Nature Conservation Status and Its Prospects

Abstract

Severe ecological impacts in the territory of Yakutia, especially anthropogenic activity, destabilize the fundamental ecological processes and functions of the vulnerable northern ecosystems. As a result, many taxa of the Yakutian flora presently have a threatened ecological status. There are also unique plant communities in Yakutia that require protection. The most effective way to preserve the biological diversity is a territorial nature protection network. At present, the state sanctuaries, natural parks, resource reserves, and protected landscapes, cover in total 782,000 km2, or 25% of the territory of the Republic. However, these nature reserves were established for the protection of animal populations, so they do not meet the demands of flora and vegetation conservation. Thus, the establishment of special botanical reserves is very topical for Yakutia. The protection of botanical objects would be most efficient when covered by small nature reserves in the most urbanized areas. Preliminary estimates are that an optimal area for geobotanical reserves may total 100–1000 ha. Such reserves are essential for the conservation of both plant, invertebrate, small birds and mammal populations. Very soon Yakutia may become a territory with expanded anthropogenic landscapes. From a “sanctuary”, Yakutia will turn into a medium-industrialized region. So, the protection of the botanical inheritance of Yakutia is a matter of today. In the light of increased technogenic activity the Yakut Botanical Garden has a mission to establish a collection of living rare and endangered plant species of Yakutia ex situ.