An Expert Council has been established in compliance with the Federal Nature Reserve Development Strategy until 2020. The Council is to develop proposals and recommendations to facilitate the adoption of decisions on strategic nature reserve development issues in Russia, and specific problems faced by nature reserves and national parks.

In particular, the Council will review and prepare proposals and recommendations to improve legislation related to nature reserves, create a regional network of nature reserves, regulate the recreational activity on their territories, preserve cultural heritage, and analyse the current state and development prospects of nature reserves and the nature reserve system in general. The Council will also be in charge of studying and summing up the positive experience of Russia and other countries in organising and managing nature reserves.

The Council will include Government experts, and experts from specialised state institutions, and scientific and public organisations in charge of environmental protection. In particular, the members include Irina Sannikova, Executive Director of the Strana Zapovednaya national foundation, Viktor Nepomnyashchy, Director of the Khakassky state nature reserve, and Gennady Kiselyov, Director of the Sayano-Shushensky state nature reserve, who have participated in the Snow Leopard Programme for many years.