Maria Girich, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, commented to Rossiyskaya Gazeta on the Ministry of Natural Resources' draft order providing for tighter control over specially protected natural areas (SPNAs).
"The new order tightens the assessment requirements. The 2022 order establishes as an indicator a 20% reduction in rare and endangered plants within the boundaries of SPAs over a three-year period. Now it is proposed to reduce the percentage of extinction to 10% over two years, and to assess not only plants but also animals," the expert noted. She stressed that the proposed changes could be important.
Maria Girich added that “increased control could lead to additional fire prevention measures in protected areas,” given the increasing number of fires in these areas. She also pointed out the need to expand the list of indicators for monitoring the condition of protected areas, including “assessment of risks to species diversity, habitat condition, threats (fires, poaching),” as well as accounting for the condition of water bodies in reserves with marine areas.