Protected lands

Protected natural areas

 Protected natural areas (PNA) within the Baikal Natural Preserve Territory (BNPT) are represented by five nature reserves, four national parks, 21 wildlife sanctuaries, 128 natural landmarks, one botanical garden, numerous health and recreation localities and resorts. Botanical garden, with an area of 27.1 hectares, is located in Irkutsk, under the jurisdiction of Irkutsk State University. There are six recreational areas within the BNPT: Poberezhie Baikala in the Kabansky and Pribalkaisky district, Baikalsky Priboy-Kultushnaya and Lemasovo in Kabansky district, Severo-Baikalskaya in the Severobaikalsky district, Barguzin Coast in the Barguzinsky district, and Pike Lake in the Selenginsky district. These recreational areas are located in the Republic of Buryatia and are under the jurisdiction of the respective municipal administrations.

The Specially Protected Natural Areas in the Baikal Natural Territory amount to 46 thousand square km, which is 12% of the area of BNT and about 2.3% of the area of all protected areas of the Russian Federation. Within the boundaries of the Central Ecological Zone «Baikal Natural Territory» and the World Natural Heritage Site «Lake Baikal», protected areas occupy 25.6 thousand square km (29% of the area of the CEZ).

The formation and functioning of protected areas in the Russian Federation is regulated by the Federal Law No.33-FZ «On Specially Protected Natural Areas» dated March 14, 1995.

In 2016, Item 2 Article 10 was amended by the Federal Law No. 254-FZ «On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation» adopted on July 3, 2016. In accordance with the decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation, biosphere proving grounds can be created on part of the territory of state nature reserves. The changes provided for by the Federal Law No. 486-FZ «On Introducing Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation» dated December 28, 2016 particularly affect the system of formation and management of dendrological parks and botanical gardens:

− dendrological parks and botanical gardens of federal significance are established by decisions of the Government of the Russian Federation, adopted on the proposal of the federal executive body authorized by the Government of the Russian Federation (Item 1 Article 28.1 «Procedure for the creation of dendrological parks and botanical gardens»);

− dendrological parks and botanical gardens of regional significance are established by decisions of the supreme executive body of a subject of the Russian Federation; any decision on creation or changing the special protection regime shall be approved by the authorized federal executive body in the field of environmental protection, as well as by the federal executive body in the field of national defense and state security, if it is assumed the protected areas will include lands and other natural resources provided for the needs of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, armed troops, other troops, military units and bodies (Article 28.2 «Procedure for the creation of dendrological parks and botanical gardens»). The objectives, functional zoning and features of the special protection regime for each dendrological park or botanical garden are determined by the regulations on this dendrological park or botanical garden (Item 3 Article 29 «Special protection regime for dendrological parks and botanical gardens»).

The Chikoy National Park is the «youngest» national park as of the time of its creation. It was established on February 28, 2014 by the Decree No. 158 of the Government of the Russian Federation for the purpose of protecting cedar forests and the South Siberian taiga with elements of mountain steppes and alpine meadows in the upper reaches of the Chikoy River. The park was created upon liquidation and, accordingly, with the inclusion of the Burkalsky Nature Reserve of federal significance and the Atsinsky Nature Reserve of regional significance. The national park is located on the Khentei-Daur Highlands in the upper reaches of the Chikoy River (in the Baikal basin).

In 2012, the FGBU (Federal State Budgetary Institution) «Zapovednoe Podlemorye» was established. It included the Barguzinsky Nature Reserve, the Trans-Baikal National Park and the Frolikhinsky Nature Reserve.

In 2013, the FGBU (Federal State Budgetary Institution) «Zapovednoye Pribaikalye» including the Baikal-Lensky Nature Reserve and the Pribaikalsky National Park was organized.

Federal state budgetary institutions «Zapovednoye Podlemorye» and «Zapovednoye Pribaikalye» operate in accordance with the tasks assigned to them in the following areas: preservation of natural complexes and objects, scientific research, environmental and educational activities, creation of conditions for recreational and tourist activities and their organization.

List and description of protected areas on the BNT
title PA PA area , ha
( in BNT , ha)
Ecol . BPT zone
State natural reserves
Baikal -Lena 659919 CEZ
Baikal  167871 CEZ
Barguzinsky 366873
[including waters  15000]
CEZ
Dzherginsky  238088  BEZ
Sokhondinsky 210988
42811
BEZ
National Parks
Transbaikalia 269002
[including waters  37000]
CEZ
Baikal 417297 CEZ
Tunkinsky  1183662
108760
CEZ
Preserves federal
Altacheysky 78374 BEZ
Burkalsky 195700 BEZ
Krasny Yar 49120 Ezawa
Frolikhinsky 109200 CEZ
Kabansky  12255 CEZ
Regional sanctuaries
Angirsky 40380 BEZ
Atsinsky  64500 BEZ
Borgoyskoy 42180 BEZ
Butungarsky 73500 BEZ
Upper Angara 12290 CEZ
Ivano- Arahleysky 210000 BEZ
Irkut 29635 Ezawa
Kizhinginsky 40070 BEZ
Kochergatsky 12428 CEZ
Magdun 77828 Ezawa
Pribaikalskiy  73170 CEZ
Snezhinskiy 238480 CEZ
Tugnuisky 39360 BEZ
Tukolon 109648 Ezawa
Uzkolugsky 15330 BEZ
Ulyunsky 18350 BEZ
Hudaksky 50000 BEZ
Enheluksky  14570 CEZ
The total area of protected areas 5215830
The total area of protected areas within the BPT 3972751
including Baikal water area included in OOPTT 52000