Reference
The document has been drafted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation in fulfillment of item 53 of the Strategy for Developing Specially Protected Natural Areas of Federal Importance until 2020, approved by the Government Executive Order No. 2322-r of December 22, 2011.
The Caucasus State Nature Biosphere Reserve adjoins the state border between Russia and Abkhazia from the Russian side, while the Ritsa Relic National Park adjoins the border from the Abkhazian side.
These specially protected natural areas have vital importance for the preservation of biological and landscape diversity of the Western Caucasus. At the same time, the reserves’ cross-border location forms a large environmental corridor facilitating the preservation of biological diversity of animal and plant life on a large scale. Wild animals’ migration paths traverse the area, which is an age-old habitat suitable for the conservation of wild animals’ gene pools and providing stable conditions for their population.
The creation of the Caucasus Relic Russian-Abkhazian cross-border reserve will provide additional opportunities for preserving biological and landscape diversity, contribute to scientific research, monitoring the environment and enhancing bilateral cooperation in preserving the area’s unique nature.