The Preserve formed in 1986, is an unique space of the almost
untouched relic juniper woods at the Black Sea coast. Here are
three kinds of arbuscular junipers, a lot of endemic plants, about
60 kinds of plants and animals brought in the Red book. In view of
value of this territory under the order of the Government of the
Russian Federation from May, 23rd, 2001 N 725-r till 2010 the State
Natural Reserve «Utrish» here should be formed.
Attempts of capture of this territory by different private
structures became frequent last two years. Cases of poaching and
illegal cuttings down became frequent too.
On November, 22-23rd, 2007 in the territory of the reserve near
the lake Zmeinoe the significant space of juniper pistache-woodland
was cut down and cleared away for construction of the road. It was
found out, that on October, 21st 2007 this space was transferred by
the order of the head of administration of Anapa in rent for 5
years to OC "Rosinvest", which admitted the roughest infringements
of the nature protection legislation.
"Unfortunately, the check did not make necessary legal actions
for an establishment of the size of the harm put to natural
complexes and it did not help to attract guilty persons to
responsibility, - Mikhail Kreindlin, the head of the protected
natural territories project, said, - Most likely it means, that the
local authorities are interested in site development of the unique
territory, and they interfered objective check in every possible
way".
The Greenpeace organization of Russian Federation supports the
reference of experts and NGOs and we hope that the federal
authorities will take necessary measures for preservation of the
unique nature complex of the «Bolshoi Utrish» Game Preserve, and
will involve guilty in responsibility.
An Open Letter
to:
Mr V.V. Putin, President of the Russian Federation
Mr D.A. Medvedev, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Mr A.D. Zhukov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation
Mr U.P. Trutnev, Minister of Natural resources of the Russian Federation
Mr U.Ya. Chaika, Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation
Mr L.G. Korzhinek, Prosecutor, Krasnodarsky Krai
Mr A.N. Tkachev, Head of Administration of Krasnodarsky Krai
Mr .N. Pakhomov, Head of Administration, resort town of Anapa
Dear Sirs,
Aren't you fond of the Black Sea?
You surely are.
Isn't it the thing from childhood - yours and ours?
It is also our future and that of our children.
That is why we appeal to each and every of you - it is of vital
importance to spare the Bolshoy Utrish Nature Preserve. The
immediate address may pave the way to the development of the whole
Black Sea coast of Russia.
The 12.5 km stretch of the sanctuary established in 1986 lies
between the settlements of Maly and Bolshoy Utrish. It is the only
area of all but virgin relict juniper forest on the Black Sea coast
(three species of evergreen juniper trees, lots of endemic plants
and animals that are registered in the Red Data Book). Owing to its
specific value and in accordance with the Direction issued by the
Russian Government on 23rd May 2001 (No. 725-p), there shall be
established a state nature reserve "Utrish". The would-be nature
reserve and hitherto preserved sanctuary will not only protect the
wildlife of this still virginal stretch of the Black Sea coast, but
also contribute to the sustainability of the environment along the
whole of the seaside between Anapa and Novorossiysk.
Several years ago the directorate of the Nature Preserve was
broken up, in 2007 the Anapa urban forestry followed suit. Yet,
with the Nature Preserve still enjoying its official status,
various private entities kept making attempts to encroach on its
territory during the recent two years. Instances of poaching have
become more and more frequent. Private entrepreneurs felled both
dead and live relict juniper trees in the coastal part of the
Nature Preserve. Felling has gained momentum.
On the 22nd -23rd November 2007, a large spot of juniper and
pistachio tree forest nearby Zmeinoye Lake was cleared to make room
for construction of a motorway. This immediately brought along
several appeals to RosPrirodNadzor (Russian nature protection
inspectorate) and the Office of Public Prosecutor in Krasnodarsky
Krai made by public organizations, citizens of Anapa, followed by
extensive coverage in the press.
Chernomorsk inter-regional group at the Directorate of
RosPrirodNadzor in Krasnodarsky Krai together with a representative
of Anapa inter-regional prosecution and a representative of the
Ecological Watch-Over in the Northern Caucasus responded with an
inspection to check whether the nature protection laws had been
observed prior the felling. It turned out that on 21st October
2007, a month before the clearing of the forest, this spot of land
had been leased by Head of Administration of the resort town of
Anapa to RosInvest Co. Ltd for 5 years, the latter having grossly
violated the nature preservation legislation. The situation grows
beyond a particular instance, which is a very alarming matter.
At present, with the run-up for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games,
establishment of a special economic zone of tourist-recreational
type in Karasnodarsky Krai, blueprints for the development of
transport infrastructure on the coast, other projects and measures
for its development, many coastal territories are undergoing a
change in official status. All these undertakings have not become
systemic yet. Fears are quick to emerge lest part of the Bolshoy
Utrish Nature Reserve should be alienated; moreover, other
ecologically valuable territories might suffer as well.
We would appreciate it very much if all-out measures should be
taken to preserve the unique sanctuary, its structure and its staff
be restored and the Direction issued by the Government of the
Russian Federation (N 725-p) on the establishment of a state nature
reserve should be implemented by the set target date.
We would also like to suggest that the Russian Government,
Krasnodarsky Krai Administration and its municipal entities should
join their efforts - together with groups of experts and eminent
specialists engaged in ecological territorial planning, nature
protection, recreational planning, addressing ecological, economic
and social problems, and in concert with general public - to openly
discuss the problems of the whole Black Sea coast and work out an
ecological and socially responsible strategy of its development. We
are determined to make every possible effort to achieve this aim
and we hope that the addressees will respond with similar
initiatives.
We would appreciate it very much if you send your answers to all
the electronic addresses listed below.
Prof. A.V. Drozdov, PhD, senior researcher at the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences;
V.P. Chizhova, PhD, senior researcher at the Department of Geography, Moscow State University;
Prof. V.V. Akatov, PhD, head of the Ecology and Nature Reserve section at Maykop state technological university;
T.V. Akayova, PhD, senior researcher at Caucasian state nature biosphere reserve;
M.S. Ruzina, Programme Director, St Petersburg Charity Foundation “Deti Goroda” (Children of the City); since 1994 contributing to the cause of the Nature Reserve;
S.V. Yermolaev, head of Krasnodar regional nature protection public organization “Utrish”;
V.V. Mitrofanenko, plenipotentiary at the Russian charity foundation “No to alcoholism and drug addiction”, docent at Sociology and Social Work section at North-Caucasian state technological university;
A.V. Rudomakha, coordinator at the Ecological Watch Northern Caucasus.