KATUNSKY (Russian Federation)

Katunsky is the twentieth biosphere reserve of the Russian Federation. It is located within the elevated part of the Altai Mountains and includes southern and northern slopes of the Katun Ridge and northern slopes of the Listvyaga Ridge. It encompasses a mosaic of fourteen ecosystem types, from mountain tundra to forest-steppe vegetation. Twelve plant species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (1988), including fawn lily (Erythronium sibiricum), peony (Paeonia hybrida) and spleenwort (Asplenium exiguum). The snow leopard (Pardus uncia) inhabits the high mountains and enters the biosphere reserve occasionally. One of the most important objectives of the biosphere reserve is the conservation of historic and cultural values. These include archaeological objects, small architecture constructions, ethnological objects, ancient burial sites, natural resources connected with the culture of indigenous population, as well as the cultural landscapes.

There are seven villages within the biosphere reserves, where about 80% of the population are ethnic Russians while the remaining 20% are ethnic Altaians. They make a living from traditional natural resource uses, such as deer-farming, pasturing and sheep grazing, forestry, tourism, apiculture, hunting and fishing. The district administration has elaborated a programme of district self-survival. The Katunsky Biosphere Reserve will adopt this programme and will promote benefits for local communities through projects on traditional types of nature utilization and handicraft industries, development of tourism and ecotourism, and involvement of representatives of the local communities in ecological educational programmes.