From 29 September through 1 October, Sochi hosted the All-Russian Forum for Protected Areas. The event to mark the 100^th anniversary of Russia’s nature protection system was attended by representatives from 200 federal nature reserves and national parks.

As part of the event, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi presented ministry awards to the best employees at Russian nature reserves and national parks who made a significant contribution to the development of nature protection areas. Khakassky Nature Reserve was among those that received a certificate of a new biosphere reserve. Snow leopard research is a major area of study at Khakassky.  

“I would like to note that in the past five years significant efforts have been made to promote educational tourism at Russia’s protected areas. One of the key achievements is providing legal regulations for tourism development by introducing corresponding amendments and supplements to law,” said Viktor Nepomnyashchy, director of the Khakassky Nature Reserve.

According to Sergei Donskoi, the All-Russian Forum for Protected Areas should take place on a regular basis every four years, similar to the All-Russian Environmental Protection Congress.

The forum, organised by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, is one of the major events of the Year of the Environment and protected areas in Russia.