October 14 is a Day of Nature Reserve Worker in Russia
The decision to annually celebrate the holiday was taken in 1999 in Vladivostok at the meeting of directors of the Russian nature reserves. The initiative was supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.
The first nature reserves appeared in Russia in the late 19th century on the lands of the nobility. The first national nature reserve (Barguzinsky) was founded in 1916, and the history of the reserve management and studies in Russia traces its roots from that time.
Today in Russia there are 103 state nature reserves, 47 national parks, 69 federal nature sanctuaries with a total area of 59.6 million hectares where 10 000 full-time employees work. There are about 13 000 regional and local specially protected natural reservations; their total area is 142.4 million hectares.
Today the nature reserve fund of the Republic of Tatarstan is formed by 171 specially protected natural reservations having the total area of 167.55 thousand hectares, including 166 regional specially protected natural reservations 126.84 thousand hectares in area. Thus, 2.47% of the area of the Republic of Tatarstan is provided with the optimal conditions for preservation and restoration of natural systems, landscapes and biological diversity. Over the past 15 years 30 specially protected natural reservation were founded in the Republic of Tatarstan (12 state nature sanctuaries and 18 natural monuments) with a total area of approximately 110.7 thousand hectares.
Currently, the efforts are underway to give status of specially protected natural reservation to three nature-made objects located on the territory of the Bugulminsky District.
The workers of the specially protected natural reservations are the real enthusiasts and concerned people. Thanks to their efforts, we succeed in keeping in a state of nature the unique landscapes and the diversity of flora and fauna in our country. It is they who help to save from extermination many rare species of animals, some of which exist today only in the reserves, sanctuaries and monuments of nature.
The Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan congratulates all nature reserve workers on their professional holiday!