Ecora: An Integrated Ecosystem Management Approach

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Define and describe areas and sites to be • included in the National Park; Define and describe the National Park area and • delineation (including zoning); Provide scientific documentation which will • support the National Park status and support management for nature protection. Analyses of available environmental information and knowledge have made it possible to identify four large and eight smaller clusters to be included in the national park. They cover key breeding sites for the critically endangered Spoon-billed sandpiper, main seabird colonies, important marine mammal areas, and nearby coastal marine areas. Representative mountain landscapes, as well as typical lowland and coastal tundra ecosystems, are included in the strictly protected areas. Areas nearby each village, which are promising for development of ecotourism, have also been identified. Beyond strict area protection, community involvement has also been included in this project. Local environmental monitoring is often an important contribution to national park documentation and so incorporation of local knowledge to the national park monitoring system has been planned. Coordination of local monitoring with scientific observations will secure improved and diverse monitoring, especially

Rationale: There is currently a regional Beringia National Park which covers a large area of the Chukotka peninsula, in eastern Chukotka. The Russian government is considering upgrading this park to the federal level. A new federal national park will include some areas in the existing regional park but will also incorporate other unique and representative sites in southern Chukotka (Figures 4 and 5). Based on recommendations from ECORA, parts of the Beringovsky Model Area may also be included. A new federal national park for Beringia will, if endorsed by the government, replace the current regional park. This pilot project focuses on the development of ecological and economic documentation for clusters of nature protected areas within the structure of the planned national park. The objective of this pilot project is to demonstrate that nature protected areas need not conflict with economic development in Chukotka and can instead supplement and support such activities. Several areas which were scheduled for mineral mining in the next decade have been excluded from the planned national park thus effectively protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. The pilot project will: Develop concepts and strategies for National • Park cluster structures;

Evgeny Syroechkovsky

Figure 4. Beringia National Park