The Federal State Budgetary Institution "The Directorate of the Baikal-Lensky State Nature Reserve and the Pribaikalsky National Park", better known as the "Pribaikalye Reserved", began its activity in 2014. This non-profit organization appeared during the reorganization of the subordinate to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology RF state institutions.
Short story
The basis for the emergence of this organization was the Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia No. 251, which was adopted on July 18, 2013. And as early as next year, this state institution began its vigorous activity.
Several reserves of the East Siberian region were included in the composition of the "Preserved Baikal". All of them were the most important environmental organizations.
Climate
Due to the large area of the "Preserved Baikal", which stretches over vast territories from north to south from the upper reaches of the Lena River to the Sayan Mountains, the climate, although sharply continental, is more mild in areas close to Lake Baikal. In the area of Peschanka Bay even a positive average annual temperature is observed. In the upper reaches of the Lena and Kirenga rivers, the climate, on the contrary, is sharper and more severe. Here there is a short summer and a long, frosty winter.
Pribaikalsky National Park
This protected area is a large protected natural site. In addition, this is one of the four components of the FSBI "Preserved Baikal".
The park itself was created in 1986, and its area is about 417,000 hectares. The composition of this national park includes vast territories along the western shore of Lake Baikal, as well as Olkhon Island and the Small Sea (Baikal). On its territory there is a variety of natural landscapes.
Baikal-Lensky Reserve
Its area is slightly larger than that of Pribaikalsky Park, and is approximately 660,000 hectares. It was also created in 1986.
The reserve is located on vast territories in the upper Lena. Almost all of it is covered with dense taiga forests, where pristine, unspoiled nature has been preserved. The largest number of bears in the continental part of the country also live on its territory.
State Reserve "Krasny Yar"
This is another component of the "Baikal Preserve". Unlike the aforementioned conservation areas, Krasny Yar was created much later, namely in 2000. However, the basis for its appearance was a species reserve of regional subordination, created back in 1971.
It is extremely important for the preservation of many species of animals inhabiting Eastern Siberia. Among these species: roe deer, deer, elk and others.
State Reserve "Tofalarsky"
It was created in 1971. Earlier in this area was located one of the first protected natural areas in Russia - the Sayan Nature Reserve.
The “Tofalar” nature reserve is characterized by incredibly colorful and picturesque mountain landscapes, turbulent mountain rivers.
Flora and fauna
The species diversity of the “Baikal Preserve” is not very rich, but a large number of animals are preserved here, which have almost disappeared in the rest of the Russian Federation.
Among the animals whose habitat is in these territories, one can distinguish:
- brown bear;
- Baikal seals;
- Siberian moles;
- Great cormorant.
There is also a wide variety of other birds, which are inhabited by smooth-bats, beavers and muskrats. All animals living in these vast lands are difficult to count.
As for the plant world, then the "Preserved Baikal" is no less interesting. Many important and rather rare representatives of vegetation are preserved here.
In the Baikal-Lensky nature reserve, almost a thousand plant species are protected, as well as a large number of mosses, lichens and mushrooms. Many of them continue to exist only thanks to the activities of this organization.
Almost one and a half thousand species of flora are officially registered in the Baikal National Park. In total, on the territory of all structural parts, there are a total of more than one and a half thousand plant species that need constant protection.
About fifty species of plants are endemic, so they can not be found anywhere else. Their protection and protection is especially important.
Activities
This organization, located on the western coast of Lake Baikal, has several main areas of activity where active work is carried out.
The key areas in which environmental protection employees are active are:
- education;
- the science;
- security.
Scientific and security work is fundamental. It is these two areas that determine almost the entire course of work of the “Preserved Baikal”. In Irkutsk, on the street of Baikalskaya, there is an office of the organization, where all documents are processed, the organization is managed and much more.
As for science, the organization’s employees carry out extensive activities aimed at studying flora and fauna, as well as some natural phenomena. The composition of the scientific department includes 7 people.
The total list of scientific works written by the employees of the institution is in the tens. They make a significant contribution to modern botany, zoology and related sciences.
Security activities are aimed at protecting the animal and plant world from illegal hunting, poaching, prohibited logging, etc.
Volunteering
One of the biggest problems of the "Preserved Baikal" as an organization is the lack of funding and labor. The real salvation is attracting volunteers and bringing them to work.
With the help of volunteers, work is being done on garbage collection, repair of some objects and structures, improvement of paths, etc.
Volunteers do not need to pay, but they can receive new impressions and acquaintances as a reward for their work, as well as the opportunity to visit the most beautiful and picturesque places in the Baikal region: on the Small Sea (Baikal), in the Sayan Mountains, on the island of Olkhon, etc.
Tourism
One of the most important income items of an organization is tourism, which brings the lion's share of earnings. In many ways, this helps to cope with underfunding.
Ecotourism, in general, is one of the most developed and promising industries in the East Siberian region. The "Baikal Reserve" carries out cruise walks and excursions on Lake Baikal. Among them are both short walks and long, multi-day excursions.
Especially for these purposes, a representative office was established in Listvyanka (a popular tourist destination for tourists) that regulates the organization’s work in the field of tourism.
Most of the income from this activity falls on the summer period. In winter, there are much fewer tourists, so work in this direction practically stops, although formally it continues.
In addition to excursions, a small fee is also charged for visiting protected areas. A full ticket for an adult costs about 100 rubles. For preferential categories of citizens 50, and for children under 7 years of age, orphans, disabled people, etc. admission is free.
Conclusion
The “Preserve Baikal” is a unique environmental organization, which is of great importance not only for Eastern Siberia, but also for the whole country, and possibly the world.
Here many species of animals and plants are preserved, scientific research and research, as well as work to improve the environment are carried out. Thanks to this, ordinary residents of the region and visiting tourists can join the natural splendor of the Baikal region.
If not for the active and continuous activity of this organization, then, most likely, many animals and plants that inhabit these lands today could disappear without a trace from our planet. In a critical and unstable environmental situation on Earth, this would be completely unacceptable and negligent. Because of human activities, all nature on the planet suffers, therefore, only by protecting and preserving it, you can save the whole planet and prevent an environmental catastrophe.