According to Russians, first and foremost, nature reserves are important to preserve biodiversity and rare species.
MOSCOW, January 16, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the nature reserves Russians are aware of, as well as their missions.
Over the recent year, 12% of Russians have visited nature reserves (19% of the 25-34-year-olds and 17% of the Far Easterners). A further 15% visited wildlife areas and natural parks two to five years ago. A quarter (27%) went there more than five years ago. Every second respondent (49%) has never visited Russian national parks.
Most of Russians (73%) consider that nature reserves and national parks serve to preserve biodiversity, unique ecosystems and rare species. Other missions mentioned by Russians are developing ecotourism and outreach activities (26%, each). Twenty-three percent of respondents think that the nature reserves’ main task should be studying biodiversity and performing ecological monitoring.
The Baikal Nature Reserve is the most popular natural park mentioned by Russians (5%). It is followed by Altai Nature Reserve, Barguzinsky Nature Reserve (in Buryatiya), Barguzinsky Reserve (Belarus), Stolby National Reserve Park (Krasnoyarsk region), Ilmen Nature Reserve (Southern Urals), Caucasus Nature Reserve, Losiny Ostrov National Park (Moscow), Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Biosphere Reserve (2%, each).
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 10, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Have you ever been to Russian nature reserves, national parks? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I’ve been there in the last year | 12 |
I was there two to five years ago | 15 |
I was there more than five years ago | 27 |
Never | 49 |
Don’t know | 2 |
In your opinion, what is the mission of nature reserves and national parks? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Preserving biodiversity, unique ecosystems, rare species | 73 |
Promotion of ecotourism | 26 |
Raising environmental awareness (tours, lectures, etc.) | 26 |
Studying biodiversity, ecological monitoring | 23 |
Creating organized outdoors leisure facilities | 18 |
Public leisure management (events, concerts, exhibitions) | 14 |
Withdrawal of land plots from economic use | 10 |
Other | 4 |
Don’t know | 8 |
What nature reserves or national parks located in Russia do you know? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents, top informative answers by at least 1% of respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Baikal Reserve / Lake Baikal | 5 |
Altai Nature Reserve | 2 |
Barguzinsky Reserve | 2 |
Bialowieza Forest | 2 |
Stolby National Reserve Park (in Krasnoyarsk region) | 2 |
Ilmen Reserve | 2 |
Caucasian Reserve | 2 |
Losiny Ostrov (Elk Island) National Park | 2 |
Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Biosphere Reserve | 2 |
Buzuluksky Bor National Park | 1 |
Voronezh Reserve | 1 |
Galichia Gora | 1 |
Far Eastern Nature Reserve | 1 |
Transbaikal National Park | 1 |
Ussuriysky Nature Reserve (Suputinsky) | 1 |
Zyuratkul National Park | 1 |
Kamchatka Reserve | 1 |
Karelian reserve | 1 |
Kolomenskoye | 1 |
Crimean Natural Reserve | 1 |
Lapland Biosphere Reserve | 1 |
Meshchyora National Park | 1 |
Taganay National Park | 1 |
Oka Nature Reserve | 1 |
Orlovskoe Polesie | 1 |
Arboretum Botanical Garden | 1 |
Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve | 1 |
Pushkin Mountains | 1 |
Samarskaya Luka National Park | 1 |
Sochi National Park | 1 |
Teberdinsky Reserve | 1 |
Tsaritsyno Park | 1 |
Yugyd Va National Park | 1 |
This is the first time I hear that Russia has national reserves/parks | 3 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!