January 11 is the all-Russian Day of reserves and national parks

The Day of reserves and national parks is marked in Russia on January 11. The first national reserve was established this very day in 1916 near Baikal.

“At present time there are three reserves in Bashkortostan – “Bashkir”, “South Ural”, “Shulgan-Tash” plus one national park “Bashkiria”. The total area of these natural objects amounts to more than 407 thousand hectares and unique flora and fauna can be met here. For example, flora in the national park “Bashkiria” numbers 765 sorts of plants, including 50 rare ones, registered in the Red Book RB” – press secretary of Ministry for nature management and ecology RB Nina Nikandrova tells.

Fauna of the national park “Bashkiria” consists of plenty of groups – from unicellular organisms to vertebrates. 65 species of mammals, 9 species of reptiles, 32 species of fish and 230 species of birds live here.

232 specially protected natural territories form the reserve fund of Bashkortostan for today and their total area exceeds more than 665 thousand hectares. Five specially protected natural territories RB received world recognition and the status of biospheric reserve “Bashkir Ural” in 2012: the state natural reserve “Shulgan-Tash”, national park “Bashkiria”, natural park “Muradymovskoe Canyon” and two zoological reserves “Altyn Solok” and “Ikski”. The biospheric reserve “Bashkir Ural” is found under UNESCO aegis.

The total area of “Bashkir Ural” is more than 345 thousand hectares and important problems are posed before it: preservation and popularization of the unique historical, ethnic-cultural and natural heritage and development of forms of inexhaustible nature management.