The Bastak Nature Reserve, located in the Jewish Autonomous Region and home to over 50 endangered species of birds and animals including the Amur tiger, has become a member of the International Alliance of Protected Areas (IAPA).

Joining the alliance was recommended by UNESCO. With its IAPA membership, the reserve can now cooperate with protected areas in Northeast Asia, particularly, with Chinese wildlife reserves. This will allow Bastak staff to learn about the best world practices in developing protected areas and to attend regular meetings and symposiums.

The International Alliance of Protected Areas was established at the initiative of Chinese environmentalists in 2014. The IAPA aims to unite protected areas to improve coordination and research, and to strengthen cooperation in fighting global poaching and climate change. The alliance has become a platform to promote more effective management and conservation of nature reserves and national parks. Currently, 97 protected areas in 11 European, Asian and African countries are members of the alliance.