Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
KRONOTSKIY |
|
|||
General Description |
Kronotskiy Biosphere Reserve is located in one of the remotest parts of the Russian Far East on the Kamchatka Peninsula, which divides the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. The area represents some of the most pristine parts of the Kamchatka Peninsula and a remarkable set of volcanoes of volcanoes, some of which are still active, hot springs and geysers. The biosphere reserve covers 1,142,000 hectares with an elevation change from 0 to 3,528 meters above sea level. Vegetation changes with elevation from tundra to temperate broad-leaved forest and coastal areas. The area has been inscribed on the World Heritage List because of its beauty. The biosphere reserve in not inhabited, however there is some extensive use by small numbers of indigenous Itelmeni and Eveni. Before the establishment of the state nature reserve, the whole area was used for hunting of ungulates and fur-bearing animals. These activities were stopped and today, tourism is increasingly important as an economic factor. |
|||
Major ecosystem type | Boreal needleleaf forests or woodlands with coastal marine component | |||
Major habitats & land cover types | Tundra; marine coastal areas with wet and dry tundras, thickets of grasses such as Calamagrostis and of meadowsweet Filipendula forests with parkland type Russian rock birch (Betula ermanii) dominated by tall herbaceous vegetation; river valleys with willow (Salix sp.), alder (Alnus sp.) and Mongolian poplar (Populus sp.); alder (Alnus sp.) and Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis) elfin woodland with mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia), honeysuckle (Lonicera sp.) and alder understory; grove of relict fir (Abies sp.); volcanic tundras; geysers; hot springs | |||
Location | 54°09' to 55°07'N; 159°38' to 162°07'E | |||
Area (hectares) | ||||
Total | 1,142,134 | |||
Core area(s) | Zonation under revision | |||
Buffer zone(s) | ||||
Transition area(s) when given | ||||
Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +3,528 | |||
Year designated | 1984 | |||
Administrative authorities | National Russian Federal Committee for the Protection of the Environment | |||
Brief description |
Ecology of ungulates and large predators Ecology and ethology of Kamchatka brown bear Nesting Stellar sea eagle population monitoring Needleleaf forests research in mountain and volcanic areas of Eastern Kamchatka (relict fir grove and larch forests) Impact of volcanic activity on vegetation Geyser monitoring Volcanogenic ore deposition Annual ecological monitoring Protection of the only wild population of Rangifer tarandus Rehabilitation of Martes zibellina Protection of the largest population of Ursus arctos Mapping of the different zones of the biosphere reserve |
|||
Specific variables... | ||||
Abiotic | n.a. | |||
Biodiversity | Birds, boreal forest, conservation, ecology, ethology, mammals, methodologies, mountain and highland systems, population genetics/population dynamics, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, volcanic/geothermal systems/volcano, wildlife. | |||
Socio-economic | Natural hazards. | |||
Integrated monitoring | Impact and risk studies/Environmental impact, mapping, planning and zoning measures/zonation. | |||
Contact address |
V.V. Komarov Kronotskiy Biosphere Reserve 48 Ryabikova street, Elisovo Town 684010 Kamchatskaya Oblast Russian Federation |
|||
Telephone | ||||
Fax | ||||
zapoved@mail.kamchatka.ru |
||||
Last updated: 13/12/2007 |