UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Khakassky
General information
Located at the heart of the Eurasian continent and known for its rich biodiversity, more than 80% of this biosphere reserve is covered by mountain-taiga. Sustainable forest management and agriculture, beekeeping and tourism are the main economic activities practiced in the site.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
2017
Country
Russian Federation
Total population
54629
Area
Surface
2,871,400.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 53.58 - Longitude: 90.1
Contact
Ecological Characteristics
Dark coniferous forests are represented by cedar and fir trees. They form mixed stands of trees at a greater part of the section. Pure cedar forests or fir forests are rarely found. Small area is occupied by the taiga cedar-larch forests. Dark coniferous birch forests occupy small areas in river valleys and lower slopes.The fauna of the mountain taiga area is rich, and include 11 fish, 3 amphibian, 3 reptile, 139 bird and 50 mammal species.
Socio-Economics Characteristics
The reserve plays an important role in biodiversity conservation, and contributes to ecological sustainability of the republic as a source of ecological services. It contributes to social and economic development of the republic, which is achieved through traditional and sustainable nature management (such as sustainable forest management, rational agriculture, revegetation, environmental remediation, restoration and conservation), wild-honey farming, beekeeping, and various kinds of tourism, such as ecotourism, recreational, rural, and educational tourism.
The reserve and its natural objects attract vacationers and tourists who would like to enjoy recreational, environmental, and educational tourism.
The core area is closed for visitors. The buffer zone and transition area is visited by about 50,000 tourists annually. The amount of visitors coming from neighboring Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk and Novosibirsk regions has increased recently.