The concept for the development of the system of federal protected natural areas until 2020 was adopted by the Russian Government. It provides for the establishment of 28 new reserves and national parks in Russia, First Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and the Environment Nikolai Popov reported. These will include Ingermanlandsky Reserve in the Leningrad Region, Shaitan-Tau Reserve in the Orenburg Region, Shantar Islands national parks in the Khabarovsk Territory, Chikoi in the Trans-Baikal Territory, Mr Popov said during a meeting with Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Nikolai Popov said that conditions will be provided for the stabilisation of population and growth in the numbers of rare and disappearing species, including the Amur tiger, snow leopard, Amur leopard, wisent, saiga, polar bear and Siberian white crane.

The First Deputy Minister specified that as a result of the implementation of these objectives, federal protected natural areas will account for 3% of the country's total area. This will help preserve the habitats of at least 77% of mammal species and 97% of bird species listed in the Red Data Book.

The Ministry for Natural Resources and the Environment plans that by 2020 13.5% of Russia's territories will be protected natural areas of different levels and categories.