The entire protected system is in serious danger: how the heritage of the Russian Taiga is being torn apart

We live in very frightening times. At the turn of the last century, it was normal to destroy living nature without considering the consequences! After World War II, there was a need for recovery, states took more territories, developed the 'undeveloped,' and humanity itself surged to a peak in growth—today's population has exceeded eight billion. There are many of us. There are indeed very many of us.

But at what cost? 

Around 1970, scientists began to collect data on nature's destruction for the first time. Back then, it seemed not so dire, as there were no meta-analyses and few realized the impact we had on all living things around us. By the 1990s, universities were mass-producing 'efficient managers,' whose tasks included calculating nature's flesh, converting it into economic potential, and extracting as much profit as possible for state management systems. These 'efficient' managers, intoxicated by economic indicators, competed with each other and prepared for new wars. This marked the beginning of the most brutal phase of nature's destruction. 

Sometimes it seems to me that these people, who today govern states and transnational corporations, are biologically incapable of thinking otherwise. They literally had the post-war legacy drilled into their heads and were shown the course to follow: consume, grab a piece, more, more, even more!

Perhaps this is why there are currently no changes. We live in a world that is stuck in severe archaism and moves by its own inertia due to its mass. Maybe that's why this capitalist model seems alive to us! How long must this runaway train, this massive locomotive, continue to plow through everything in its path before it stops? And only then will we have the chance to find out what caused the catastrophe.

Only then can we repair the tracks. Only then can we build a new locomotive, taking into account past mistakes.

So, global assessments of the destruction of wildlife, the destruction of the planet's Biosphere in general, have mostly been available only since the 1970s. This was the first time when some scattered data appeared, and scientists could collect, combine, and elevate them to some magnitude. And today, thanks to unified databases and vast amounts of information, we have data on the impact of humans on the world around us.

Scientists have defined planetary boundaries — these are the limits that must not be crossed under any circumstances. Crossing them would mean that humanity is hurtling off the cliff of its evolutionary history, and the resources available on the planet are no longer sufficient for us! Scientists have identified nine planetary boundaries, and to date, humanity has breached seven of them. This means there are only two steps left to cross all nine red lines.

Moreover, according to a massive meta-analysis by scientists, humanity has led to a reduction in the population of vertebrate animals by an average of 73% globally over the last 50 years (from 1970 to 2022), and in some places, this figure reaches over 90% — meaning the total biomass of observed vertebrate species today remains at about 25%.

Every third species of trees is on the brink of extinction. Half of the plant species. Moreover, humans have developed about 75% of the land, transforming these areas for their own use, and continue to expand their anthropogenic impact further.

It would seem this is a reason to stop!

But no.

Right now, the whole world is rushing into a race for leadership in the fourth technological revolution—these are the very data centers, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and even 'green technologies' that require industrial reserves of rare earth resources and clean water. I have written separate articles on this before, where many high-ranking figures in the world said several years ago that the world is facing wars over clean water and rare earth elements. In fact, this is what we are approaching.

The same 'efficient managers,' intoxicated by economic indicators, stuck in the harshest archaism, are trying to finish off the remnants of living nature. The fact is that the main reserves of rare earth resources are concentrated precisely in protected natural areas—these are reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. China once monopolized rare earth resources, including the entire chain from extraction to processing, and now the whole world depends on it.

See for yourself, even in 2026, China controls 69.2% of the extraction of all rare earth elements, 91% of magnet purification, 97% of heavy rare earths (oxide separation), and up to 94% of sintered permanent magnets. Without all this, no one will take the lead in the ongoing technological race. Let me clarify that 69.2% refers to all extracted rare earth elements, while 91% and 94% pertain to specific stages of magnetic material production.

China has become an economic rare-earth empire at the cost of ruthlessly destroying its own nature. Now, the entire world, in an effort to become independent from it, is beginning to follow the same trajectory—countries have started to weaken the protective status of existing reserves, increase the scale of hunting wild animals losing their homes, all for the sake of resource extraction.

Be sure to read additional materials on this; I will publish links to them below.

Now, I want to present a timeline of how, unfortunately, in our country, Russia, there is an active attempt to destroy the protected heritage. For several years now, the blows have been aimed specifically at the country's reserve system, literally demanding it be torn apart and divided among large groups of those very 'deranged managers.'

It seems obvious: just stop already! Look around at what's happening! Listen to scientists, experts, study the scientifically confirmed data on the scale of the ongoing planetary collapse.

But no, like programmed robots, completely unaware of what they are doing, they are tearing apart the remaining fragments of once-living ecosystems without regard for common sense. The very meaning of 'reserve' has become not a place of absolute protection for wildlife, but just a can, apparently stored for an extreme case.

Apparently, this 'extreme case' has arrived: to win the economic race, the actual destruction and appropriation of reserves has begun.

Refuges of the Russian Taiga.

So, the introduction has already been lengthy, so I will try to be brief. I will not describe every blow to Russia's reserve system; instead, I will try to create a timeline for you to understand the scale of the ongoing madness.

Attempts to weaken the protected status of Russia's reserve system have occurred before, but the efforts became particularly fierce starting in 2018. Together with the country's environmental community, we have fought off many legislative proposals with great difficulty. Some we couldn't stop, some we managed to, and some are being pushed through right now.

1. In 2018, the status of state reserves began to change. Federal Law No. 321-FZ altered the status of four major reserves—Teberdinsky, 'Stolby,' Commander Islands, and Gydansky—into national parks. It was then that a diluted model was introduced instead of a strictly protected regime, allowing for recreational zoning and economic infrastructure.

   
   

2. By 2019–2020, there were attempts to open national parks for large-scale construction. Bill No. 819765-7 was introduced, promoting the investment development of recreational areas. Subsequently, project No. 974393-7 included the possibility of changing national park boundaries for infrastructure purposes.

   
   

3. And from the same year, 2020, attempts began to allow the liquidation and reduction of specially protected natural areas. The attacks came from all sides, from various interested influential groups. Udmurtia, Stavropol Krai, Yamal, Chuvashia, and various deputies repeatedly proposed changing boundaries and abolishing protected areas. We fought off this madness, managing to get proposed bills rejected seven times! But the attempts continue right now and are directly supported by all 'interested parties,' ignoring both scientists and the environmental community.

   
   

4. On top of this, in 2020, for the sake of BAM and the Trans-Siberian Railway, that is, for transport arteries, it was permitted to use lands from protected areas. Federal Law No. 254-FZ created a special mechanism for changing regional and local protected areas for railway infrastructure. Later, this regime was extended until 2033 and will be extended as needed. Thus, a precedent was officially set for the withdrawal of protected lands for construction purposes.

   
   

5. In December 2020, the civilian turnover of lands within certain protected areas was opened. Law No. 505-FZ allowed private ownership and transactions with plots in settlements on certain protected territories, including national parks. State reserves were excluded from this mechanism, but for other protected areas, an important land barrier was removed.

   
   

6. Since 2021, influential groups have been demanding to ravage the UNESCO World Heritage site — the Lagonaki Plateau in the Western Caucasus. First, they changed the status of part of the reserve, covering about 13.9 thousand hectares, to push through the construction of a resort. Then they falsified the state environmental review, which was later confirmed by prosecutors, and even a case was initiated! The prosecution fought against the influential lobbyists destroying the reserve. Nothing came of it, the prosecutors were later dismissed 'due to loss of trust,' and the Lagonaki Plateau continues to be destroyed right now.

   
   

7. In March 2023, national parks were opened to investors for up to 49 years. It became clear why the status of reserves was changed to national parks. Federal Law No. 77-FZ introduced long-term recreational agreements, including for the construction and operation of facilities. A legislative mechanism for long-term commercial development with capital infrastructure appeared in national parks.

   
   

8. In August 2024, there was an attempt to open up a vast portion of the Sochi National Park for development. The Ministry of Natural Resources prepared a draft of new regulations for the park. According to scientists and environmentalists, its wording could allow construction on approximately 20% of the territory. Twenty-seven experts demanded changes to the draft, warning of threats to natural complexes and Russia's international obligations.

   
   

9. And in December 2024, the status of 146 protected natural areas in Moscow was changed. It became clear that this was happening not just 'somewhere in the provinces,' but right in the heart of our country. By decree No. 3160-PP, almost the entire regional network of protected areas was reclassified into specially protected green areas with a different legal regime. And you understood correctly that vast natural areas of the capital lost their real protection status.

   
   

10. In 2025, influential lobbyists began demanding permission for clear-cutting ancient forests in mountain ecosystems for ski resorts. Moreover, they were manipulating and inflating votes, supposedly showing public support for this madness, on the government initiatives website. Two projects were submitted under numbers No. 145734 and No. 155253. The fight against this madness continues right now! Large mountain forests are under threat, which are refuges for wildlife, points of self-restoration for biological systems, literally the last havens for animals and plants. Not to mention that mountain forests hold soils, regulate water flow, and much more. Yet officials brazenly attempt to legalize clear-cutting of these forests, and we're talking about protective forests — the most important category in the legislation.

    
    

11. The 'iron monster' of business has begun to encroach on nature reserves from all sides. In 2025–2026, a series of scandals erupted around the biological refuge of the endangered Amur tiger in the Far East — the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. Exploration of the 'Glukhoye' deposit for gold extraction began in the protected area. The prosecutor's office identified violations, leading to the cancellation of the positive forestry examination and a criminal case. In 2026, the investor demanded changes to the boundaries and regime of the reserve's protected area for a quarry, gold extraction plant, and roads. Interests worth billions were voiced, fully supported by local officials. Now, the ancient taiga and the habitat of the endangered tiger are under real threat.

    
    

12. In December 2025, on the eighth attempt but with the support of very influential top officials, a bill was introduced allowing the destruction of any protected areas in the country. This is project No. 1096223-8, which we are fighting against right now. If passed, officials will be able to exclude any lands from federal, regional, and local reserves across the country, change boundaries, or completely revoke protected status. This would allow large businesses to take over territories for deforestation and industrial resource extraction! On March 18, 2026, the State Duma passed it in the first reading. More than 120 scientists and specialists opposed it, and the Public Chamber did not support the initiative. The law has not yet been finally adopted. The fight continues. I remind you that we have previously managed to fend off similar, completely analogous bills.

    
    

13. In December 2025, the protective status of the sacred Baikal was also weakened, legalizing the transfer of protected lands into the private hands of big business and allowing the logging of ancient forests. Now, infrastructure can be placed in the central ecological zone of Baikal. Regional officials openly declared plans to turn the Baikal biological sanctuary into a massive tourist cluster, bringing in millions of tourists from China annually.

    
    

14. At the same time, in December 2025, a road was opened through the Losiny Ostrov National Park. Local residents tried to protect the park from destruction, but nothing helped; it was simply divided into parts by the road. Losiny Ostrov National Park was the largest natural area, a local refuge for numerous species, which managed to survive in the modern world under colossal human pressure within one of the largest metropolises in the world—right under Moscow.

    
    
15. And on top of all this, in August 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources proposed stripping reserves of independent management. The draft of the new strategy provides for the reorganization of approximately 139 institutions managing federal protected areas, consolidating them under the structure of the Roszapovedcenter. Directors and experts opposed this, warning of the threat of losing local operational management, scientific independence, and the effectiveness of nature conservation.

Let's summarize.

Comrades, this is just a small part of what is happening. Not to mention the weakening of the protective status of wild animals, aggressive attempts to 'dilute' the extraction of species listed in the Red Book, transferring forests into private hands for sports and recreational hunting, and much more. How many reserves have already been damaged! How many are on hold, waiting for the adoption of a bill that allows changing boundaries and abolishing protective status. They are tearing it apart from all sides, and essentially, this is the de facto appropriation of the country's reserve system, being divided among influential groups.

I also noticed that when they want to start developing reserves, they propose doing it for a 'limited time' to avoid public discontent. Like, 'we're only doing it until 2030, just trying it out,' and then they calmly extend it. Moreover, the construction of tourist clusters is a separate story: such projects allow for the extraction of huge sums of money, mastering hundreds of billions from budgets, from roads and infrastructure to expensive hotels, buildings, and cable cars, which cost significantly more than similar construction in other areas. After all, they are promoting ski resorts, where it is harder and more expensive to extend infrastructure, and construction is more complex due to the need to consider earthquakes and much more.

But the most important thing is that once the resort is built and the roads and infrastructure are in place, it simplifies the further transfer of lands and the weakening of the protective status of reserves for direct resource extraction on an industrial scale.

Additional materials: 

• Wars for rare earth resources or why Trump threatens to annex Greenland to the USA: https://pavel-pashkov.com/articles/en/greenland

  
  

• How China built a rare earth empire: https://pavel-pashkov.com/articles/en/chinese-treasury

  
  

• Tunnel under the Arctic 'Russia - Alaska' for the extraction of rare earth resources: https://pavel-pashkov.com/articles/en/tunnel

  
  
• The minister stated that the world is facing wars over clean water and rare earth resources: https://pavel-pashkov.com/articles/en/war-for-water

What madness! Right now, we are among the few who continue to fight against the destruction of Russia's protected areas. And it is not easy. But there is no one else—together, we are the voice of the Russian Taiga! Its desperate cry, which almost no one hears.

© PAVEL PASHKOV