[HIMC] [EWNC] The World Heritage Site "'West Caucasus" in Russia is in Danger!

[EWNC]

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"ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH on the NORTH CAUCASUS"
Mailing list
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<January 7, 2005>
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                  The WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE SITE
              "WEST CAUCASUS" in RUSSIA is in DANGER!

     (Plans to build the Damkhurts - Krasnaya Polyana highway
             through the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve)


  In  November  2004 the investment basis for the  construction  of
the   Cherkessk  -  Adler  highway  was  submitted  for  the  state
environmental  review  to "Rosprirodnadzor"  (Russia's  Service  on
Control  of  Natural  Use  Management). The  Damkhurts  -  Krasnaya
Polyana  part  of  this  road is going  to  be  built  through  the
territory  of  the  Caucasian  Biosphere  Reserve  (World   Natural
Heritage  Site "West Caucasus") and virgin mountain areas bordering
it.  Building  owner of the project is "The Department  of  Federal
Highways  in  Karachay-Circassian Republic". This  project  is  not
accepted  for carrying out the state environmental review yet,  but
it may happen soon.
  Not  so  long  ago  there  were plans to  construct  the  highway
through  the  Caucasian  Reserve (Lagonaki  Plateau)  on  Maikop  -
Dagomys  route.  Fortunately public protest campaign  against  this
construction  was  successful and this project  was  not  put  into
practice. But Adygeya Republic authorities are still planning  this
road-building, so the danger is not eliminated completely.  And now
a  much  more  dangerous  threat of road construction  through  the
Caucasian  Reserve  is  coming from Karachay  -Circassian  Republic
authorities.  The government of this North Caucasian  republic,  as
well as Adygeya's authorities, wants to get a direct outlet to  the
Black  Sea  coast.  So  Karachay  -  Circassia  leaders  have  been
designing  the Cherkessk - Adler highway since 2001. But  the  only
direct way from Karachay-Circassia to the Russia's Black Sea  coast
lies  through  the  Caucasian Reserve. This  project  can  severely
damage both - the integrity of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve  and
its natural complexes.
  Nine  options for this highway route were considered  within  the
framework  of the investment basis for the Cherkessk-Adler  highway
construction.  Karachay-Cherkessia promoted  the  6th  option  most
actively. According to the promoted option, the highway is  planned
on  the route: Cherkessk - Psemen - Rozhkao - Damkhurts - Damkhurts
River valley - Tsakhvoa River valley - Kardyvach Lake - Engelmanova
Polyana - Krasnaya Polyana - Adler. Total length of the highway  on
this route is 313 kilometers. Construction of two tunnels with  the
total length of 12,6 kilometers is planned. So the highway is going
to  be  built on extremely valuable areas in southern part  of  the
Caucasian   Reserve  near  the  border  of  Russia   with   Georgia
(Abkhazia).  Virgin  areas in both of Damkhurts  River  and  Mzymta
River  valleys, bordering the Reserve, will also suffer from  this.
Here  the  highway lies also on a protected areas:  Sochi  National
Park, Sochi Zakaznik (wildlife refuge) and Damkhurts Zakaznik. As a
result,  if  this  project is realized,  huge  areas  of  the  West
Caucasus   wilderness   will  be  deeply  influenced   by   intense
anthropogenic impact.
  Caucasian  Reserve, as well as other unique natural complexes  of
Russia, is now in great danger. In the last few years, illegal  but
profitable for authorities projects were widely practiced in Russia
and Northern Caucasus in particular. These projects are usually put
into practice even despite the heavy opposition from the public.
  But  the main danger now is that even laws can be easily changed,
Deputies  of  the governmental party "United Russia", make  up  the
majority  in  the State Duma (Parliament of the Russian Federation)
and  are  changing laws one after another. So it is quite  possible
that  Russian authorities might even change the federal legislation
making it possible to stretch the highway through the Reserve.
  The areas of the Caucasus Reserve where the road construction  is
planned  are a part of the World Natural Heritage. This  fact  will
hardly  become  a serious obstacle for those behind  this  project,
unless  the  international community will raise a question  at  the
highest level about the inadmissibility of this construction.
  This  problem is very important and calls for active actions from
all  people and organizations concerned on the conservation of wild
nature    of   The   Caucasian   Reserve.   Russian   environmental
organizations   are   starting  a  public  campaign   against   the
construction of the Damkhurts - Krasnaya Polyana highway.
  As  part  of this campaign Environmental Watch on North  Caucasus
with the support of other local NGOs and also Greenpeace Russia and
Biodiversity Conservation Center is preparing to carry out a public
environmental review of this project.
  
  Andrey Rudomakha
  (Environmental Watch on North Caucasus)
  ies at rambler.ru
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