The Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve in the Primorye Territory has received CA|TS international accreditation in recognition of its contribution to saving the Amur tiger population.

The official presentation ceremony took place in the town of Terney in the Primorye Territory and involved representatives of the Worldwide Fund for Nature from Russia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and India, and of the Global Tiger Forum (GTF), as well as the directors of Far Eastern reserves and national parks.

Dr Rajesh Gopal, Secretary General of the Global Tiger Forum, congratulated Russia on the substantial increase in the Amur tiger population, which currently has 523-540 animals. He noted that, as a tiger territory, the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve is the first Russian and second international park to receive a CA|TS certificate.

The Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve is the first Russian specially protected nature territory and the second area worldwide (after Nepal’s Chitwan National Park) to receive CA|TS accreditation. It is Russia’s largest Amur tiger habitat, with unique natural potential, and it is listed among UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

“CA|TS accreditation is a very important instrument for the reserve, and it will allow us to improve the management system and to share our methods and approaches with other protected territories where tigers live,” said Dmitry Gorshkov, director of the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve.

CA/TS certification is a versatile instrument for monitoring, demonstrating and effectively managing tiger territories. CA|TS approved habitats will be included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Green List of Protected Areas. Certified territories are to play an active role in implementing the global tiger recovery programme, put forth at the International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg.

“It should be noted that the current development of the Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Reserve was made possible through the joint efforts of the state, the reserve management and nature conservation organisations, including the Amur Tiger Centre, which were involved in upgrading the infrastructure of specially protected nature territories and providing substantial support to the reserve,” said Sergei Aramilyov, director of the centre’s subsidiary in the Primorye Territory. “We were very happy to see that the proper decisions aiming to protect the Russian environment have now been confirmed at the international level, and we hope that the CA|TS standard will help to restore the optimal tiger population at the reserve,” he added.