Photo: Alexander ChechetkinThe Russian government has announced that it is creating a new 1.5 million hectare park in the Russian Arctic on the northern part of Novaya Zemlya, a long island.
WWF has been lobbying for the park for the past twelve years. It is a central area for the Barents and Kara Sea polar bear populations, and is also important for walrus, wild reindeer, and bird populations. The park designation excludes all industrial activities.
“This is exactly the sort of thing we need to see from Arctic governments,” says Neil Hamilton Director of WWF International’s Arctic Programme. “The only way these Arctic populations are going to survive the ecological havoc caused by global warming is by providing them with enough breathing room. If industrial activity is kept far enough from key habitat, the animals have a chance. The second part of the equation is global action on climate change to ensure that the parks stay cold enough for animals such as polar bears and wild reindeer.”
While WWF is pleased with the park creation, it does fall short of the original plans for a park of more than 5 million hectares.
“Despite the fact that the Russian Arctic Park is our big achievement, we’re sorry that not all planned territories were included in the park area,” says Oleg Sutkaitis, head of the Barents Sea Ecoregional Office for WWF Russia. “Franz Josef Land and Victoria Island were crossed out from the project, but we will now work on widening the park’s borders.”
In announcing the park, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin described it as a boon for tourism, and announced that he personally plans to vacation there.
WWF has been lobbying for the park for the past twelve years. It is a central area for the Barents and Kara Sea polar bear populations, and is also important for walrus, wild reindeer, and bird populations. The park designation excludes all industrial activities.
“This is exactly the sort of thing we need to see from Arctic governments,” says Neil Hamilton Director of WWF International’s Arctic Programme. “The only way these Arctic populations are going to survive the ecological havoc caused by global warming is by providing them with enough breathing room. If industrial activity is kept far enough from key habitat, the animals have a chance. The second part of the equation is global action on climate change to ensure that the parks stay cold enough for animals such as polar bears and wild reindeer.”
While WWF is pleased with the park creation, it does fall short of the original plans for a park of more than 5 million hectares.
“Despite the fact that the Russian Arctic Park is our big achievement, we’re sorry that not all planned territories were included in the park area,” says Oleg Sutkaitis, head of the Barents Sea Ecoregional Office for WWF Russia. “Franz Josef Land and Victoria Island were crossed out from the project, but we will now work on widening the park’s borders.”
In announcing the park, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin described it as a boon for tourism, and announced that he personally plans to vacation there.
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