Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. The Ural company Glukhoe Gold Mining Company LLC has begun exploration of a deposit in the protected area of the reserve, which raises concerns among environmentalists.
According to experts, the works are contrary to the law and cause damage to nature. Exploration includes removing the soil and vegetation layer, laying roads and drilling wells, which leads to pollution of water bodies and ecosystem disturbance. Rare plants from the Red Book of the Russian Federation grow in the area of the deposit, and the work poses a threat to the Amur tiger.
The territory of the deposit is an important ecological corridor between the Sikhote-Alinsky Nature Reserve and the Udege Legend National Park. The development of the field may disrupt the functioning of this corridor and undermine the stability of the tiger population.
Potential damage to the territory may lead to consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee of the exclusion of the reserve from the List of World Heritage in Danger, which would violate Russia's international obligations.
