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ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRIVATE, NON-COMMERCIAL PROTECTED TERRITORY: MURAVIOVKA PARK OF SUSTAINABLE LAND USE
Sergei M. Smirenski, Amur Program of Socio-Ecological Union, Russia

The Amur River, located on the border between Russia and China, is the world's largest free-flowing river. The Amur region is the only place in Europe and Asia where biotas of the taiga and subtropical forest coexist. Thus, the Amur has the highest diversity of plant and animal species in the Russian Federation. In the Amur Basin, oaks grow next to larches, leopards coexist with wolverines, and Siberian tigers hunt reindeer. Due to a long history of political tension between Russia and China, large-scale projects to develop the Basin never materialized.

Following recent political changes in the former Soviet Union, plans to develop the Amur region's rich resources are well underway. Development to date has resulted in widespread deforestation, pollution, endangerment and extinction of plant and animal species, and threats to indigenous people. The collapse of a highly centralized Russian economy was followed by a severe economic crisis and a drastic decrease in living standards. Simultaneously, large territories were opened to foreign investors and entrepreneurs, and illegal trade in endangered plants and animals used in Asian medicine increased. These activities are causing serious ecological damage to the Amur region. During the same period of time, key habitats for migratory birds were developed along flyways and wintering grounds in east Asia.

Unique biological diversity in the Amur River watershed and enormous pressure for regional development demand close cooperation among Russia, China, and other countries interested in development in the Amur River Basin. Sustainable development is an obvious possibility. However, faced with economic crisis, social tensions, and corruption, people are more concerned with daily survival than with a more remote future. It may take the governments of Russia and China considerable time to attempt a joint program of sustainable development for the Amur River Basin. Even if such a program is initiated, visible progress cannot be made without the participation of grassroots environmental groups and local communities. The goal of the Amur Program is to initiate sustainable regional development through a network of model protected territories, demonstration farms, and businesses; partnerships among all administrative levels, NGOs, and local communities; public education; sustainable development on an elementary level; and training of specialists.

THE AMUR REGION

Vast wetlands and croplands 60 km south-east of Blagoveshchensk (the capital of the Amur region) provide excellent habitats for a number of migratory species. In past years, critical habitats were destroyed for economic reasons. In the early 1980s, local residents had a low but guaranteed income, and the central government provided essential support to social programs while keeping strict control over everything. Grassroots initiatives often were punishable. No information was available about the importance of the territory for endangered species. Tambovka District has the best soils and climate for agriculture in the Russian Far East. Due to poor farming practices, however, agriculture in Tambovka is unprofitable. During the last decade, economic crisis led to a three- to four-fold decrease in agricultural production in the Amur Region. Residents of the Amur region believe that although economic development necessitates environmental destruction, the Russian Far East has unlimited natural resources. Much of the local population is composed of recent migrants who came to Siberia from western Russia to make quick money and return to their homeland. Poor farming practices have damaged the soils, wildlife, human health, and economy, but many people are still looking for short-term benefits.

In 1982, an expedition from Moscow State University, led by Sergei Smirenski, began research near Muraviovka and found that a combination of wetlands and farmlands provided excellent breeding, roosting, and feeding habitats for more than 200 species of birds, including 23 species listed in the Russian Red Data Book. Crop fields near wetlands, where pairs of cranes breed and where large flocks roost, often provided excellent feeding areas. Some agricultural activities, like burning straw or extensive use of herbicides and pesticides, were detrimental to both people and wildlife. Existing game refuges could not stop poaching, wild fires, pollution, and conversion of wetlands into croplands. That is why we proposed, through changes in land use practices, to improve the environment for wildlife and the quality of life for people.

THE CHANGE PROCESS

Through the Amur Program of Socio-ecological Union (SEU), we held numerous meetings with international and local communities. In 1994, with financial support from the Wisconsin-based International Crane Foundation (ICF) and the Japanese Pop Group Corporation, SEU leased more than 13,000 acres for wildlife protection, environmental education, sustainable land use, and support to local communities. In 1995, the Park was included in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of international importance. In 1996, the Park became the first independent, non-commercial, privately-operated protected territory in Russia. In 1997, the Park leased an additional 400 acres of cropland with rich soils to establish the demonstration farm and to build living facilities and an Education Center.

The Park's goals are interconnected and complementary For example, straw dispersal and mulching in the area will improve soil fertility, increase crop production, reduce the threat of wildfires, and improve air quality.

The park's staff is small but well-educated and skilled, providing opportunities to develop diverse activities. Local students, teachers, and educators who participated in annual summer camps and seminars have become strong allies of Muraviovka Park within their villages. Local officials and residents have begun to support the Park after realizing that it is helping their children as well as local hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

OUTCOMES

Due to the Amur Program's initiative, Muraviovka wetlands as well as other territories in the Amur, Primorski, Khabarovski, and Chita regions were included in the Ramsar convention of wetlands of international importance. The park introduced new forms and methods of environmental education that now are widely used in the Russian Federation. Muraviovka Park as an independent private organization is responsible for administering daily and other operations and arrangements.

Amur Program staff are striving to involve local people in the Park's activity. During the last four years, more than 500 students (including orphanage children) and 100 teachers have participated in summer environmental education camps. The Park has donated thousands of books to the town library, purchased and collected footwear and clothes for over 120 local children, exchanged visits of Russian and American teachers and students, provided jobs for local people, and distributed free vegetable seeds that became a small but important source of income.

The Park has involved Russian, American, Chinese and Japanese officials, as well as local communities, by facilitating cultural and information exchanges and fostering a sense of joint responsibility for migratory birds and their wintering and breeding grounds. The AMUR Program proposed to develop Russian-Chinese cooperation for monitoring and management of the Oriental White Stork and other endangered migratory bird populations, sustainable agriculture, and environmental education. The Amur Program also initiated a program on Oriental White Stork restoration in the Korean peninsula and helped to save Sanjiang Plain wetlands in China.

As a result of education efforts and wildlife management, the number of cranes and storks in the park has increased 250% times during the past four years. Growing numbers of endangered birds have attracted ecotourists from developed countries, building new opportunities and generating new sources of income. Seminars and workshops on ecotourism, environmental education, prescribed burning, and environmental laws; official visits of decision-makers from the Amur Region to Japan and China; publication and distribution of printed materials; and children's art and photo exhibits organized by the Amur Program are helping to create a new world view in local people which combines interests of humans and their environment. Governmental officials participate in these seminars and workshops together with NGO activists from Russia, China, and other Far Eastern countries. This promotes good working relations and develops a structure for future management of the Amur Program in which all strata of the international society in the region will work together toward a common goal.

At the same time, we can talk about sustainability only when the activity of the Park as a sustainable land use territory is self-sufficient. The Amur Program puts most of its effort and investments into its general operations and a five-year plan, which, if realized, will ensure self-sufficiency of Muraviovka Park. The Park is trying to teach local adults and children to produce original handicrafts which can be sold to tourists, as well as farming and other skills. We also create new jobs in the area. Former school students - the participants of environmental clubs and summer camps - are now college or university students and our helpers; we hope that in a few years they will be working with us as wildlife biologists, game managers, tour operators, and agronomists.

The Amur Program is also working on the watershed analysis with a goal to distribute successful approaches tested in the Park throughout the larger area that will lead to the next level of sustainable land use.

In 1998, the Park will complete construction of the Education Center and will begin professional training in wildlife management, agriculture and handicraft to help the community and orphanages to raise income. An alternative way of nature resources use will be offered to local community. The Demonstration farm will introduce new agricultural practices and teach rural youth to respect farming as a profession.

Educators trained in Muraviovka Park have started summer ecological camps in the Primorski and Khabarovski regions, and establishment of private nature protected territories in the Primorski region is being modeled after the Muraviovka Park experience.

While our work with children is geared toward long-term benefits, some immediate conservation gains have occurred. The children becoming involved with wetlands and their wildlife share their concerns with their families with an effectiveness we could never match. Muraviovka Park is the first private, non-commercial nature protected territory in Russia trying to integrate human and wildlife interests.

Since its inception, the Amur Program and Muraviovka Park have been a joint venture of Socio-ecological Union and a number of international organizations, including the International Crane Foundation, National Audubon Society, and The Nature Conservancy, as well as teachers from New Jersey and Wisconsin and many individuals. We invite new volunteers and supporters to help us to save the beautiful Amur River and its riches. For more information about the Amur River Program, please contact Sergei Smirenski, Email amur@glasnet.ru, or Elena Smirenski, Email elena.icf@baraboo.com.

The Amur River Program received a 1997 Society for Conservation Biology Distinguished Service Award for efforts to conserve the natural character and rich biotic diversity of the Amur River Basin.

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