Structure of the Reserve
Currently there are four Departments in the Altaiskiy Reserve:
- Department of Science;
- Environmental Education Department;
- Inspection and Supervision Department;
- Maintenance Department.
Inspection and Supervision Department performs one of the basic functions of the Reserve, whose territory is divided into four forest districts (forest ranger stations) to provide for its supervision and inspection. Originally, starting from 1932, there were two forest districts in the Reserve – Abakano-Teletskoye and Chulyshmanskoye, later joined by Chodrinskoye forest district. Presently, the territory of the Altaiskiy Reserve is divided into four forest districts: Yailinskoye (frequented the most), Belinskoye (the largest of all), Chodrinskoye (the most inaccessible of all) and Yazulinskoye (the most remote of all).
Inspection and Supervision Department is headed by Sergey Petrovich Erofeev, Deputy Director for the Inspection of the Altaiskiy Reserve’s territory. Each forest district has a senior state inspector, a district state inspector and a number of rank and file state inspectors subordinate to the Deputy Director.
Inspection of the Reserve’s territory is conducted along particular tracks, with all observations recorded in a special Diary and protocols for poaching cases drawn. Protocols become a basis for administrative liability or may be submitted to the Regional Department of Internal Affairs for initiating criminal cases and may trigger criminal liability. Inspection Department’s patrol groups are affiliated with and work together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Fish and Wildlife Oversight Authority (Okhotnadzor) of the Altai Republic, (corresponding cooperation agreements were signed in 2007). Thus, operational groups of the Altaiskiy Reserve and the Fish and Wildlife Oversight Authority of the Altai Republic conducted a joint raid in autumn 2007, confiscating 11 units of rifle-bore weapon, drawing up 12 protocols for infringing hunting regulations and detaining 11 people. The penalty for illegally harvested products totaled about 8,000 rubles, and fines – 22,000 rubles.
The study of natural processes and phenomena in natural complexes of the Altaiskiy Reserve is the primary target of the Reserve’s Department of Science. A complete set of nature observations is organized in the year-book “Nature Records” – a quintessence of the Reserve’s research activity issued since 1940. Currently, the Department of Science employs 16 scientific staff members (2 chief researchers, 4 senior researchers, 4 researchers, 1 junior researcher, 4 research assistants). The Department of Science is headed by Svetlana Valerievna Chukhontseva, Deputy Director for Science, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, an associate member of the International Academy of Pedagogical Sciences.
The Department of Science is involved in different types of research, including those undertaken in cooperation with research institutes. Uniquely diverse flora and fauna of the Reserve make it an unrivaled site for research – the territory of the Reserve harbors 2,050 plant species, of which 250 are Altai-Sayan endemics and 120 are relicts; of 136 plant species registered in the Red Data Book of the Altai Republic 49 are found in the Altaiskiy Reserve, with 32 plant species,including 7 lichen species, listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The Altaiskiy Reserve harbors 16 fish species, 326 bird species, 50 of which are registered in the Red Data Book of the Altai Republic and 35 – in the Red Data Book of Russia. 11 of 70 mammal species found in the Reserve are registered in the Red Data Books of Russia and the Altai Republic.
Currently, the Department of Science of the Altaiskiy Reserve is involved in studies of fauna species (musk deer, snow leopard, Altai Argali, reptiles) and biodiversity monitoring in specially protected nature territories. Researchers happen to put their knowledge into practice. Thus, O.B. Mitrofanov, ornithologist of the Altaiskiy Reserve, was once given a golden eagle – a rare Red Data Book bird - saved by residents of Maima settlement (the Altai Republic). The eagle spent almost 2 months under the ornithologist’s supervision and on recovering his health and strength left him, flying back to the places it came from.
The mission of the Environmental Education Department of the Altaiskiy Reserve is to raise public awareness of environmental and ecological safety issues and highlight the role of the Reserve in solving them. Local population- and visitor-oriented work undertaken by the Department helps fulfill the mission. The first visitor center of the Altaiskiy Reserve opened in 2007.
The Environmental Education Department suggested the establishment of Public Boards – a new form of cooperation that proved crucial and very effective. The Altaiskiy Reserve signed cooperation agreements with communities of indigenous minorities – Tubalars, Telengits, Kumandins, and with the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God parish in Turochak settlement.
The Altaiskiy Reserve Friends club and the Bear Footprint movement that unites all supporters of the Altaiskiy Reserve sharing a common goal to protect wildlife of Gorny Altai help implement the Department’s environmental protection policy. The Department is also responsible for providing regular media and web coverage of the activity of the Altaiskiy Reserve and creating radio and video pieces. In 2007 republican and district newspapers featured 44 press releases, and in the first quarter of 2008 – 40 news and 12 video pieces. The Environmental Education Department is headed by Svetlana Nikolaevna Shchigreva, Deputy Director for Environmental Education. The Department employs 8 staff members.
Like other departments of the Reserve, Environmental Education Department actively cooperates with various NGOs and takes part in environmental projects in the territory of the Reserve, including UNDP/GEF (United Nations Development Programme/Global Environmental Fund) and WWF projects. High levels of population involvement in competitions and environmental events organized by the Reserve demonstrate and prove local population’s interest in the life of the Altaiskiy Reserve. Thus, over 150 works took part in the “Save pristine nature!” competition held in 2007 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Altaiskiy Reserve.
All departments of the Altaiskiy Reserve demonstrate a shared commitment to cooperation with NGOs and governmental organizations enabling the Reserve to consider and resolve urgent issues more effectively. This cooperation-based approach has already proved very effective, and it will be further developed and supported by other Reserve’s departments.