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TWO NEW BOOKS ON SIBERIAN PNAs

In 2001 two new books on PNAs in key Siberian regions — Altai-Sayansky and Lake Baikal Basin – were published.

THE SYSTEM OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS OF ALTAI-SAYANSKY REGION (Asia Publishing House, Kemerovo, 2001, — 173 pp., appendix, maps) is the collective effort of a team of biologists from the Altai and Krasnodarsky Krai, Kemerovo Region, the Republics of Tuva and Khakassia as well as Kazakhstan and Mongolia. The team was headed by Science Editor Prof. N. Kupriyanov and Manager of the Altai-Sayansky Project A.I. Bondarev. The book is based on the results of a project funded by WWF in Russia and called: Securing long-term biodiversity conservation in Altai-Sayansk.

The first section of the book (“Designing a Regional Network of Protected Natural Areas in the Altai-Sayansky Region” –pp. 6-12) includes such subsections as “Ecological Problems and Environmental Protection”; “PNA Network Planning on the Basis of Spatial Survey Materials Processing”; “Comparative Analysis and Discussion of Obtained Data” (the authors of the section are I.V. Varfolomeev and P. Lopatin).

The second and largest section (“Existing Protected Natural Areas”) reviews different types of protected natural areas (nature reserves, national and nature parks, sanctuaries, natural monuments) in the regions, krais and autonomous republics as well as in some parts of Kazakhstan and Mongolia (pp.13-88).

The third section (pp. 89-109) is about to-be-designated PNAs, excluding Tuva (Kazakhstan and Mongolia also are not represented in this section). This is followed by a list of literature (p.110-112) and six supplements.

The first two supplements contain data on existing and to-be-designated PNAs in the region; the third supplement provides a list of plants protected in Altai-Sayansk eco-region (by A.N. Kupriyanov and C.Y. Ankipovich); the fourth supplement by the late S.M. Prokofyev provides a list of animals protected in the given eco-region and indicates endangered Red Book species; the fifth and the sixth supplements provide an alphabetical index of plants and animals. The book ends with high quality color maps (scale m: 3.000.000 in the main) that show different categories of PNAs and administrative entities.

A useful reference book, it expands on the previously published work “Theory and Practice of International Biosphere Area Establishment on the Example of the Gorny Altai PNA Network” (Barnaul, 1999) and a number of other publications about Altai and Sayan PNAs.

PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS OF THE LAKE BAIKAL BASIN (Irkutsk, Edition of Institute of Geography of RAS Siberian Branch, 2001, — 185 pp., 400 copies) has only one author — Tatyana P. Svankova, a geography PhD and researcher at the Institute of Geography at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS). The editors are RAS member-correspondent V.A. Snytko and Doctor of Biology S.V. Ryaschenko. The author’s rather long introduction (pp.3-8) is followed by a first chapter (“Designation History and Principles of Formation of the Lake Baikal Basin PNAs”, pp.9-33) with a number of subchapters devoted to the history, management, classification and general principles of PNA Formation in the given region (including Mongolia, which is of special interest).

The rather brief second chapter (pp.34-41) is devoted to natural preconditions of PNA formation and their administrative distribution. The third chapter (“The Characteristics of the Existing Lake Baikal PNA Network”, pp. 43-81) contains many maps and diagrams of PNA ecosystems. An analysis of PNA functioning is given in the fourth chapter (pp.127-139), which also covers a number of general and specific problems associated with nature conservation of Baikal and the efficiency of PNA activity in the region.

A very interesting subsection is devoted to “The Analysis of Nature Conservation Legislation of Russia, Mongolia and the Russian regions” (pp.140-147).

The fifth and final chapter (“PNA Network Development”, pp.140-167) discusses principles of PNA network development, designation of new PNAs, and preconditions for formation of an ecological network in the Lake Baikal Basin. In the brief (pp.168-170) final part, the author has formulated the main conclusions. A long list of original sources (pp.171-183) includes the original literature used as well as numerous government resolutions, reports, statements and other department materials.

This is not only a factual reference book (like the first book), but an original work of research related to a very important region (Lake Baikal Basin). Both books clearly demonstrate the increasing role of the Russian regions in developing a PNA network. This fact is especially apparent if we consider the loss of authority and significance of federal bodies responsible for environmental protection as well as the shaky prospects of future nature reserves.

F.R. Shtilmark, Doctor of Biology,
Institute of Ecology and Evolution
Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow

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