Ecology in the Far East

Russia’s Far East faces numerous environmental problems plaguing much of the planet. Chief among these are water and air pollution, especially a high level of dust concentration in the air. Deforestation near bodies of water has made the problem worse and resulted in the deaths of many fish.

To address the issue, Russia’s government has set up 23 nature reserves in the area. The Khanka Nature Reserve in the Primorsky Region is home to over 330 bird species nesting on the banks of Lake Khanka. These include the Japanese crane, the white-naped crane and the Eurasian spoonbill (all listed as endangered by the United Nations). The area has become especially known for the blooming lotus on the surface of the lake.

The Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve was created exclusively to revive the numbers of the sable, but local biologists have also come to used it to observe Siberian tigers.

Employees of the Nora Nature Reserve in the Amur Region are very proud to work in the home of world’s largest migrating group of Siberian roe deer. They also monitor black storks, Oriental storks, Blakiston’s fish owls and Japanese cranes.

The Ussurisky Nature Reserve is the most among tourists in the Far East. Many protected species live there, but the Amur tiger is the undeniable king. The Amur leopard, mandarin duck, black stork and Fischer’s clawed salamander – all listed as endangered – can also be founded there.