The Volcanoes of Kamchatka, located in Russia’s Far East, is a remote peninsula on the northeastern edge of Eurasia. It is a natural site inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 for its exceptional volcanic regions.
Spanning nearly 4 million hectares, the Volcanoes of Kamchatka is a stunning landscape comprising of various natural wonders such as salmon spawning grounds, bird colonies, majestic glaciers, and breathtaking coastlines.
A motorway is currently being constructed near the thermal resort village of Paratunka, which was previously accessible only by off-road vehicles. However, experts warn that this is just the beginning of a potential major exploitation of this UNESCO World Heritage site.
The construction of the motorway is part of the Three Volcanoes Park project, a $407 million tourism development venture that poses a threat to the pristine environment of the World Heritage Site.
UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) is set to make a final decision on whether to include the Volcanoes of Kamchatka on the List of World Heritage in Danger during its 45th session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Volcanoes of Kamchatka site comprises of six federally protected natural areas with different conservation statuses, according to an anonymous expert in the field.
However, the protected status of around 15,000 hectares of the South Kamchatka Nature Park, including the Zhirovaya and Vilyuchinskaya bays, was removed in 2020 by a decree from the Kamchatka region governor. This change in legal status could be grounds for the site’s inclusion in the list of sites in danger.
kuhnmi (CC BY 2.0)
The Three Volcanoes Park project, funded with 40 billion rubles ($407 million) from the state and private sector, aims to develop Russia’s tourism infrastructure. Domestic tourism in Russia has experienced a growth of 12% in the past year, thanks to efforts from various regions to improve the hospitality industry and limited travel options to Europe and the West.
The investors in the Three Volcanoes Park project include Vladimir Potanin, the president of Norilsk Nickel and the richest man in Russia, as well as Sergei Bachin, who was previously involved in the construction of the controversial Rosa Khutor ski resort in Sochi.
Backed by federal and regional authorities, the project includes ski infrastructure facilities, 5-star hotels, a new port terminal, two ski lifts, and an observation platform on the Vilyuchinsky volcano. The completion of this project would open up the rugged wilderness of Kamchatka to a significantly larger number of tourists.
Regional authorities anticipate a large increase in annual visits to Kamchatka, from 240,000 to 600,000, once the park is completed. Despite these plans, developers claim their commitment to environmental responsibility and prioritize nature while developing the resorts.
According to Kamchatka region Governor Vladimir Solodov, the Three Volcanoes Park project is nature-friendly and will not affect the core protected areas of the region. However, environmental groups express concern due to previous instances where only UNESCO’s intervention helped preserve natural areas within the Western Caucasus World Heritage Site from destructive development projects.
Apart from the Volcanoes of Kamchatka, there are other threatened natural sites in Russia. The UNESCO document also highlights potential negative impacts on Lake Baikal, Wrangel Island, and the Western Caucasus due to proposed legal amendments and construction activities.
Anton Korablev (CC BY 4.0)
According to an expert in the field, attacks on protected sites have been ongoing in Russia for many years. While no natural sites in Russia have been listed as World Heritage in Danger, such an inclusion would negatively impact the country’s reputation. Russian officials exhibit mixed opinions towards UNESCO, with some expressing anti-Western sentiment and others recognizing UNESCO’s authority.
The Natural Resources Ministry is conducting an assessment of UNESCO’s concerns, but expects politically motivated accusations at the upcoming session. State Duma deputy Pyotr Tolstoy has even questioned Russia’s membership in UNESCO, while regional officials have called for an end to “UNESCO serfdom.” However, the Foreign Ministry is committed to maintaining relations with UNESCO.
The Russian government has recently published a draft order to strengthen protection for some areas in the Volcanoes of Kamchatka World Heritage Site. This move may address some of UNESCO’s concerns, although it does not affect the areas already designated for development under the Three Volcanoes Park project.
Despite differing opinions, Russia aims to maintain a positive global image in relation to environmental and climate protection. The expert believes that Russia sees this as an opportunity to preserve a platform for dialogue with the West and present itself as responsible.
