The interactive map shows the alignment of existing and planned roads and areas where
Greenpeace believes that the construction of new facilities inthose places and in the form as planned now will harm the interests of both businessmen and tourists. Anthropogenic influence, as ecologists believe, will disrupt the natural beauty of mountain landscapes. And this will ultimately lead to a devaluation of the aesthetic, recreational and environmental value of protected areas.
It may seem that the infrastructure is threateningnature of the Caucasus, occupies a relatively small part of the world heritage, and some sites are even located beyond its borders. However, these areas are very important for maintaining biodiversity and preserving the value of this unique region.
Mikhail Kreindlin, Head of the project on specially protected natural areas of the Russian Greenpeace
Western Caucasus, an area of about 300thousand hectares in the west of the Greater Caucasus, included in the list of World Natural Heritage sites in 1999. The absence of significant anthropogenic influence made it possible to preserve the nature of the high mountain range, notes UNESCO. The nature of the Western Caucasus is distinguished by a wide variety of ecosystems. Only wild animals graze in the local alpine and subalpine meadows, and the vast untouched mountain forests, stretching from the low-mountain zone to the subalpine, are unique in Europe.
In total, 11 objects were identified on the territory of Russianatural heritage. Among them, for example, Lake Baikal, the volcanoes of Kamchatka and the Putorano Plateau in Central Siberia. Greenpeace representatives have repeatedly drawn attention to violations of environmental obligations that can lead to the loss of natural heritage sites.
Cover photo: Guy Debonnet, UNESCO
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