Geospatial Database on Geospatial Database on Protected Areas of Baikal RegionProtected Areas of Baikal Region

Ekaterina TsybikovaEkaterina TsybikovaTransparent World, RussiaTransparent World, Russia

SCGIS Conference, Monterey, 2007SCGIS Conference, Monterey, 2007

Lake Baikal

1996:1996:UNESCO Natural World Heritage site UNESCO Natural World Heritage site

Age - 25-30 mlnDepth – 1637 m65% endemics

ProblemProblem

LackLack of adequate accessible spatial and descriptive of adequate accessible spatial and descriptive information about protected areas of Russia, information about protected areas of Russia,

results in results in poor decision makingpoor decision making and and low public awarenesslow public awareness

Main categories of Main categories of Russian protected Russian protected

areasareasProbable IUCN Probable IUCN

categoriescategoriesAmounAmountt

Strict nature reserves Strict nature reserves (zapovedniks)(zapovedniks) IIaa 101101

National parksNational parks IIII 3399

Federal-level wildlife refuges Federal-level wildlife refuges (zakazniks)(zakazniks) Ib, IV, (IV)*Ib, IV, (IV)* 6969

Nature parksNature parks IIII   

NaturNaturee monuments monuments III, IV, (III)*III, IV, (III)*   

Botanical gardens, arboretumsBotanical gardens, arboretums --   

Nature resorts (healing Nature resorts (healing landscapes)landscapes) --   

in total:in total:14000 objects14000 objects (a. 1(a. 122% Russia% Russia’s ’s area)area)

* - values estimated by su* - values estimated by summming up all the territory of ming up all the territory of protectedprotected areasareas

Baikal Region:Baikal Region:

International protected areas:International protected areas:- UNESCO Natural World Heritage site- UNESCO Natural World Heritage site- 2 biosphere reserves- 2 biosphere reserves- 11 Ramsar site, 1 Ramsar Shadow list siteRamsar site, 1 Ramsar Shadow list site

Federal-level protected areas:Federal-level protected areas:- 5 strict nature reserves (zapovedniks)5 strict nature reserves (zapovedniks)- 3 national parks3 national parks- 4 wildlife refuges (zakazniks)4 wildlife refuges (zakazniks)

Regional- and local-level protected areas:Regional- and local-level protected areas:- 19 wildlife refuges (zakazniks)19 wildlife refuges (zakazniks)- a. 200 nature monuments and other objectsa. 200 nature monuments and other objects

History:History: Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest Atlas of Russia’s Intact Forest Landscapes Landscapes

((http://www.forest.ru/eng/publications/intact/http://www.forest.ru/eng/publications/intact/))

Data Data sourcessources- primary legislation primary legislation

(governmental acts, bills and other papers)(governmental acts, bills and other papers)

- protected areas official documents- protected areas official documents- additional informationadditional information (spatial and spatial and attributive)attributive)

Mapping.Mapping. Strict Nature Reserves, National Parks Strict Nature Reserves, National Parks and Federal-Level Wildlife Refuges of Russia and Federal-Level Wildlife Refuges of Russia (2005)(2005)

MappingMapping

Biosphere reservesBiosphere reserves

Wetlands:Wetlands: - - one of the key types of planet ecosystemsone of the key types of planet ecosystems - - serve a variety of hydrological and biochemical serve a variety of hydrological and biochemical functions that are valuable to peoplefunctions that are valuable to people

Baikal Region Wetlands:Baikal Region Wetlands:Ramsar site: Selenga River DeltaRamsar site: Selenga River DeltaWetland of Ramsar Shadow List: Angara River Wetland of Ramsar Shadow List: Angara River DeltaDelta

Web-based Information system Web-based Information system

http://http://oopt.infooopt.info

ContentsContents::

- news- news- history of nature history of nature protectionprotection- publicationspublications- conferences proceedingsconferences proceedings- descriptions of PAdescriptions of PA- descriptions of Ramsar descriptions of Ramsar sitessites

Description of each protected Description of each protected area:area:

- general information- general information- historyhistory- geographic featuresgeographic features- flora and faunaflora and fauna- research activitiesresearch activities

ApplicationApplication

- create protected area GIS- create protected area GIS

- presentation and education materials- presentation and education materials

- include in decision support system to help deal - include in decision support system to help deal with conflicts occurring on protected areawith conflicts occurring on protected area

Application: Guides to national parks and zapovedniks of Russia

Application: Application: Land-use Land-use decision-decision-makingmaking

The Kovikta The Kovikta gas pipeline: gas pipeline:

Socio-ecological Socio-ecological mappingmapping

Data now available and plannedData now available and planned

- biosphere reserves zoning (core, buffer, transition zone, - biosphere reserves zoning (core, buffer, transition zone, biosphere polygon)biosphere polygon)

- zapovedniks’ and national parks’ buffers- zapovedniks’ and national parks’ buffers - Ramsar sites- Ramsar sites - Birdlife International sites- Birdlife International sites

planned to complete:planned to complete: - nature monuments- nature monuments - territories of traditional land use- territories of traditional land use - important ethno-cultural objects- important ethno-cultural objects

ConclusionConclusion

GIS is an effective toolGIS is an effective tool for public awareness and decision support, for public awareness and decision support,

butbut great efforts should be done to make data really workgreat efforts should be done to make data really work

and and Society for Conservation Society for Conservation GISGIS

ESRI Conservation ProgramESRI Conservation ProgramTransparent WorldTransparent World

International socio-ecological International socio-ecological UnionUnion

Biodiversity Conservation Biodiversity Conservation CenterCenter

World Resource InstituteWorld Resource Institute

Thank you!Thank you!

Ekaterina TsybikovaEkaterina TsybikovaTransparent World, RussiaTransparent World, Russia

e-mail: tsybikova@biodiversity.rue-mail: tsybikova@biodiversity.ru