Ergaki Nature Park Expands by 50,000 Hectares to Protect Rare Ecosystems

Ergaki nature park in Krasnoyarsk Krai has grown significantly after a recent expansion. The regional government increased its area to 393,476 hectares during a session. This change was made possible by adding Kedransk Relict Island to the park’s boundaries. The park was first given special protected status in April 2005. Originally, it covered 342,873 hectares. Now, the inclusion of Kedransk Relict Island has extended its size by over 50,000 hectares.

Kedransk Relict Island sits within the basins of the Bolshoy and Maly Kebezh rivers in the Yermakovsky district. It is one of the last untouched forest ecosystems in the Altai-Sayan region. Rare plants like the hairy lip fern and Waldsteinia tanzibeica grow there. The island also provides a habitat for endangered animals, including the black stork and golden eagle, both listed in Russia’s and Krasnoyarsk Krai’s Red Books.

Alongside the expansion, the park adjusted its zoning. Recreational and tourist areas were reduced, while the traditional nature-use zone was enlarged. These changes aim to improve visitor safety by limiting potential encounters with wildlife. The expansion brings Ergaki nature park’s total area to 393,476 hectares. The new zoning and inclusion of Kedransk Relict Island will help protect rare species and preserve a unique ecosystem. Visitors will also benefit from improved safety measures in the park.