Part 2. The inefficiency of the existing nature reserve system

Today, we have a scientific evidence base demonstrating the global destruction of wildlife throughout the world. The sixth mass extinction of species is underway, entire branches of evolutionary lineages are being wiped out, while virtually no places remain in the wild where biodiversity can preserve its populations from human pressure.

Humanity has dealt a devastating blow to ecosystems, suppressing the immune system of the Biosphere. Nature is highly adaptive and capable of withstanding all kinds of change, including climate anomalies. But we are stripping nature of its defenses and denying it the time needed to recover and protect itself.

A vivid example can be found in the scientific findings of Russian researchers who studied the biotic regulation of climate by natural ecosystems. According to their work, ancient forests draw moisture inland from the oceans and distribute it across terrestrial ecosystems, including by replenishing rivers and sustaining the circulation of essential moisture. However, only intact forest ecosystems — old-growth forests undisturbed by human activity — are capable of performing these functions. Yet instead of protecting the last ancient forests, despite having reliable scientific evidence in hand, governments and businesses continue moving in to cut down what remains. Deliberately, for short-term profit, they destroy ancient forests, including by reducing the protection status of protected natural areas and legalizing clear-cutting within them.

For example, Russia has Lake Baikal and the ancient forests surrounding it. For a long time, this globally unique region was under federal protection as the world’s largest reservoir of fresh water and as a refugium for wildlife. But in 2023, the authorities, with the support of federal ministries, lobbied for legislation legalizing the clear-cutting of ancient forests.

This happened even though scientists had warned us about the unacceptable nature of such actions several decades earlier!

Meanwhile, the consequences we were warned about are already emerging throughout the world. The biotic regulation of climate has been disrupted, while drought, desertification, and abnormal heat are intensifying. Climate anomalies are becoming increasingly frequent, the scale of forest fires grows every year, and millions of hectares of forest are literally being burned to the ground.

So why can we not stop? Why continue trying to destroy the last wildlife refuges?

I spent a long time studying the existing protected-area system in Russia, personally visiting the most remote nature reserves and witnessing forest clear-cutting and the devastation of ecosystems. After that, I began studying protected-area systems around the world, in different countries. Everywhere I see exactly the same actions by governments and businesses: they destroy local ecosystems, then move on to protected lands and begin actively reducing their conservation status, literally cutting protected territories apart piece by piece.

The existing protected-area system consists of fragmented remnants of natural wildlife habitats. Everything between them is relentlessly exploited. This includes, for example, blocking the migration of animal species from one area to another. When a protected area is surrounded on all sides by privately controlled hunting grounds, this can even create a commercial interest in forest fires. Human-caused fires are set within protected areas, forcing animals to leave protected lands and enter the surrounding hunting grounds, where they are later killed for “trophies” by hunters who call themselves sportsmen.

So why can’t we stop? Why continue to destroy the last refuges of wildlife?

I have long studied the existing reserve system in Russia, personally visiting the most remote reserves, witnessing deforestation and the devastation of ecosystems. Afterward, I began studying the reserve system worldwide, in different countries. Everywhere, I see the same actions by authorities and businesses: they destroy local ecosystems, and then they move on to reserve lands, actively lowering their protection status, literally cutting off pieces of protected land.

The existing reserve system represents a mosaic of remaining patches of natural wilderness. Everything between them is ruthlessly exploited! This includes, for example, blocking the migration processes of animal species from one area to another. When a reserve is surrounded on all sides by private hunting grounds, it leads to commercial interest in forest fires. For instance, fires are deliberately started in reserves, forcing animals to leave the protected lands for the surrounding hunting grounds, where they are subsequently killed for “trophies” by hunters who call themselves sportsmen.