The Virgin Komi Forests

Status: State Biosphere Reserve, National Park

Area: 3.28 mill ha

Current state: inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 1995

The Virgin Komi Forests is the first Russian site included into the World Heritage List in 1995. This nomination opened a new page of environmental protection in Russia.

The Virgin Komi Forests is the area consisting of two sites: the Pechoro-Ilychsky Nature Preserve and the Yugyd-Va National Park. It is the largest forest (3,280,000 ha) among the remaining European primary forest stands, representing ecosystems almost undisturbed by intensive economic activities. It is a real treasure trove of taiga biodiversity. The area accounts for over 40 species of mammals including the brown bear, sable and elk; 204 species of birds including the white sea eagle and fish hawk, both recorded in the Red Book; and 16 species of fish, the most valuable of which are glacial relics the lake char and arctic grayling.

The primary forests forming species fir tree and spruce are accompanied by siberian cedar (the siberian pine) growing here at the north-western limit of its habitat. Mid- and northern taiga change over to forest tundra with large areas occupied by mountain tundra and bare stone peaks.

The territory extends for more than 300 km from north to south along the western slope of the Polar and Northern Urals. The mountain complex of the Urals is an important climate-forming element for the entire ecosystem of the region. Here is a place where the great Pechora River begins and where it receives waters from crystal-clear tributaries.
On the eastern slopes, typical Siberian flora suddenly replaces European plant species, characteristic of the humid
western slopes of the Urals.

EXISTING THREATS

At present, in violation of Russian and International legislation, exploration and development of gold deposits is being carried out within the area of the Yugyd-Va National Park. The gold mining takes place in violation of the resolutions of the Environmental Protection Committee instructing the companies involved in these illegal activities to suspend their geological explorations and drilling within the grounds of the National Park. The Ministry of Nature of the Komi Republic and the Head of the Komi Republic are proponents of gold mining development in Yugyd-Va.

Recently the Supreme Court of the Komi Republic ruled that the Decree of the Head of the Republic on alteration of
the national park boundaries was illegal and contrary to the law. In compliance with the above-mentioned decree, the area of illegal gold mining was withdrawn from the National Park and from the World Heritage site. Unfortunately, attempts to change the park boundaries to accommodate such developments are still ongoing.