.

Conservation 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 at the 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 life support for the indigenous and small peoples of the North and the Far East, more than 50 items. 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 game production, the Russian Federation lags far behind many Western European countries. 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. Every year, at least 370 thousand wild ungulates (34 thousand elk, 140 thousand reindeer, 123 thousand roe deer, 40 thousand wild boar), almost three million hares and 70 thousand beavers, as well as various agricultural animals with a total biomass of about 400 die in the country from wolves. 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 the relief, violation of the physical properties of soil or soil, destruction and change in the air environment, 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 - 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 household 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 of natural zones, the appearance 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. 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 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 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; 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 for each specific case 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 inexpedient, 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 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: the preservation of populations of rare and endangered species in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, the 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.

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, 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 restored 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 violated, 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 entrusted 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.) 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 the economic use of natural complexes is limited: especially protective forest areas (“forests with rare plant species”, “forests with the 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 forested agricultural lands, 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 of international importance as the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21 (Program 21), the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 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, and 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 realized by obtaining partheno-, andro- and gynogenetic individuals, transplantation of gonads, creation of interspecies chimeric individuals from normal and damaged embryos during cryopreservation, transplantation of the embryo onto the yolk of another species, cloning by transplantation of somatic nuclei and germline cell nuclei 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 milestone 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, detailed practical recommendations appeared on the sustainable, three-pronged use of living resources of the wild. 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 the 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 based on the methodology of an appropriate 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 hunting use 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 information, including statistical, management base for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals and plants and 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 recognized norms of 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 that carry out activities for conducting on-farm hunting management;

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 "red books", giving them the status of basic regulatory documents for planning and organizing measures to conserve rare and endangered species of animals and plants, including when justifying budget 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 adopt a modern system of 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 Data Books, based on real priorities, needs and opportunities to ensure their protection;

Ensure succession 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 state authorities at various levels and local governments 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 on the basis of 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.

A central issue in the development of 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. At present, 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 experience gained 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 response

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 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 a hunting economy, 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 a competitive selection of the most significant investment and innovative projects in the field of the use 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 periodically conducted activities to obtain information on the distribution, abundance and use of these objects permanently or temporarily inhabiting 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, game animal resources, 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 number 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 parameters for monitoring 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;

Providing state 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 for state support of hunting management, maintaining databases on priority resource-saving technologies in order to improve information support for hunters and businesses about modernization processes in the field of hunting management, as well as to monitor the state of 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 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 bases 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 habitat, 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 the school and institutions of additional education for 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 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;

Research staff and teachers: improving environmental and pedagogical qualifications through the implementation of special programs for additional professional 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 appropriate organizational institutions for the formation of environmental culture (reserves, national parks, botanical gardens, zoos, museums, nature houses, libraries, facilities mass media, government and non-government 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 existing 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 institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, educational institutions, organizations subordinate to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, hunting farms, state nature reserves and national parks, public environmental organizations, including exchanging experience and information, implementing joint projects and programs.

4. Funding of the Strategy

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 non-budgetary 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 to allocate 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 measures for the conservation of specific rare and endangered species of animals and plants, as well as to measures to improve the efficiency of their conservation.

State financing of activities for the implementation of 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.

When harvesting forests, significant damage is caused to the animal and plant world, including rare species listed in the Red Book. In many respects, the damage to rare species is associated with the destruction of their habitats. Unfortunately, the Red Book of the Irkutsk region was published in a small edition and is practically inaccessible to the population. People who allocate areas for deforestation are not familiar with rare species and do not recognize them in nature. In this regard, the project is aimed at working with logging organizations and directly with the middle link - people who allocate cutting areas for felling. It is at this moment that the most valuable areas can be saved from felling in order to preserve rare species of animals and plants. To this end, it is planned to hold a series of seminars for logging organizations in the main places of logging in the Irkutsk region - in the cities. Irkutsk, Ust-Ilimsk, Bratsk, Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Taishet and in the village. Trunk, Kachug. The seminars will be attended by employees of medium-level logging organizations that directly allocate sites for deforestation. The seminars will tell (through presentations) about rare species living in the area of ​​operation of the data of the logging organization, habitats of rare species, recommendations will be given on their conservation and on the allocation of key areas for rare species and their removal from exploited areas. Also, within the framework of the grant, it is planned to prepare and publish a field guide specialized for loggers of rare and protected species of animals and plants included in the Red Book of the Irkutsk Region and the Russian Federation inhabiting the forests of the Irkutsk Region. Our organization has experience of holding a similar seminar in 2016 for employees of the Ilim Group in the Ust-Ilimsk region. In July this year, we plan to hold three more seminars for the Ilim Group in Bratsk and Ust-Ilimsk. Conducting a seminar showed great interest on the part of workers in the conservation of rare species, but unfortunately not all logging organizations can order such seminars.Also, logging operators point out the lack of guides and methodological literature on the conservation of rare species.The author has extensive experience in preparing and publishing guides, including including rare species.Therefore, the project provides for the preparation and publication of a guide to rare species.The results of the project are planned to be covered in the media, both in the regional and district.The result of the project is the preservation of habitats of rare species.

Goals

1. Preservation of rare species of animals and plants during logging operations.
2. Preparation and publication of a field guide to rare species of plants and animals in the forests of the Irkutsk region.
3. Conducting a series of seminars on the protection of rare species of animals and plants for logging organizations of the Irkutsk region.

Tasks

1. Preparation and issue of a field guide to rare species of animals and plants in the forests of the Irkutsk region
2. Development of the program and preparation of presentations for seminars
3. Conducting seminars in the cities of Irkutsk, Ust-Ilimsk, Bratsk, Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Taishet and in the village. Trunk, Kachug.

Substantiation of social significance

The Irkutsk region occupies a leading position in Russia in terms of timber harvesting. At the same time, environmental changes occur that negatively affect the state of biodiversity, including rare species of animals and plants that are endangered and listed in the Red Books. Their habitats are being cut down. To prevent this, it is necessary to train the personnel of logging enterprises, who are directly crushed by the allocation of areas for felling, in the ability to identify and know rare species and measures for their conservation. To this end, it is planned to prepare and publish a guide to rare species and conduct seminars. The social significance of the project will consist in attracting for the conservation of biodiversity, including rare species, just those segments of the population who are engaged in logging operations and whose actions the conservation of rare species largely depends on. At present, there is a situation where the regulatory authorities cannot monitor the state of rare species, science is powerless here, since the vast areas of the north of the region, where logging is mainly carried out, have practically not been surveyed. Involving workers of logging organizations in the conservation of rare species will help the conservation of rare species and will give a high social effect.

Project geography

Irkutsk region: Irkutsk, Bratsk, Ust-Ilimsk, Ust-Kut, Kirensk and Taishet, the villages of Magistralny and Kachug are the main logging centers in the Irkutsk region.

Target groups

1. Middle-level employees of logging organizations of the Irkutsk region

Elena Gangalo, General Director of ANO "Far Eastern Leopards" - 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, the National Park "Land of the Leopard" was created. 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 in natural conditions", which can guarantee its success. survival.

In addition to fighting poaching and forest fires, maintaining a sufficient food base 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 remains, which "can destroy the fruits of all our efforts in a short time" . 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. Therefore, Russian experts believe it would be expedient to "immediately begin discussions with 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 the 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 that collect extrabudgetary funds to support activities for the conservation of specific rare species of animals (ANO Far Eastern Leopards, ANO Amur Tiger Center and others), but there is a need and a desire to “transition 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, an open lesson was organized at the school, at which nature conservation specialists told students about the amazing rescue of the Leo 80M leopard and introduced students to the work of preserving the population of the Far Eastern leopard.

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.

The main task of protecting rare and endangered species is to achieve such increasing their numbers which would eliminate the danger of their disappearance.

Rare and endangered species of animals (as well as plants) are listed in the Red Books. The inclusion of a species in the Red Book is a signal of the danger threatening it, of the need to take urgent measures to save it. Each country in whose territory a species included in the Red Book lives is responsible to its people and all mankind for its conservation.

In our country, in order to preserve rare and endangered species, nature reserves, sanctuaries are organized, animals are settled in areas of their former distribution, fed, shelters and artificial nests are created, and they are protected from predators and diseases. At very low numbers, animals are bred in captivity (nurseries and zoos) and then released into conditions suitable for them.

Protection and restoration of the number of game animals

Of particular importance is the conservation and restoration of the number of game animals. As you know, the value of game animals lies in the fact that they live off natural food that is inaccessible or unsuitable for domestic animals; they do not need to be specially taken care of. From game animals, a person receives meat, furs, leather, raw materials for the perfume industry and medicines. For some peoples of the North, hunting for wild animals is the basis of their existence.

Among game animals, fish, birds and animals are of the greatest importance. Centuries-old, constantly increasing extraction, as well as changes in their habitat, led in the first half of this century to a sharp reduction in their reserves. Of the mammals, the stocks of ungulates, furs and sea ​​animals. There was even an opinion that they could only survive in nature reserves. However, the successful restoration of the number of some species - elk, beaver, sable - made it possible to include them again in the number of game animals.

Among hunting and commercial birds, waterfowl, chicks and bustards were especially hard hit by human fault. The number of geese, swans, and geese has greatly decreased. Red-throated goose, lesser swan, white and mountain geese, Caucasian black grouse, bustard and many other species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (see the relevant section Examples and additional information).

Security system of wild animals, on the one hand, from measures to protect the animals themselves from direct extermination, death from natural disasters, and on the other hand, from measures to preserve their habitat. The animals themselves are protected by hunting laws. They provide for a complete ban on hunting for rare species and restrictions on the timing, norms, places and methods of hunting for other commercial species.

Rational use stocks of game animals does not contradict their protection, if based on knowledge of their biology.

It is known that in populations animals, there is a certain reserve of non-breeding individuals, they are able to increase fertility with a low number and abundance of food. It is possible to achieve the well-being of populations of game animals by maintaining a certain ratio of sex and age groups, by regulating the number of predatory animals.

The protection of hunting grounds is based on knowledge of the habitat conditions necessary for the life of commercial species, the availability of shelters, suitable places for nesting, and an abundance of food. Often the optimal places for the existence of species are nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

Reacclimatization of the species - this is its artificial resettlement in the areas of its former distribution. It is often successful, because in this case the view takes its former ecological niche . Acclimatization new species requires a lot of preliminary preparation, including the preparation of forecasts of their impact on local fauna and their possible role in biocenoses . Experience acclimatization testifies to many failures. The importation to Australia in 1859 of 24 rabbits, which in tens of years gave rise to many millions of offspring, led to a national disaster. Breeding rabbits began to compete for food with local animals. Settling in pastures and destroying vegetation, they brought great damage to sheep breeding. The fight against rabbits required a lot of effort and a long time. There are many such examples. Therefore, the resettlement of each species should be preceded by a thorough study of the possible consequences of the introduction of the species to a new territory on the basis of ecological expertise and forecast.

Timely measures taken allow us to successfully maintain the required number of game animals and use them for a long time.

Depletion and pollution of water resources Fresh waters make up an insignificant (about 2% of the hydrosphere) share of the total water reserves in nature. Fresh water available for use is found in rivers, lakes and groundwater. Its share of the entire hydrosphere is 0.3%. Fresh water resources are distributed extremely unevenly, often the abundance of water does not coincide with areas of increased economic activity. In this regard, there is a problem of lack and depletion of water resources and especially fresh water. It is exacerbated by the ever-increasing volumes of its use. The problem of depletion of water resources arises for several reasons, the main of which are: the uneven distribution of water in time and space, the growth of its consumption by mankind, the loss of water during transportation and use, the deterioration of water quality and, as an extreme case, its pollution (rice). Main causes of pollution and anthropogenic depletion of fresh water. The growth in fresh water consumption by the population on the planet is determined at 0.5 - 2% per year. At the beginning of the 21st century, the total water withdrawal reached a volume of 12-24 thousand km3. Losses of fresh water increase with the growth of its consumption per capita and are associated with the use of water for household needs. Most often this is due to the imperfection of the technology of industrial, agricultural production and public services. In some cases, the lack of fresh water is associated with negative consequences of human activities Water loss and depletion of water resources are largely due to insufficient knowledge natural conditions(geological-lithological and hydrogeological, climatic and meteorological, biological), internal patterns and mechanisms of ecosystem development. The deterioration of the quality and pollution of water is associated with the ingress of pollutants, products of human activity into rivers and other surface water bodies. This type of freshwater depletion is the most dangerous and is increasingly threatening human health and life on Earth. Its extreme manifestation is catastrophic water pollution. Natural changes, including the deterioration of water quality, associated with contact with water and the transfer of various substances, occur constantly. They are cyclic, less often spontaneous, in nature: they occur during volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (rice), tsunamis, floods and other catastrophic phenomena. Under anthropogenic conditions, such changes in the state of water have unidirectional. Recently, pollution of the waters of the seas and the World Ocean as a whole (background pollution) has caused great concern. The main sources of their pollution are domestic and industrial wastewater (60% of large cities are located in coastal areas), oil and oil products, and radioactive substances. Of particular danger are oil pollution (rice) and radioactive substances. The enterprises of seaside cities throw thousands of tons of various, as a rule, untreated waste into the sea, including sewage. Polluted river waters are carried into the seas. Water pollution is the cause of the death of marine animals: crustaceans and fish, waterfowl, seals. There are known cases of the death of about 30 thousand sea ducks, the mass death of starfish in the early 1990s in the White Sea. It is not uncommon for beaches to be closed due to dangerous concentrations of pollutants in sea water caused by numerous accidents of ships carrying oil and oil products. Unauthorized or emergency discharges of industrial and household waste are very dangerous for the environment (the Black Sea near Odessa, 1999; the Tisza river, Romania, 2000; the Amur river, Khabarovsk, 2000). As a result of such accidents, river waters are rapidly polluted downstream. Contaminated sewage water can enter water intake facilities. The degree of pollution of sea water largely depends on the attitude towards this problem of the states bordering the seas and oceans. All inland and marginal seas of Russia are experiencing a powerful anthropogenic pressure, including numerous planned and emergency discharges of pollutants. The level of pollution of the Russian seas (with the exception of the White Sea), filed by the State Report "On the State of the Environment of the Russian Federation", in 1998 exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) for the content of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, mercury, phenols, surface active substances (surfactants ) on average 3-5 times

Modern problems of water resources The problems of clean water and the protection of aquatic ecosystems are becoming more acute as the historical development of society, the impact on nature caused by scientific and technological progress is rapidly increasing. Already now, in many parts of the world, there are great difficulties in providing water supply and water use as a result of the qualitative and quantitative depletion of water resources, which is associated with pollution and irrational use of water. Water pollution mainly occurs due to the discharge of industrial, domestic and agricultural waste into it. In some reservoirs, pollution is so great that they have completely degraded as sources of water supply. A small amount of pollution cannot cause a significant deterioration in the condition of a reservoir, since it has the ability of biological purification, but the problem is that, as a rule, the amount of pollutants discharged into the water is very large and the reservoir cannot cope with their neutralization. Water supply and water use is often complicated by biological interference: overgrowing of canals reduces their capacity, algae blooms worsen water quality, its sanitary condition, and fouling interferes with navigation and the functioning of hydraulic structures. Therefore, the development of measures with biological interference acquires great practical importance and becomes one of the most important problems in hydrobiology. Due to the violation of the ecological balance in water bodies, there is a serious threat of a significant deterioration of the ecological situation as a whole. Therefore, mankind faces a huge task of protecting the hydrosphere and maintaining biological balance in the biosphere. The problem of pollution of the oceans Oil and oil products are the most common pollutants in the oceans. By the beginning of the 1980s, about 6 million tons of oil were annually entering the ocean, which accounted for 0.23% of world production. The greatest losses of oil are associated with its transportation from production areas. Emergencies, discharge of washing and ballast water overboard by tankers - all this leads to the presence of permanent pollution fields along sea routes. In the period 1962-79, about 2 million tons of oil entered the marine environment as a result of accidents. Over the past 30 years, since 1964, about 2,000 wells have been drilled in the World Ocean, of which 1,000 and 350 industrial wells have been equipped in the North Sea alone. Due to minor leaks, 0.1 million tons of oil are lost annually. Large masses of oil enter the seas along rivers, with domestic and storm drains. The volume of pollution from this source is 2.0 million tons/year. Every year, 0.5 million tons of oil enters with industrial effluents. Getting into the marine environment, oil first spreads in the form of a film, forming layers of various thicknesses. The oil film changes the composition of the spectrum and the intensity of light penetration into the water. Light transmission of thin films of crude oil is 1-10% (280nm), 60-70% (400nm). A film with a thickness of 30-40 microns completely absorbs infrared radiation. When mixed with water, oil forms an emulsion of two types: direct - "oil in water" - and reverse - "water in oil". When volatile fractions are removed, oil forms viscous inverse emulsions, which can remain on the surface, be carried by the current, wash ashore and settle to the bottom. Pesticides. Pesticides are a group of man-made substances used to control pests and plant diseases. It has been established that pesticides, destroying pests, harm many beneficial organisms and undermine the health of biocenoses. In agriculture, the problem of transition from chemical (polluting the environment) to biological (environmentally friendly) methods of pest control has long been faced. The industrial production of pesticides is accompanied by the appearance of a large number of by-products that pollute wastewater. Heavy metals. Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, arsenic) are common and highly toxic pollutants. They are widely used in various industrial productions, therefore, despite the treatment measures, the content of heavy metal compounds in industrial wastewater is quite high. Large masses of these compounds enter the ocean through the atmosphere. Mercury, lead and cadmium are the most dangerous for marine biocenoses. Mercury is transported to the ocean with continental runoff and through the atmosphere. During the weathering of sedimentary and igneous rocks, 3.5 thousand tons of mercury are released annually. The composition of atmospheric dust contains about 12 thousand tons of mercury, and a significant part is of anthropogenic origin. About half of the annual industrial production of this metal (910 thousand tons/year) ends up in the ocean in various ways. In areas polluted by industrial waters, the concentration of mercury in solution and suspension is greatly increased. Contamination of seafood has repeatedly led to mercury poisoning of the coastal population. Lead is a typical trace element found in all components of the environment: in rocks, soils, natural waters, the atmosphere, and living organisms. Finally, lead is actively dissipated into the environment during human activities. These are emissions from industrial and domestic effluents, from smoke and dust from industrial enterprises, from exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. Thermal pollution. Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater from power plants and some industrial production. The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs by 6-8 degrees Celsius. The area of ​​heated water spots in coastal areas can reach 30 square meters. km. A more stable temperature stratification prevents water exchange between the surface and bottom layers. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature, the activity of aerobic bacteria that decompose organic matter increases. The species diversity of phytoplankton and the entire flora of algae is increasing. Freshwater pollution The water cycle, this long way of its movement, consists of several stages: evaporation, cloud formation, rainfall, runoff into streams and rivers, and again evaporation. Throughout its path, water itself is able to be cleaned of contaminants that enter it - decay products of organic substances, dissolved gases and minerals, suspended solids. In places with a large concentration of people and animals, natural clean water is usually not enough, especially if it is used to collect sewage and transfer it away from settlements. If not much sewage enters the soil, soil organisms process them, reusing nutrients, and already clean water seeps into neighboring watercourses. But if the sewage immediately enters the water, they rot, and oxygen is consumed for their oxidation. The so-called biochemical oxygen demand is created. The higher this requirement, the less oxygen remains in the water for living microorganisms, especially for fish and algae. Sometimes, due to lack of oxygen, all living things die. Water becomes biologically dead; only anaerobic bacteria remain in it; they thrive without oxygen and in the course of their life they emit hydrogen sulfide - a poisonous gas with a specific smell of rotten eggs. The already lifeless water acquires a putrid smell and becomes completely unsuitable for humans and animals. This can also happen with an excess of substances such as nitrates and phosphates in the water; they enter the water from agricultural fertilizers in the fields or from sewage contaminated with detergents. These nutrients stimulate the growth of algae, algae begin to consume a lot of oxygen, and when it becomes insufficient, they die. Under natural conditions, the lake, before silting up and disappearing, exists for about 20 thousand years. An excess of nutrients accelerates the aging process and reduces the life of the lake. Oxygen is less soluble in warm water than in cold water. Some businesses, especially power plants, consume huge amounts of water for cooling purposes. The heated water is discharged back into the rivers and further disrupts the biological balance of the water system. Reduced oxygen content prevents the development of some living species and gives an advantage to others. But these new, heat-loving species also suffer greatly as soon as water heating stops. Organic waste, nutrients and heat interfere with the normal development of freshwater ecosystems only when they overload those systems. But in recent years, ecological systems have been bombarded with huge quantities of absolutely alien substances, from which they know no protection. Agricultural pesticides, metals and chemicals from industrial wastewater have managed to enter the aquatic food chain with unpredictable consequences. Species at the top of the food chain can accumulate these substances at dangerous levels and become even more vulnerable to other harmful effects. Polluted water can be purified. Under favorable conditions, this occurs naturally in the process of the natural water cycle. But polluted basins - rivers, lakes, etc. - take much longer to recover. In order for natural systems to be able to recover, it is necessary, first of all, to stop the further flow of waste into rivers. Industrial emissions not only clog, but also poison wastewater. In spite of everything, some municipalities and industries still prefer to dump their waste into neighboring rivers and are very reluctant to do so only when the water becomes completely unusable or even dangerous. In its endless cycle, water either captures and carries a lot of dissolved or suspended substances, or is cleared of them. Many of the impurities in the water are natural and get there with rain or groundwater. Some of the pollutants associated with human activities follow the same path. Smoke, ash and industrial gases, together with rain, fall to the ground; chemical compounds and sewage introduced into the soil with fertilizers enter the rivers with groundwater. Some waste follows artificially created paths - drainage ditches and sewer pipes. These substances are usually more toxic but easier to control than those carried in the natural water cycle. Global water consumption for economic and domestic needs is approximately 9% of the total river flow. Therefore, it is not the direct water consumption of hydro resources that causes a shortage of fresh water in certain regions of the globe, but their qualitative depletion. Over the past decades, industrial and municipal effluents have become an increasingly significant part of the fresh water cycle. About 600-700 cubic meters are consumed for industrial and domestic needs. km of water per year. Of this volume, 130-150 cubic meters are irretrievably consumed. km, and about 500 cubic meters. km of waste, the so-called waste water is discharged into rivers, lakes and seas.