Feb. 12, 1997
Huge Siberian republic setting aside vast nature reserves
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS Associated Press Writer
GENEVA -- The vast Siberian republic of Yakutia is setting aside 270,000 square miles --
twice the size of Japan -- for nature reserves in hopes of saving the Siberian crane and other
endangered species.
Polar bears, walruses and reindeer will be among the wildlife protected in a system of national
parks and other reserves stretching into the arctic.
"Yakutia is a unique place, with a vulnerable Arctic ecosystem," Mikhail Nikolayev, president
of the republic that makes up one-fifth of Russia, said at a news conference Tuesday.
The campaign aims to correct "mistakes made in previous years (that) have left us with a
heritage of severe environmental degradation," he said.
Claude Martin, director-general of the World Wildlife Fund, said the area to be set aside
makes up one-quarter of Yakutia, which is also known as the Sakha Republic. His group,
based just outside Geneva in Gland, has donated $360,000 to help start the project.
Vasily Alexeyev, the republic's environment minister, said the scattered reserves would allow
residents to practice traditional hunting and fishing methods but ban industry and mining.
By 2000, the republic intends to increase its national parks from three to 10, and add 50
resource reserves, 30 protected areas and 134 world heritage sites, Alexeyev said.
The Sakha people regard the Siberian crane as sacred and hope that they will be able to
preserve the species by protecting the summer breeding areas of some 700 birds, he said.
However, the birds winter in China, and their nesting areas will be inundated by the the Three
Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River, the world's largest hydroelectric project.
Alexeyev said his republic has asked international environmental groups for help in
encouraging Chinese officials to find a way to "preserve this unique bird."
The Siberian crane is one of the largest birds in the northern hemisphere. A spectacular white
bird with long red legs and a red beak, its annual arrivals in Siberia and China are cultural
events.
The crane has two populations, one based in Yakutia and the other in western Russia.
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