The Minister of Ecology presented Tatarstan's snow leopard project at the international forum in Altai
Today in Gorno-Altaysk (Altai Republic) within the framework of the international forum "Eco Altai. The Thread of Nature" a visiting session on the topic: "Implementation of joint international environmental projects for the conservation of the snow leopard" took place. Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan Alexander Shadrikov spoke about projects implemented jointly with the scientific community aimed at preserving and restoring the snow leopard population on the territory of the Russian Federation.
He noted that the project initiated by Tatarstan to create a Center for the study of rare species of cats "Ak Bars" with the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia was included in the federal project "Conservation of biological diversity and development of ecological tourism" of the national project "Ecology".
While working on the project together with the scientific community, including with the participation of Professor, Corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Valerievich Naidenko, a concept for the creation of the Center was developed. A research program has been prepared taking into account the capabilities of the scientific research base of Tatarstan. Also, in continuation of the initiative of Tatarstan, together with the Republic of Altai, taking into account climatic features, it is also proposed to create a Center for the Conservation of Biological Diversity "Snow Leopard" on the territory of this mountainous region. For the placement of objects, a land plot has been selected in the Mayminsky district of the Altai Republic within the boundaries of LLC "Karym". Its area is more than 9 thousand hectares.
"From the very beginning, this project has been under the close scientific supervision of specialists from the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The composition of the Center's facilities, their placement, content and functionality are approved only after expert evaluation by scientific specialists. The concept of the Center provides for a research part and an aviary complex of the sector of keeping, breeding and studying animals. Currently, work is being completed on the construction of the Center's facilities and the improvement of the nearby territory," the Minister of Ecology said in his speech.
Scientific institutions of Tatarstan, which have a high material and technical base and competencies, are involved in research work.
Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University has already started cooperation with colleagues from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Gorno-Altai State University.
A powerful modern laboratory and scientific base has been created on the basis of Kazan Federal University to conduct a large complex of studies.
The Minister of Ecology stressed that the tasks of conservation and study of rare animal species united specialists not only from Tatarstan and Altai, but also from other countries, since the issues of conservation and restoration of the snow leopard population are among the most important for the whole world.
Let us recall that the Snow Leopard Center is being created on behalf of the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, who has repeatedly stressed the importance of preserving endangered species of animals.