The Russian protected landscape as an object of cultural and historical heritage

Abstract

Russia's first state nature reserve was established in early 1917. However, the history of nature reserves in Russia spans hundreds of years. Many modern nature reserves and national parks were not established from scratch but rather in areas with a long history of conservation, on the sites of former imperial hunting grounds, abatis lines, shipbuilding groves, and sacred natural sites. Therefore, these protected areas can be regarded as nature reserves with a historical and cultural dimension, or as cultural and historical heritage sites. The article examines the historical forms of land conservation in Russia, including community-based (public), private, monastic, and state forms. It also examines the factors that led to the emergence of historical forms of land conservation, their transitions from one form to another, and the mechanisms by which conservation restrictions were enforced.

To distinguish contemporary national parks and nature reserves that originated from historical forms of land conservation and have a long history of conservation, the concept of inherited nature reserves is introduced. This concept allows for the inclusion of nature reserves in the broader historical context of Russian history and culture.

Nature reserves, national parks, and protected areas with inherited nature reserves serve as custodians of the important ecological and cultural heritage of the Russian people and other peoples of Russia.

References

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