Public Victory: Bill No. 962708-8, which would have legalized the destruction of specially protected natural areas, has been withdrawn from consideration

The seventh attempt to adopt a bill legalizing the destruction of Russia’s nature reserves — specially protected natural areas — under No. 962708-8 was successfully stopped by society. Thanks to your efforts, the bill was fully and officially rejected. We recorded its withdrawal from consideration on April 14 and continued monitoring the project for almost two more weeks to confirm with certainty that it would not be “revised” or reintroduced under another number.

I would like to remind you that the bill was submitted for consideration by officials of the Chuvash Republic, who openly proposed dividing the country’s protected-area rent among the regions in a way that would lead to its destruction. In practical terms, they proposed allowing any refuges of wild nature to be “cut into pieces” without any real control, sold off to business interests, subjected to boundary changes, and even stripped entirely of their protected status.

Together, we launched a public initiative against this measure and worked throughout this entire period to secure change. Tens of thousands of civic demands were sent to state authorities calling for the bill to be stopped; pressure was applied through political factions; and efforts were consolidated with our allies inside the Government. Separately, the wider conservation community also worked in this direction. These were long months of persistent and difficult work.

It was thanks to you, Allies, that this measure was finally stopped. The bill was withdrawn from consideration, and society defeated the seventh attempt to push it through.

The struggle is not over.

The previous seven bills were the most dangerous. At present, an eighth bill remains active, and it also strikes at specially protected natural areas. It was adopted by the State Duma in the first reading, but it did not pass the second reading, also under public pressure. Some amendments have already been secured: the direct removal of protected-area status from nature reserves — the most dangerous provision they sought to introduce — has been deleted, scientific expert review has been made more rigorous, and scientists have been allowed to participate in decision-making.

Even if it is not possible to defeat this bill completely, it is crucial to secure amendments and the strictest possible safeguards, which must be written directly into the bill. Work in this direction is already underway.

Let us summarize.

Seven bills have now been stopped and withdrawn from consideration. The seventh bill was withdrawn very recently, and we tracked its status through to the final decision. Only one bill now remains that may still be pushed through.

I personally thank all Allies who have been fighting this measure together with us. You know how difficult this struggle has been. The initiative concerning Bill No. 962708-8 has been successfully closed — and we continue our shared Mission.

Please make sure to read:

• How officials have tried eight times in a row to destroy Russia’s protected-area system
• Sign and take part in the public initiative against the new bill on specially protected natural areas

Share this with others. 

And never give up.

© PAVEL PASHKOV