Natural park as part of the strategy for the development of sustainable tourism in Teriberka settlement (Murmansk region)

For the first time in the practice of creating regional specially protected natural areas in the Murmansk region, a socio-anthropological study was carried out. The purpose of the investigation was to study the attitude of residents of a rural settlement to the creation of a natural park in the context of sustainable tourism development in a remote area. The main component of this strategy is the interaction of all parties interested in the comfortable development of tourism in settlements. In the article, based on the classifications proposed by Urry and Cohen, the views of the local population were analyzed and the types of Teriberka visitors were identified. The predominant kind of tourist in Teriberka is romantic. That solitary traveler represents an individualistic-oriented person the main motive of travel of which is admiring natural objects. This kind of tourist is complemented by the individual mass tourist traveling alone or with a group of travelers who already know each other. Based on the results we are able to assume that indigenous people are tolerant towards tourists and are not against the development of tourist activities in the village. The attitude of the local population for tourists visiting these territories was revealed, the main problems of the settlements were determined. The main of these are an abundance of garbage, a lack of toilets, a lack of control of inappropriate behavior of visitors; environmental pollution; damage to nature, etc. The study has shown that most of the local residents reacted positively to the idea of creating a natural park. Most part of the respondents agrees with the opinion that the creation of a natural park will help preserve the natural and cultural heritage of this unique historical settlement.

ORGANIZATION OF MONITORING STUDIES ON THE FORESTS CONDITIONS IN THE LAPLAND NATURE RESERVE

The article presents the history of monitoring studies of northern taiga in the Lapland Nature Reserve. It is shown that the data on the characteristics of various components of forest biogeocenoses obtained through long- term monitoring are relevant and are not inferior to the European level of research. The results of long-term monitoring revealed the negative impact of atmospheric emissions from the Severonikel metallurgical smelter on the spruce and pine forests of the Reserve. To continue studying the responses of forest ecosystems to industrial air pollution, it is necessary to support stationary monitoring studies in specially protected natural areas.

Application of the Isolation Forest Algorithm to Substantiate the Uniqueness of Water Bodies in the Group of Karst Lakes

Improving the scientific foundations for the development and expansion of the network of specially protected natural areas requires the search for algorithms that could be used to identify unique ecosystems. Algorithmization of the anomaly identification process provides an opportunity not only to process large amounts of data but also leads to obtaining objective and comparable estimates. The purpose of this research is to identify the most optimal mechanisms for identifying anomalous values for the morphometric characteristics of karst lakes, which may indicate the uniqueness of the entire lake ecosystem. Within the framework of this article, the study was carried out based on a mathematical analysis of samples built for various characteristics based on the WORLDLAKE database. Statistical methods and the Isolation Forest (iForest) machine learning algorithm were used as methods of analysis. As a result of applying the iForest algorithm to a sample of morphometric parameters of karst lakes, consisting of 738 objects, 43 anomalous water bodies were identified. An expert assessment of the final set of lakes for the uniqueness of their ecosystems showed that the chosen method for identifying anomalous values is well suited for the task at hand. Many lakes with an anomaly index above 60% can be recognized as unique due to the unusualness of their abiotic characteristics; a number of them also have a peculiar biota. The anomalous objects included such well-known lakes as Tserik-Kol’, Crveno, Salda Lake, Trihonida, Vegoritida, Petron, etc. Moreover, for most of them, anomalies were detected for several parameters at once. Thus, the applied algorithm for identifying anomalous morphometric characteristics of lakes made it possible to obtain interesting samples for further expert analysis of the entire lake ecosystem for its uniqueness.

Preface

We are delighted about the success of our International scientific Conference “Regions of New Development: the current state of natural complexes and their protection”, which took place on October 5-7, 2021 in the Institute of Water and Ecology Problems of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS) - a separate subdivision of the Khabarovsk Federal Research Center FEB RAS. For the participants from Khabarovsk, the conference was held in fulltime format, for nonresident and foreign participants, in order to prevent coronavirus infection, it was conducted virtually. In addition to Russian participants, scientists from China, Japan and Mongolia took part in the conference. The conference “Regions of new development: the current state of natural complexes and their protection” highlights five main areas: 1. Biological diversity of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 2. Water resources and ecosystems: status and usage. 3. Diversity and sustainability issues of landscapes. 4. Scientific foundations of nature protection and optimization of specially protected natural areas. 5. Sustainable urban development. List of Organizing Committee, Program Committee are available in this pdf.

CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF BOTANIC GARDENS AND ARBOTETUM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION

Today, the question of the need for environmental education is of particular importance. It is necessary to restore harmonious ties between man and nature, and this is possible only in contact with the natural environment itself. The irrational use of natural resources, the progressing economic activity of man, which does not take into account the laws of the development of natural systems, lead to a change in natural processes, a violation of the balance of the biosphere. Analysis of various approaches to educational activities in the field of environmental culture revealed the importance of specially protected natural areas in environmental education. They have unique benefits for biodiversity education by providing visual illustrations of the diversity of natural ecosystems.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF RUSSIA'S ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

This monograph proposes strategic transformations in the environmental sphere based on a transition to the principles of a green economy and on the implementation of modern technologies in order to protect and improve the state of the environment, preserve natural resources, and improve the quality of life in Russia and around the world. The proposals contained herein seeks to develop citizens' ecological culture, as well as to encourage and guide businesses to pursue working with green methodology. The principles of conservation of water and forest resources, the recreational role of specially protected natural areas, as well as the development of ecological tourism are considered.

Organization of Geoparks in Russia and Peculiarities of their Legal Regime

The paper examines the features of the international status of "UNESCO Global Geopark" that are important for the development of Russian legislation regulating Geoparks. The criteria for the status of a “UNESCO Global Geopark” that affect the national legal regime of the Geopark include the criterion for the presence of geological objects with a protected status on its territory. The author has analyzed the references to national legislation contained in the criteria for UNESCO Global Geoparks. The paper highlights the differences between the UNESCO Global Geopark, the World Heritage Site and the Biosphere Reserve, analyzes the cases of overlaps between the Geopark concept and the concept of a World Heritage site or a biosphere reserve. Also, the author shows that the term Geopark is extremely rarely used in federal legislation (single strategic planning documents) in the context of the need arising in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation to regulate the processes of creation and functioning of Geoparks. The author has proven the connection between the Russian legislation on Geoparks, regardless of the further fate of its development, with the legislation on specially protected natural areas.The author determines four possible types of organization and functioning of geoparks in Russia: 1) a geopark as a tourist and recreational zone; 2) a geopark without a legal regime for a tourist and recreational zone and without a legal regime for a specially protected natural area; 3) a geopark with a legal regime of a specially protected natural area in the form of a state paleontological, mineralogical or geological reserve; 4) a geopark as an independent category of a specially protected natural area approved by regional regulatory legal acts. The author specifically describes the legal regime of each type of the Geopark. The author makes suggestions and recommendations for the development of federal and regional legislation on Geoparks in Russia.

Integrated environmental assessment of the perspective specially protected natural area of Voronezh city (Russia)

A significant role in optimizing the state of the urban environment is played by the natural complex; one of its components is specially protected natural areas (SPNA). Therefore, the idea to create an SPNA system for the Voronezh region is especially important. The purpose of these studies was to prepare, according to a comprehensive environmental survey, a scientific justification for assigning the SPNA status of regional importance to recreational plantations. Standard methods of taxation, ecological, geographical, botanical, soil and faunal research were used in the work. The results of the studies include a description of the soil and plant cover, zoo and mycological complexes inhabiting the object. Natural features of SPNA including geographical situation, geological structure, and relief were identified. An analysis of the planning organization of the territory, types of spatial structure, aesthetic and sanitary-hygienic properties, forest environment digression and pathological state of plantations was carried out. Based on the results of the comprehensive survey, it was recommended to assign the SPNA status of regional significance to this object - a natural park, the main functions of which should be the preservation of natural complexes and maintaining environmental balance in the city district of Voronezh.