TUNKINSKY NATIONAL PARK

PROACT SUPPORT SITE

TUNKINSKY NATIONAL PARK

say no to the gas and oil pipelines in the tunkinsky national park

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The Russian oil giant YUKOS is planning to build the Russia-China (Angarsk-Datsin) oil pipeline across the Tunkinsky National Park. The Tunkinsky National Park was founded in 1991, in Buryatia (a state of the Russian Federation). The Park is situated in the Tunkinskaya Hollow on the south shore of Lake Baikal and it covers some 1,200,000 km². The territory of the Park is covered with so-called taiga - primeval cedar-tree forest. There are 200 mineral water springs in the park. Rare, protected species in the Park include Snow Leopard Uncia uncia, Siberian Ibex Capra sibirica, Black Stork Ciconia nigra, Bean Goose Anser fabalis, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla and other rare fauna. Russian Ecologists stress that the future not only of Tunkinskaya Hollow is at stake; but also conservation per se in the Russian Federation. Construction of the Russia-China oil pipeline will violate federal law: The Land Codex of the Russian Federation, Article 59 of the Federal Law concerning "environment protection", and Article 15 of the Federal Law concerning "specially protected territories". In addition: - The planned 2400 km YUKOS oil pipeline will cross active seismic zones with their attendant dangers and will be exposed to extreme climate and eco-geographic conditions. - The initial damage to natural resources is estimated to amount to $8 billion. - Service roads will be required opening up virgin protected areas to illegal hunters, loggers and miners. - The pipeline will cross the largest river of the Baikal basin, the Selenga and its tributaries. The threat of pollution to Lake Baikal, a World Heritage site, will be extremely high. - The Buryati, Sojoti and Evenki peoples, who have grazed their cattle in the Tunkinskaya Hollow since time gone by, and to whom the region is important for historical, cultural and religious reasons, are publicly opposed to the project. - The Tunkinskaya Hollow's warm springs, famous for their medicinal qualities and which attract over 100,000 visitors a year are also at risk from pollution. The soft tourism which they generate, and which is essential to the economy, is endangered a further ground for local protest. Russian ecologists state: "If this project goes ahead it will create a precedent which could present a long term threat to all nature conservation in the Russian Federation." WHAT YOU CAN DO! The key figure in the decision-making and authorization process is the Deputy Chairman of the Buryatia Government Mr L. Turbyanov. His decision on permitting the pipeline to cross the Tunkinsky National Park by making changes to the parks boundaries is scheduled for 1^st April 2003. The time for international protest is limited. Send the President of Buryatia, Mr Leonid Vasilievich Potapov, a letter, telefax or email of protest - copy to the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources for Russia Mr Kirill V. Yankov. A draft text is supplied below. You can use the link SEND DIRECT MAIL or use the addresses given here

READ THE PRAVDA ARTICLE

READ THE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE

THE BAIKAL WAVE - MORE INFO

SEND DIRECT MAIL

THE BUILDING OF AN OIL PIPELINE WITHIN THE PRESENT BOUNDARIES OF THE TUNKINSKY NATIONAL PARK MUST BE PREVENTED

To:

The President of Buryatia

Mr. Leonid V. Potapov

Copy to:

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of Russia

Mr. Kirill V. Yankov

Dear Mr Leonid Potapov,

The YUKOS oil company should not be permitted to build the Russian-Chinese Angarsk-Datsin pipeline through the present boundaries of the Tunkinsky National Park. This would be not only in violation of Russian Federal Environmental Law; it would represent a setback to all conservation progress in the modern Russian Federation. In addition:

· The planned oil pipeline would cross active seismic zones with their attendant dangers and be exposed to extreme climate and eco-geographic conditions.

· The initial damage alone to irreplaceable natural resources would be enormous

· With improved road access to the park, the threat of illegal hunting, fishing, logging and mining would increase exponentially.

· The pipeline would cross the largest river of the Baikal basin, the Selenga, and its tributaries. The threat of pollution to Lake Baikal, a World Heritage site, will be extremely high.

· The Buryati, Sojoti and Evenki peoples, who have grazed their cattle in the Tunkinskaya Hollow since time gone by, and to whom the region is important for historical, cultural and religious reasons, are on record as being publicly opposed to the project.

· The Tunkinskaya Hollow's warm springs, famous for their medicinal qualities and which attract over 100,000 visitors a year are also at risk from pollution. The soft tourism which they generate, and which is essential to the economy, is endangered a further ground for local protest.

We urge you therefore to use your office to prevent any changes to the boundaries of the National Park and prevent the pipeline using a route through the park. Please respect the rights and culture of the local people; prevent widespread and irremediable damage to natural flora and fauna resources of international importance; and remove the threat of an incalculable and unthinkable risk of pollution to the Lake Baikal World Heritage site.

In the hope that you will use your position responsibly to promote the continued protection of the Tunkinsky National Park and its natural treasures we remain,

yours faithfully,

[Name & address]