A biospheric reserve to be established in Bashkiria

It is suggested that a biospheric reserve, covering practically the whole territory of South Ural, should be established in Bashkiria. Such initiative was announced during the meeting of the delegation of Russian Commission on UNESCO affairs with the Vice-Premier of the Government RB Zugura Rakhmatullina by the deputy chairman of the Russian committee on UNESCO program “Man and Biosphere” Valerie Neronov.

In his opinion this reserve should certainly include the state natural reserve “Shulgan-Tash” and the national park “Bashkiria”. Valerie Neronov suggested that the reserve should be called the Big South Ural biospheric reserve by analogy with the Big Volga-Kama biospheric reserve, located in Tatarstan.

This reserve will help to take South Ural under UNESCO protection in maximal undertime because the applications for establishment of such reserves are considered by UNESCO officials rather quickly.

“After that we may nominate this territory for the list of the world natural heritage” – Valerie Neronov said – “Russia is already familiar with many such examples. 8 of 39 reserves, located on the territory of the country, are found under the protection of UNESCO convent concerning the world natural heritage but the process of inclusion can crag on several years and the reserve can be opened very quickly”.