HISTORY OF PASVIK NATURE RESERVE
History of Pasvik Nature Reserve is quite remarkable. It was Norway's idea to establish a protected area in the middle course of the Pasvik River. Since 1826 the state border of two countries coincided with the river waterway, which is why to establish the nature reserve joint efforts of two countries were needed.
Hans Schaanning,
first ornithological observations
first ornithological observations
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries a Norwegian ornithologist and naturalist Hans Schaanning lived on the Pasvik River. He gathered eggs, stuffed birds and at the same time he was compiling first data on Pasvik River birds.
His first book - essays of species - was published in Bergen in 1907. The book included all ornithological observations and data on 172 bird species (Schaanning, 1907).
Later he published another book - Life as a Hunter in the North - about the years spent in the easternmost part of Norway (Schaanning, 1916). The book was a great success and many Norwegians seeked to visit these rich in birds places to hunt or to study ornithofauna.
His first book - essays of species - was published in Bergen in 1907. The book included all ornithological observations and data on 172 bird species (Schaanning, 1907).
Later he published another book - Life as a Hunter in the North - about the years spent in the easternmost part of Norway (Schaanning, 1916). The book was a great success and many Norwegians seeked to visit these rich in birds places to hunt or to study ornithofauna.
USSR, closed state borders
Due to specific political regime in the USSR it was particularly difficult to establish a nature reserve on the border. It was a restricted area and soviet zoologists and botanists have never worked there.
Before 1992 there were two nature reserves in the Murmansk Region: Laplandsky (1930) and Kandalakshsky (1932). There were plans to expand their territories and establish Kola Nature Reserve in the Lovozersky Region (Reimers, Shtilmark, 1978). But there was no intention to establish a protected area at the Norwegian border.
Laplandsky Nature Reserve was significantly expanded only in the 1980s. It was possible to create new protected areas and to expand the old ones due to establishment of the Nature Protection Committee in the late 1980s. At this time the intensive process on expanding Kandalaksha Nature Reserve water area, planning of Tersky National Park, establishing new Zakazniks and publishing the Regional Red Data Book has taken place.
Before 1992 there were two nature reserves in the Murmansk Region: Laplandsky (1930) and Kandalakshsky (1932). There were plans to expand their territories and establish Kola Nature Reserve in the Lovozersky Region (Reimers, Shtilmark, 1978). But there was no intention to establish a protected area at the Norwegian border.
Laplandsky Nature Reserve was significantly expanded only in the 1980s. It was possible to create new protected areas and to expand the old ones due to establishment of the Nature Protection Committee in the late 1980s. At this time the intensive process on expanding Kandalaksha Nature Reserve water area, planning of Tersky National Park, establishing new Zakazniks and publishing the Regional Red Data Book has taken place.
USSR, the boundaries are locked
It was hard to establish a nature reserve in the border zone because of the USSR politics. The border zone was under lock, soviet zoologists and botanists never worked here.
Before 1992 there were two old nature reserves in Murmansk Region: Lapland (1930) and Kandalaksha (1932). There were plans to expand those nature reserves and establish Kola Nature Reserve in Lovozero District (Reimers, Shtilmark, 1978). But there was no intention to establish a protected area at the border with Norway.
Laplandskiy Nature Reserve was significantly expanded only in the 1980s. A new authority called the Committee on Nature Conservation was established in the late 1980s. The committee contributed to the expanding of old protected areas and the establishment of new ones. At this time the committee worked on expanding the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve water area, the plan of Terskiy National Park, new refugees and releasing the Red List of the region.
Before 1992 there were two old nature reserves in Murmansk Region: Lapland (1930) and Kandalaksha (1932). There were plans to expand those nature reserves and establish Kola Nature Reserve in Lovozero District (Reimers, Shtilmark, 1978). But there was no intention to establish a protected area at the border with Norway.
Laplandskiy Nature Reserve was significantly expanded only in the 1980s. A new authority called the Committee on Nature Conservation was established in the late 1980s. The committee contributed to the expanding of old protected areas and the establishment of new ones. At this time the committee worked on expanding the Kandalaksha Nature Reserve water area, the plan of Terskiy National Park, new refugees and releasing the Red List of the region.
Proposal from abroad
By the end of the 20th century Norway took first steps to make birds inventory (Frantzen et аl., 1991; Wikan et аl., 1994) and published historical materials (Wikan, 1987, 1991, 1997). The scientists published a new list of bird species of the Pasvik River valley. The list includes 218 bird species (120 nesting).
For a long time Norwegian scientists had been planning a protected area on their side of the Pasvik River. The area was included to the Ramsar list of the Wetlands of International Importance (Certificate awarded in 1996). But the experts assumed that there was no point in making the reserve on the one bank of the river only. So, when Perestroika in the USSR took place, the Norwegians proposed to establish a joint nature reserve.
Norwegian scientists had enough data on the Pasvik River and were eager to cooperate. For Russian side it was easy to join, besides the Nature Protection Committee of the Murmansk Region had already started to plan a new Zakaznik on the Pasvik River between Jäniskoski and Rajakoski villages (Pazovskiy Zakaznik).
For a long time Norwegian scientists had been planning a protected area on their side of the Pasvik River. The area was included to the Ramsar list of the Wetlands of International Importance (Certificate awarded in 1996). But the experts assumed that there was no point in making the reserve on the one bank of the river only. So, when Perestroika in the USSR took place, the Norwegians proposed to establish a joint nature reserve.
Norwegian scientists had enough data on the Pasvik River and were eager to cooperate. For Russian side it was easy to join, besides the Nature Protection Committee of the Murmansk Region had already started to plan a new Zakaznik on the Pasvik River between Jäniskoski and Rajakoski villages (Pazovskiy Zakaznik).
first nature reserve in the Russian Federation
September 1989
first negotiations concerning establishment of the protected territory at the Noewegian border took place.
The key feature of Pasvik was in the state border between two countries, which coincided with the river watercourse, that is why the protected area should be contiguous.
The new nature reserve was planned pretty quickly. The first expedition to the Pasvik River started in June 1990 and was almost finished in 1991.The documents were approved by Moscow in record time.
The key feature of Pasvik was in the state border between two countries, which coincided with the river watercourse, that is why the protected area should be contiguous.
The new nature reserve was planned pretty quickly. The first expedition to the Pasvik River started in June 1990 and was almost finished in 1991.The documents were approved by Moscow in record time.
July 1992
the legal document on the establishment of the third nature reserve in the Murmansk Region came into being.
15 October, 1993
in a year according to the Royal Decree was established the Norwegian Pasvik Naturreservat, covering 19,03 square kilometres.
But after more than 20 years of successful cooperation we still don't have an intergovernmental agreement between two countries on international status of the bilateral reserve, as it was done berween the USSR and Finland while establishing the transboundary reserve complex "Friendship".
But after more than 20 years of successful cooperation we still don't have an intergovernmental agreement between two countries on international status of the bilateral reserve, as it was done berween the USSR and Finland while establishing the transboundary reserve complex "Friendship".
Autumn 1989
was established the transboundary nature reserve "Friendship", which included several parts of Russian and Finnish protected areas. It comprises Kostomukshsky Nature Reserve and several isolated Finnish areas, of which two shared borders with the Russian reserve.
When the transboundary reserve "Friendship" was under planning, the USSR and Finland issued the intergovernmental agreement on establishing the nature reserve at their borders. "Friendship" is still successfully operating.
When the transboundary reserve "Friendship" was under planning, the USSR and Finland issued the intergovernmental agreement on establishing the nature reserve at their borders. "Friendship" is still successfully operating.
1989
In September 1989 when the Friendship Nature Reserve was founded, the establishment of the nature reserve at the border with Norway was initiated.
It was quite different because the border between the two countries was along the mid-channel of the river so the protected area should have been continuous.
The new nature reserve was planned quickly. The first expedition to the Pasvik River started in June 1990 and was almost finished in 1991. The documents were approved in Moscow very quickly.
It was quite different because the border between the two countries was along the mid-channel of the river so the protected area should have been continuous.
The new nature reserve was planned quickly. The first expedition to the Pasvik River started in June 1990 and was almost finished in 1991. The documents were approved in Moscow very quickly.
1992
In July 1992 the legal document about the establishment of the third nature reserve in Murmansk Region was issued.
1993
Pasvik Nature Reserve (Norwegian: Pasvik naturreservat) was founded on 15, October in 1993 according to the Royal Decree. Its area is 19,03 square kilometers.
But after more than 20 years of successful cooperation we still don't have a bilateral agreement on international status of the reserve as it was done when the Friendship Nature Reserve was founded.
But after more than 20 years of successful cooperation we still don't have a bilateral agreement on international status of the reserve as it was done when the Friendship Nature Reserve was founded.
1989
The Friendship Nature Reserve was established in 1989 and included Russian and Finnish protected areas. It comprises Kostomuksha Nature Reserve and two areas in Finland that border with the Russian reserve.
When the Friendship Nature Reserve was under planning the USSR and Finland issued the bilateral agreement on the establishment of a nature reserve at their borders. So far the Friendship Nature Reserve has been successfully operating.
When the Friendship Nature Reserve was under planning the USSR and Finland issued the bilateral agreement on the establishment of a nature reserve at their borders. So far the Friendship Nature Reserve has been successfully operating.
Pasvik is a Norwegian name for River Paz.
The hunting manegement department, which worked on the establishment of the nature reserve, was planning a regional Zakaznik "Pazovsky" at the same time. In order to distinguish between two protected areas, the nature reserve was temporary named Pasvik, later this name became common.
The hunting manegement department, which worked on the establishment of the nature reserve, was planning a regional Zakaznik "Pazovsky" at the same time. In order to distinguish between two protected areas, the nature reserve was temporary named Pasvik, later this name became common.
Pasvik symbol
Smew is the official symbol of Pasvik Nature Reserve. In some places this species became rare, but on Pasvik River this bird is typical and well-represented.
It is not a coincidence that these cavity nesters became the first joint monitoring objects in the common nature reserve. For a long time the monitoring was led by V. Bianki (Bianki, 1999).
It is not a coincidence that these cavity nesters became the first joint monitoring objects in the common nature reserve. For a long time the monitoring was led by V. Bianki (Bianki, 1999).
International IMPortance
International importance
The reserve's location and history predetermined its international importance.- In September 2008 the nature reserve verified its international status and was awarded the EUROPARC Certificate.
- The reserve is a part of the Pasvik-Inari Trilateral Park together with nature-protection organisations from Norway and Finland. The trilateral park is a joint association of regional protected areas, established to cooperate on nature monitoring, research, development of sustainable ecological tourism and exchange of experience in each of the three countries.
- Pasvik Nature Reserve is in the Strategical List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List) as Fjarvann - Schaanning area (Bianki, Makarova, 2000). We are working on getting a Ramsar Certificate to confirm the worldwide importance of the reserve's wetlands in conservation of waterfowl species.
Illustrations on this website belong to (photo credits): E. Valova, S. Grechany, O. Natalskaya, D. Kochetkov, M. Buzun, V. Buzun, O. Pershin, N. Polikarpova, A. Yakovlev, A. Afanasova, N. Sazhina, G. Dmitrenko, E. Melnikov and Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Illustrations on this website belong to (photo credits): E. Valova, S. Grechany, O. Natalskaya, D. Kochetkov, M. Buzun, V. Buzun, O. Pershin, N. Polikarpova, A. Yakovlev, A. Afanasova, N. Sazhina, G. Dmitrenko, E. Melnikov and Pasvik Nature Reserve.
Pasvik Nature Reserve
Nature
Pasvik Nature Reserve
Nature
International Projects
Visitors
International Projects
Visitors
The site was modernized with the support of the Kolarctic CBC 2014–2020 program, within the framework of this project.
- Gvardeyskiy avenue 43, Nikel, Pechenga District, Murmansk Region, 184421
- +7 815 54 50 700
pasvik.zapovednik@yandex.ru
- If you have an emergency, witnessed a fire or illegal dumping, dial:
- +7 815 54 50 700
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All rights reserved. Any copying from this site is prohibited without permission of the nature reserve's administration.
All rights reserved. Any copying from this site is prohibited without permission of the nature reserve's administration.
