Protection of Lake Baikal and the Galapagos Islands as World Heritage Natural Properties

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Abstract

The article studies the problems of World Natural Heritage protection on the examples of Lake Baikal and the Galapagos Islands. It shows the common nature of the problems typical for unique natural properties, despite their significant remoteness and different socio-economic context of their protection. The forms of national legal protection of Lake Baikal and the Galapagos Islands are studied, and the compatibility of the interests of protection of World Heritage properties and residence of a significant number of local residents within the boundaries of such properties is stated. According to the results of the study, the article reveals the tendency of the plurality of different nature protection regimes operating within the boundaries of unique natural properties. The tendency of formation of specific normative acts providing protection of World Natural Heritage properties is shown. The necessity of recognizing the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory as a specially protected natural territory with the subsequent formation of its unified administration is justified.

About the authors

R. Yu Kolobov

Federal Research Centre «A. E. Favorsky Irkutsk Institute of Chemistry of Siberian branch of Russian Academy of Sciences»

Email: roman.kolobov@gmail.com
Candidate of Law, Associate Professor, Research Fellow Irkutsk, Russian Federation

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