| 17th CONGRESS OF THE RUSSIAN UNITED
DEMOCRATIC PARTY YABLOKO
Appeal No 6.6
Submitted by Andrei Rudomakha and Sergei Mitrokhin
On the threat of the destruction of unique natural
complexes of the World Natural Heritage Site "The Western
Caucasus"
The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO calls the World
Heritage Committee at its forthcoming session, which will
be held in St.Petersburg in late June, to pay special attention
to the critical situation in the field of preservation of
World Natural Heritage Site "The Western Caucasus".
"The Western Caucasus" based on the Caucasian Nature
Reserve is a unique natural area, that is not only a national
treasure of Russia, but also the natural heritage of all the
mankind. Throughout the period since 1999 up to the present,
when The Western Caucasus" was included in the list
of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site this object had
been endangered by different projects that could destroy it.
Initiating the inclusion of "The Western Caucasus"
in the World Heritage List, Russia has been chronically failing
to fulfill its international obligations under the Convention
on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Not only have the Russian federal government failed to take
effective measures to curb the destructive projects launched
by regional governments, but they have initiated a large number
of dangerous projects. The efforts of environmental and scientific
community have eliminated many threats for "The Western
Caucasus", however, unfortunately not all of them. Consequently,
the World Heritage has suffered irreparable damage. The blame
for this lies with Russian federal and regional authorities.
The most egregious facts include building on the initiative
of the Presidential Property Management Department of a ski
resort Lunnaya Polyana (Moon Glade) in the World Heritage
area intended for recreation of Vladimir Putin and disguised
as "research centre Biosphere. The construction led
to devastating impact on the unique natural landscapes in
the western slopes of Mount Fisht. Construction of a road
from the village of Cherngovskoye was conducted there in 2007-2008,
this resulted in a colossal damage to the natural complexes
of The Western Caucasus." Large-scale cutting of woods
implemented in The Western Caucasus" within the Republic
of Adygea for many years lead to degradation of vast areas
of virgin forests.
In view of the critical situation around The Western Caucasus",
the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has already twice adopted
quite tough decisions recommending Russia to take effective
remedial measures.
Unfortunately, most of these recommendations were neglected
and the situation with The Western Caucasus" has been
further deteriorating.
The YABLOKO party is calling the World Heritage Committee
above all to pay attention to the two, in our opinion, key
issues threatening the integrity of The Western Caucasus".
1) The construction project of Lagonaki ski resort initiated
by the "Resorts of the North Caucasus" company and
enjoying personal support of Russias top officials. Aiming
at realisation of this project the federal government even
changed the law so that to legitimise the possibility of building
ski resorts in the nature reserves. Implementation of this
project will lead to large-scale destructive impact on natural
systems of the Lagonaki plateau and the Fisht-Oshtenski mountain
range, which are the most important centres for biological
diversity in the entire Northern Caucasus. The negative environmental
impact from this project, if it is not stopped, will be comparable
as of its scale with the environmental damage that occurred
during the preparation for the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi.
2) The ongoing construction of the Lunnaya Polyana ski resort
and the plans to build a new road to the resort from the village
Solokh-Aul. The road is disguised under the name "Road
route to the meteorological station of the Caucasus Nature
Reserve." Implementation of these projects leads to the
destruction of natural systems in the southwestern part of
"The Western Caucasus" and the loss by Russia and
the world of the sites that are national and world heritage.
In the present extremely difficult political situation in
Russia, when the federal government completely neglects public
opinion, national interests and international obligations,
the position of UNESCO plays a key role in the solution of
these problems.
In view of this, the YABLOKO party calls the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee to the following:
1) to recommend to Russia
- abandon plans to build the Lagonaki ski resort in The Western
Caucasus" World Heritage site;
- abandon plans to build a road between the village Solokh-Aul
and Lunnaya Polyana;
- dismantle the ski lifts on the western slopes of the Fisht
mountain and turn the Lunnaya Polyana resort into a real research
center with its transfer to the Caucasian Reserve, or the
Russian Academy of Sciences.
2) to adopt a decision on the inclusion of The Western
Caucasus" World Heritage site into the list of "Heritage
at Risk!"
See also:
17th
Congress of YABLOKO
Protection
of Environment
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