The main mission of the Lapland Nature Reserve is to preserve biological diversity. Sergei Shestakov, Director of the Reserve, spoke about this mission and cooperation with the business community in order to preserve the wild reindeer population.
The Lapland Nature Reserve was established in 1930 as the first nature reserve beyond the Arctic Circle. Back then, five thousand people lived nearby, on the eastern bank of the Imandra River. 93 years later, there are large industrial sites, and 200 thousand people living at a distance of up to 40 km from the perimeter of the biosphere reserve.
The founder of the nature reserve, Herman Kreps, chose a good location for it, where the wild nature of Russian Lapland is preserved to this day. Reserve staff restore rare species of animals, develop reserve infrastructure, and implement new technologies.
What makes the Lapland Nature Reserve stand out?
With an area of 278,435 hectares, the Lapland Nature Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Northern Europe. There are no roads or human settlements in it. Nature has remained intact over the past 500 years. In 1985, the Lapland Biosphere Reserve was created on the territory of the nature reserve.
There are more than 700 such reserves in the world today, which are implementing the UNESCO Biodiversity Initiative.
The founder of the nature reserve, Herman Kreps, chose a good location for it, where the wild nature of Russian Lapland is preserved to this day. Reserve staff restore rare species of animals, develop reserve infrastructure, and implement new technologies.
What makes the Lapland Nature Reserve stand out?
With an area of 278,435 hectares, the Lapland Nature Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Northern Europe. There are no roads or human settlements in it. Nature has remained intact over the past 500 years. In 1985, the Lapland Biosphere Reserve was created on the territory of the nature reserve.
There are more than 700 such reserves in the world today, which are implementing the UNESCO Biodiversity Initiative.
SERGEI SHESTAKOV
Director of the Lapland Nature Reserve
"Nature reserves embrace sustainability: they preserve biological diversity and at the same time use it. We have successfully addressed this task for many years."
The nature reserve has old-growth forests, which today are increasingly important, as the world loses old-growth regions. On the Kola Peninsula, forestation began after the last ice age 10 thousand years ago, and today the trees here are 500-600 years old, up to 30 meters tall and 70 centimeters in diameter. For example, at the Chunozerskaya estate of the nature reserve there is a 500-year-old pine tree with a trunk diameter of 68 cm.
Employees of the reserve regularly research flora and fauna. This is how they discovered a candelariella decastes species of lichen. This was the first time and the only place that this plant was discovered in Eurasia.
The water bodies of the Lapland Reserve are home for the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta): from birth until the end of their juvenile phase. The wild reindeer deserves special mention. There are almost no species in Northern Europe, while the Kola Peninsula is a great home for them.
Employees of the reserve regularly research flora and fauna. This is how they discovered a candelariella decastes species of lichen. This was the first time and the only place that this plant was discovered in Eurasia.
The water bodies of the Lapland Reserve are home for the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta): from birth until the end of their juvenile phase. The wild reindeer deserves special mention. There are almost no species in Northern Europe, while the Kola Peninsula is a great home for them.
Молодые самцы дикого северного оленя в Лапландском заповеднике
Благодаря сотрудничеству с «Норникелем» появился визит-центр заповедника
Площадь Лапландского заповедника – 278435 га
What are today’s threats?
The biggest threat to nature is obviously human impact. There are many different impact factors. For example, forest fires, most often caused by humans, are the most damaging and can spread very quickly: one cigarette bud or one spark is enough to start a fire.
Regular monitoring plays an important role in the conservation of natural resources. In addition to the Nornickel’s industrial site in Monchegorsk, there is the Kola Nuclear Power Plant near the Lapland Reserve. We keep our finger on the pulse at all times to immediately take necessary measures.
We support Nornickel’s biodiversity conservation program, most notably the Adaptive Management Practices Based on Monitoring Results. We propose to introduce monitoring using state-of-the-art technologies: set up several interconnected base stations on the reserve territory for rapid data transmission. The system will allow us to monitor air, weather and climate conditions, track animal migrations and detect fires.
The Kola Peninsula is large, and during periods of high fire danger, it is important to detect the outbreaks as soon as possible. Satellite monitoring is also used but sometimes it produces errors. Implementation of modern technologies will enable a quick response without having to wait for negative implications to be eliminated.
Step one — done: fiber-optic cable has been laid at the Chunozerskaya estate. The first base stations are planned to be set up there.
How does the Reserve partner with Nornickel?
In collaboration with Nornickel, we are delivering a wild reindeer preservation program.
During the existence of the Lapland Reserve, its population fluctuated greatly. In 1930, there were 95 animals. By the 1940s, the number had increased to 1,500. Then, during WWII, no research was conducted. In the 1960s, when the census resumed, the entire western population was over 12 thousand animals, but the deer hunt started, and the population declined sharply to 200 deer by 1985.
Officially, wild reindeer hunting was permitted until 2012 (including territories near the reserve). However, the animal was then included in the Red Book of the Murmansk Region, and in the Red Book of Russia in 2020.
Today, we conduct ongoing monitoring. According to our data, the population of wild reindeer exceeds 1,000 animals, most of them live within the reserve. The deer are not afraid of humans or snowmobile as they are not being chased. We take photos and videos, and the animals behave calmly.
Visitors to the reserve also see the reindeer. Recently, a group of animals approached the Chunozerskaya estate. Tourists walking the ecotrails saw a beautiful stag for several days, he grazed peacefully in the moors near the estate.
Cooperation with Nornickel on the conservation of wild reindeer has been going on for 20 years, yielding promising results. The company provides necessary financial support.
The biggest threat to nature is obviously human impact. There are many different impact factors. For example, forest fires, most often caused by humans, are the most damaging and can spread very quickly: one cigarette bud or one spark is enough to start a fire.
Regular monitoring plays an important role in the conservation of natural resources. In addition to the Nornickel’s industrial site in Monchegorsk, there is the Kola Nuclear Power Plant near the Lapland Reserve. We keep our finger on the pulse at all times to immediately take necessary measures.
We support Nornickel’s biodiversity conservation program, most notably the Adaptive Management Practices Based on Monitoring Results. We propose to introduce monitoring using state-of-the-art technologies: set up several interconnected base stations on the reserve territory for rapid data transmission. The system will allow us to monitor air, weather and climate conditions, track animal migrations and detect fires.
The Kola Peninsula is large, and during periods of high fire danger, it is important to detect the outbreaks as soon as possible. Satellite monitoring is also used but sometimes it produces errors. Implementation of modern technologies will enable a quick response without having to wait for negative implications to be eliminated.
Step one — done: fiber-optic cable has been laid at the Chunozerskaya estate. The first base stations are planned to be set up there.
How does the Reserve partner with Nornickel?
In collaboration with Nornickel, we are delivering a wild reindeer preservation program.
During the existence of the Lapland Reserve, its population fluctuated greatly. In 1930, there were 95 animals. By the 1940s, the number had increased to 1,500. Then, during WWII, no research was conducted. In the 1960s, when the census resumed, the entire western population was over 12 thousand animals, but the deer hunt started, and the population declined sharply to 200 deer by 1985.
Officially, wild reindeer hunting was permitted until 2012 (including territories near the reserve). However, the animal was then included in the Red Book of the Murmansk Region, and in the Red Book of Russia in 2020.
Today, we conduct ongoing monitoring. According to our data, the population of wild reindeer exceeds 1,000 animals, most of them live within the reserve. The deer are not afraid of humans or snowmobile as they are not being chased. We take photos and videos, and the animals behave calmly.
Visitors to the reserve also see the reindeer. Recently, a group of animals approached the Chunozerskaya estate. Tourists walking the ecotrails saw a beautiful stag for several days, he grazed peacefully in the moors near the estate.
Cooperation with Nornickel on the conservation of wild reindeer has been going on for 20 years, yielding promising results. The company provides necessary financial support.
SERGEI SHESTAKOV
Director of the Lapland Reserve
"Sometimes, groups of people on snowmobiles come and try to enter the reserve area. This is a lot of stress for animals that can't move fast in deep snow in winter. With the help of Nornickel, we have purchased powerful snowmobiles which we use to stop trespassers and keep the situation under control."
The company supports the reserve’s projects via the World of New Opportunities charity program. For example, by Forest Mail (e-mail or letter) anyone can ask scientists a question about the flora and fauna of the reserve and get an answer.
What role does informing tourists play in environmental protection?
Biodiversity conservation is not only about monitoring and protecting natural resources, it is about environmental education and awareness. And quite a lot has been done in this area. Together with Nornickel, we are creating comfortable conditions for Chunozerskaya estate visitors. This includes an outdoors visitor center with hiking trails.
We suggest to the company that the estate be used as a venue for discussing sustainability issues close to nature. When seminar or conference participants see rabbits playing in the meadow outside the window, such communion with nature facilitates constructive dialogue and helps people find common ground.
Thus, with the support of Nornickel, the unique biodiversity reserve may soon become a world-class venue for discussing the ESG agenda and not only a new tourist attraction.
What role does informing tourists play in environmental protection?
Biodiversity conservation is not only about monitoring and protecting natural resources, it is about environmental education and awareness. And quite a lot has been done in this area. Together with Nornickel, we are creating comfortable conditions for Chunozerskaya estate visitors. This includes an outdoors visitor center with hiking trails.
We suggest to the company that the estate be used as a venue for discussing sustainability issues close to nature. When seminar or conference participants see rabbits playing in the meadow outside the window, such communion with nature facilitates constructive dialogue and helps people find common ground.
Thus, with the support of Nornickel, the unique biodiversity reserve may soon become a world-class venue for discussing the ESG agenda and not only a new tourist attraction.
September, 2023
