Environment

Barguzin (origin: Greenpeace, notes, Baikal in numbers, guidebook)

The Barguzinskij National Reserve is the oldest nature reserve in Russia. It was founded in 1916 through Zar Nikolaj II to protect and rescue the zobel population. Because of its fur the species was reduced through hunting to its limit of survival, and after a time of hunting, threatened by extinction. Following at 1912-1914, the Russian government decided to protect the zobel population. Expeditions formed the basics for the design of the three original nature reserves. One of which still exists today is the Barguzinskij national reserve. With the Zobel an example is shown for the conflict between nature and its utilization by human beings, e.g. through hunting. Some measures of protection are strict regulations especially for tourism in prohibited areas. Tourists need a permission to enter the nature reserve and the number of permits granted annually is limited. Also, there are only two trekking ways where local guides must be accepted for walking them. These are measures to conserve and restore the natural conditions. The zobel was promoted to a symbol of freedom - the study of the animal is the primary goal of the Barguzinskij National Reserve. Besides this famous species there are foxes, bears (approximately 250), hermeline and a lot of other endemic species in the preserved area. The whole size is between 248000 ha and 375000 ha (different numbers given in the literature). The protected wildlife stock is estimated to be about 10,000 animals.

(The village Dawshan, where the administration of Barguzinskij national reserve is located)

(The administrator of Barguzinskij national reserve)

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