Russia's world-class nature reserves and national parks -- home to Siberian tigers, snow leopards, and many other rare and endangered species -- face a serious threat and need help from activists around the world. Two weeks ago the managers of Russia's 100 nature reserves and 35 national parks received a telegram from the Ministry of Natural Resources informing them that these protected areas would soon be closed. Although the government subsequently reversed course after a public outcry, saying that the telegrams had been sent mistakenly, the managers and other Russian conservationists believe the nature reserves and national parks are still in grave danger. What Would be Lost Closing the nature reserves (known as zapovedniks) and the national parks would be an enormous loss for Russia and for the world. The zapovedniks alone comprise 83 million acres, encompass some of the world's most biologically diverse ecosystems, and provide habitat and migratory stop overs for countless species. The largest such system in the world, the zapovedniks were created solely for scientific research and to preserve the biodiversity of both representative and rare ecosystems, as well as the species that inhabit them. Scientists are using the reserves to collect long-term data on climates, soils, plants, and animals -- valuable information that can be used to help us understand environmental change. The national parks play an equally important conservation role, with the added benefit of giving the public the chance to visit, learn about, and enjoy nature. Other Threats Support for the 80-year old nature reserve system and the younger national park network has waned in recent years in light of Russia's troubled economy and a shift in government policy toward extraction and the intensified use of natural resources. A number of the parks and reserves are currently threatened by development projects, including oil pipelines, dams, and logging in or near the protected territory, and many are imperiled by an acute lack of funding from the Russian government. In 2000, management authority for the parks and zapovedniks was transferred to the Ministry of Natural Resources, which is also charged with developing Russia's natural resources, creating a dangerous conflict of interest. -- 少吹冷氣 少吃肉 少騎車 節省用電 請保護大自然.... Love on Nature, mother of all. Ptt生態保育版 版名: Ecophilia C)分類看板 - 12)生活娛樂館 - 3)HappyLiving - 5)Ecophilia --

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