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Virgin Komi Forests (re-nomination)
Russian Federation
Date of Submission: 04/06/2014
Criteria: (vii)(viii)(ix)(x)
Category: Natural
Submitted by:
Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO
State, Province or Region:
Komi Republic
Coordinates: N63 37 33 E58 57 09
Ref.: 5925
Description
Preparation of a new category “Virgin Komi Forests” (re-nomination) solves two major tasks:
1. Extend the area of the existing World Heritage site due to the increase of the territory of the National Park " Yugyd Va "
(an area of over 183 thousand hectares) that is the part of an entire old-growth coniferous forests ecosystem, protected
within the National Park "Yugyd Va" New territories, linking and complementing the National Park, act as one of the
important elements of ecological frame, designed for protection of a complex of unique ecosystems of the National Park
"Yugyd Va" and the Pechora-Ilych State Natural Reserve .
2. Streamlining of borders in the northern part of the existing World Heritage site.
Total area of the property to be nominated is 3 473 085 ha, including:
·The Yugvd Va National Park is 2 029 014 ha;
·conservation zone of the Yugvd Va National Park is 228 877 ha;
·The Pechoro-llychsky state natural biosphere reserve is 721 930 ha;
·buffer area of the Pechoro-llychsky state natural biosphere reserve is 493 264 ha.
From October 3 to 11, 2010, by the decision of 34 COM 7B.25 of the World Heritage Committee was implemented the
Monitoring Mission of the World Heritage Centre and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to the
UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Virgin Komi Forests".
Mission reviewed the situation with the enclave PL350 (the site between the rivers Shchugor and Podcherye). This site
was included in the nomination, but excluded when the property was inserted in the World Heritage List, as the site had
no conservation status.
Mission had the opportunity to see the forest in the upper reaches of the Ilych River, which separates the National Park
and the Reserve. As in the case with the enclave PL350, this area was included in the nomination, but excluded when the
property was included in the list of World Heritage sites, due to the lack of protective status.
As in the case of the enclave PL350, this site was included in the nomination, but excluded when the object was inserted
in the list of World Heritage sites, due to the lack of protective status. Flying over the area, the members of Mission made
sure that the area is covered by untouched virgin forest, without any signs of human intervention.
Mission considered it important to give protected status to these sites in order to enhance the integrity of the property.
Merged to the National Park areas are a part of an entire old-growth coniferous forests ecosystem, protected within the
National Park "Yugyd Va”. New territories, linking and complementing the National Park, act as one of the important
elements of the ecological frame, designed for protection of a complex of unique ecosystems of the National Park "Yugyd
Va" and Pechora-llych State Natural Reserve.
Including in the composition of the National Park of new areas will expand the zone of protection of the Podcherye River
Basin, which is an important recreational facility of the National Park.
Relief
In the nominated territory there are three large geomorphological areas according to specific features of relief and
geological structure: Pechora Depression, Piedmont hilly (rugged hills) area, Mountainous area.
Meridian mountain chains of the Ural have the major impact on the outlook of the park. Major landscape zones of the
Park, i.e. plain, foothill (rugged hills) and mountain, differentiating by geomorphologic structure, climate conditions and, as
the outcome, soil and vegetation.
In the mountain landscape of the reserve there can be segregated three tiers of the plants: mountain forests, subalpine
and mountain tundra.
Hydrology
The territory of the Park is characterized by well-developed hydrographical network that is explained by strong
segregation of the relief and significant moisturizing of the western slope of the Ural.
The rivers of the park, flowing down from the western slope of the Ural Mountains, perform an important function - deliver
“fresh” water to the Pechora, one of the biggest rivers in Europe, flowing into the Barents sea.
The major rivers of the National Park are right influxes of the Pechora, the Podcherem and the Schugor (the Northern
Ural), the left influxs of the Usa flowing into the Pechora, the Bolshaya Synya (the Big Synya), Kosyu and Kozhim, the
right in-stream of the Kosyu (Sub-Polar Ural).
The major rivers of the Reserve are Pechora and Ilych, each of them goes along the boundaries of reserve around 200
km.
Pechora is the biggest and the best river in the European North, it starts in the territory of reserve with two streams,
coming together in the boundaries of mountain tundra belt between the peaks of Engile-Chahl and Pecherya-TalyahChaly at the altitude of 896.8 m above the seal level. Its total length is 1809 km, water catchment area is 322 thousand
km2.
Climate
The climate of the Sub-Polar Ural and the Northern Ural is severe and extremely continental. It is formed under the
impact of the western drifting of the air masses and frequent intrusions of the cold arctic air from the north along the
mountain ranges. As a result of such circulation there can be noticed intensive cyclone activities and deformation of the
air flows by the mountains, that causes extremely unstable and excessively humid weather. The Sub-Polar Ural and the
Northern Ural are the richest in snow and rain water areas of the Ural. Especially a lot of them falls down in the upper
lands of the western slope of the Sub-Polar Ural - annual amount of the rain & snow water achieves 1500 mm and more,
in the mountain areas of the Northern Ural this parameter is a hit lower - 1000 mm. In the plain and in the piedmont area
the annual summary of the rain and snow water reduces significantly and equals 500 - 800 mm. The major part of them
falls down in thewarm period of the year (April - October). Up to 40% of the annual amount of the rain and snow water in
the form of the snow falls down.
Because of long territory of the park in the latitude direction and variety of the relief forms, the temperature mode in its
different parts shows significant differences.
In the Sub-Polar Ural the average monthly temperature of the coldest month (January) in the south equals -18°C, in the
north -21°C. Winter temperature minimum is -55°C. Winter lasts from October to mid-April, in the higher mountains
longer. For the winter period are typical strong winds, their speed achieves sometimes 40 - 50 m/sec. Snow thawing
starts in March and it is accompanied with rapid fluctuations of daily temperatures: at night air cools down to -30°C, in the
day-time warms-up to 10°C. In sunny days there are abnormal temperatures mentioned, it is when in the higher mountain
areas air temperature is lower than in the plateau and in the plain land.
Average monthly temperature of the warmest month (July) in the Sub-Polar Ural is 10°C, in its piedmont areas 12°C. In
general summer is characterized by cool instable weather and frequent returns of colds and night frosts, deceasing of the
atmospheric processes. The duration of autumn is 50 - 60 days, in the northern part and in the higher mountains it starts
significantly earlier than in the plain land.
The Reserve is located in the area where arctic and moderate climatic zones meet. The climate is characterized as
continental & oceanic with the difficult process of annual climatic phenomena.
Average monthly positive temperatures of the air are noticed within the period of 6 months, but average duration of the
frost-free period is 80-83 days. In certain years when there were late spring and early autumn frosts mentioned, the frostfree period is reduced to 50 days. The vegetation period when the average daily temperature exceeds +10°,is 80-85 days
in the plain land and 47-80 days in the piedmont area and in the mountains. Average annual temperature of the air in the
area of the Yaksha is 0.7°C, in the north of the mountain area is around -4°. Average temperature for many years of the
coldest month, January is -17,8°; of the warmest month, July -16.3°. Absolute minimum is -55,5°C, absolute maximum
+35,7°C°.
General annual rainfall is the following: in the plain land area 500-800 mm (coverage annual amount is 635.5 mm), in the
mountain area it is up to 1000 mm. major part of the rainfall happens in the warm period of the year (April - October).
Almost 40% of the annual rainfall amount in the form of snow falls down.
Average duration when the snow cover lays on in the plain land is 200 days, in the mountains it is up to 220 days.
Average date of the forming of the stable snow cover in the Yaksha area is October 21st, thawing is May 7th. In the
mountains snow falls down at the end of September, thaws quite unevenly, staying sometimes until July. Maximum
average decade height of the snow in the pine forests is around 90cm, in the dark softwood taiga it is 90 - 120 cm. In the
mountains depending on the conditions of relief and exposure of the slope this number varies between 20 and 200 cm
and more. Minimum height of the snow cover is typical for mountain tundra, where snow is normally blown by the wind.
Vegetation
Flora of the National Park includes more than 600 species of the vascular plants, tens of species of mosses and lichens.
Some of them have the status of "red hook" ones. These are yellow lady's slipper and blotched slipper, Woodsia alpina,
common peon, Snowdon rose etc.
The main role in the picturesque landscapes is played by wood species: Siberian spruce, silver-fir, Siberian pine (cedar),
larch, white birch, European white birch, mountain birch and more seldom pine and aspen. In the southern part of the
park quite often the one can meet growth of tree-like willows. In the swampy and river-side areas impassable "jungles"
are formed by bush willows, and also by dwarf birch and hush alder. At the forest borders and towpaths in the lower parts
of the slopes there are many bushes: Spiraea media, prairie weed, hedge rose, Pallas honeyberry. The specific feature of
the plant cover of the park is diversity of the shrubs. Normal in the over soil cover of forest and mountain tundra
communities are lingonberry, swamp blueberry, blueberry, and crowberry. In the stony exposed surface of the forest belt
and higher grow dryad, Alpine bearberry, Harrimanella, Diapensia, fruticulous willow.
The specific feature of the park's flora is numerous amounts of ferns and heather. Here gramineous, composite flowers,
rose family, buttercup family, buttercup, figwort family belong to ten most multiple families.
Of the biggest interest are endemic species of the plants. The other endemic species were formed as a result of hybrids
forming of the relative species and isolated geographic plants. To the endemics in the national park are listed Taliev's
thyme, mountain anemone, Ural aypsophila, Northern flax etc, all in all more than 10 species.
The territory of the Park is represented by virgin forests with rare and endemic species of shrubs and herbs: shrubby
cinquefoil, rodiola guadrefida, mountain anemone, etc. Such plant species as arctic paintbrush, yellow lady's slipper,
Snowdon rose are included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The majority of cenopopulations of rare
plants is in a stable state.
Specific feature of the plant cover of the Reserve are ruling of the dark softwood forests with wood stand of Siberian
species: spruce, fir, cedar. In the lower tiers of the forest undergrown forests and in the above-soil cover there are both
European and Siberian species. Specific features of the plant cover is also stipulated by the availability of big Ural
mountain system with clearly visible altitude belts. The lay-out of the geobotanical splitting into districts incorporates the
areas:
I. The area of pine frests and sphagnum swamps of the Pechora low land (complete territory of the Yaksha district):
II. The area of dark soft wood forests of the steeply sloping piedmont sub-area of swampy dark softwood forests and
sphagnum swamps of Verhneilych low land (the territory of the Ural area until western slopes of the main mountain range
of the Northern Ural, excluding transition stripe);
III. The area of mountain dark softwood forests, subalpine crooked forests and meadows, mountain tundra and bareboulders of the Northern Ural (western sloped, mountain chains, valleys and separate peaks of the Uran range of
mountains)/
Nowadays the Reserve counts 113 plant species from the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic.
In 2012 15 cenopopulations of 7 rare plant species were studied: .Adonis sibirica Patrin ex Ledeb., Calipso bulbosa (L.)
Oakes, Epipactis atrorubeas (Hoffm. ex Bernh.) Besser, Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich., Paeonia anomala L., Polypodium
vulgare L., Puisatilla patens (L.) Mill.
Wildlife
The fauna of vertebrates of the National Park includes representatives of fish (21 species), amphibia (3 species), reptilian
(1 specie), birds (around 200 species) and mammals (42 species). Many of them are the most precious properties of the
world fauna. Into the Red Data Book of Russia are entered bullhead, red-breasted goose, fish-hawk, golden eagle, whitetailed eagle, gerfalcon, peregrin (duck hawk), black stork, common crane etc.
Specific feature of the fauna of the region is big share of the Siberian species, many of them have here the western
boundary of the aerial.
Species diversity of the animal world of the reserve territory and conservation territory in relation to the different endemic
taxa is studied unevenly. Sufficient complete inventory fauna reports are available only for water and ground vertebral.
Thomas Brockhaus, a German entomologist, visited Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve from July 29 till August 5, 2012. During his
trip on the Pechora River (Shaytanovka cordon) he noted 15 species of dragonflies, whereof two species (Somatochlora
graeseri, S. pedemontanum) turned to be new for the Reserve and the Republic of Komi.
Ichthyofauna
Absolutely different place in the diversity of the animal communities of the western slopes of the Northern and the SubPolar Urals takes the world of fishes. The fish populations of the National Park as far as it is known, accounts for 21
species out of eleven communities.
Ichthyofauna of the Reserve is relatively poor, that is related to the hydrological specific features of the territory: mountain
character of the majority of the rivers and small amount of accompanying water bodies. In its content enter the
representatives of the round-mouthed fishes - 1 specie, and the fish, 17 species that makes around 53% of the species
diversity of fish of the complete Pechora river basin.
Birds
In the fauna of the Yugyd va National Park are known around 200 species of birds. Out of them, despite of severe
ecological surrounding, nest about 150. Some representative of feathered, in majority water fowl and sandpiper, inhabit
the area of tundra, can be met also within the boundaries of the park only during autumn and spring migration.
Bird fauna of the Yugyd va National Park presents the composite mix of Siberian taiga species. European and Arctic and
Alpine species migrating from the plain tundra and also birds, widely spread in the European part of Russia.
Avifauna of the conservation area includes 252 species of birds of 18 orders, 50 families which makes 96% of the total
number of species recorded within the entire Komi Republic. The species include 170 breeding species (67%), 30
seasonal transient birds (12%), 52 vagrant species (21%). The widest range of species have the Passeriformes (107
species), Charadriiformes (40), Anseriformes (30) and Falconiformes (20): the rest classes are presented by 1 to 8
species.
Avifauna is compositionally heterogenic, Siberian bird species prevail (heather cock, hazelhen, Blyth's cuckoo, three-toed
woodpecker etc), typically European species are almost twice less in number (chaffinch, warbler, swift, corncrake etc),
some species are of arctic ptarmigan, common dotterel, Eurasian golden plover etc) and Chinese (greenish warbler, redbacked shrike, oriental tree pipit) oriuin.
Most of breeding birds (77%) are migrating. The highest diversity of species, summer bird numbers and biomass are
peculiar to forest hank line habitats, subalpine belt and some pattern bogs. Common and the most numerous species of
forest communities are: chaffinch, finch, tree-pipit, thrushes – snowbird, red-winged thrush and song thrush, chiff-chaffs willow-warbler and arctic warbler, European redstart, buntings - rustic-bunting and little bunting, common and Blyth's
cuckoos. The dominating species of wetland birds are: fiddler, grey gull, greenshank, snipe, whimbrel, mew gull, common
teal, bullhead, and goosander. The typical representative of mountain tundra is meadow pipit, and this is the unique place
for common dotterel, Eurasian golden plover and ptarmigan nesting.
The following breeding birds are included in the lists of Red Data Book of the Russian Federation: erne, osprey and
golden eagle; transient birds: peregrine and brant goose. Erne, double snipe and corncrake are on the international list of
globally rare species. 29 bird species of the reserve are listed among rare and requiring protection on the territory of Komi
Republic. 26 species of birds nesting in the conservation are on the list of Red Data Book of Komi Republic:
Category I (endangered) - honey buzzard, quail.
Category II (shortening the numerosity) - osprey, erne, golden eagle, eagle owl.
Category III (species with small numerosity and restricted distribution) - hooping swan, black kite, kestrel, corncrake,
spotted crake, double snipe, hawk-owl, Siberian grey owl, short-eared owl, boreal owl, wryneck.
Category IV (with undefined status) — common pochard, jack snipe, pintail snipe, dove, pygmy owl.
Category V (recovering species) - merlin, common woodcock, curlew, whimbrel.
Mammals
The territory of the National Park is unique from the point of view of theriology, where European and Siberian faunas
come together. The territory of the Park is inhabited by 42 species of the mammals.
Out of 52 species of the mammals registered in the territory of the Reserve the biggest one is the order of predators, 17
species (33%), related to the 4 families. Then are the rodents, 16 species, 6 families; insect-eating mammals - 8 species,
2 families; hoofed mammals, 4 species, 2 families; cheiropterous (Chiroptera) animals, 5 species, 1 family; doubletoothed rodents - 2 species and 2 families.
Justification of Outstanding Universal Value
The territory is characterized by a high conservation of unique natural complexes, ecosystems, plant and animal
communities developing evolutionarily without a considerable human input, availability of sites of outstanding aesthetic
value, sites of ongoing geological history, archaeological monuments enabling to refer it to the models of nature.
From aesthetic point of view the territory of the property combines the main aesthetic factors. It comprises the most
picturesque and the highest groups of the Ural mountains, distinguished in the north by typical alpine relief and sharp
peaks, picturesque rocky areas of mountain risers. The property is specificated by glacial and karst relief: numerous
mountain lakes, glaciers, snowfields and waterfalls, as well as weathering forms - rock pillars and grottos. The main
peculiarity of landscapes is undisturbed virgin forests of the property. Principles of traditional sustainable use of natural
resources are maintained to the present day on the territory of the property shaping an outstanding cultural value of the
territory.
In terms of reflecting the main stages of history of the Earth, the property possesses diverse geomorphological
peculiarities of relief with ongoing geological history and numerous archaeological monuments.
Outstanding biodiversity of the property is defined by the single, undisturbed by wood cutting and unfragmented area of
boreal taiga, which communities have been developing evolutionarily. The forest area of such a size fulfils a wide range of
ecosystem functions: conservation of biological and landscape diversity, climate control, hydrological and soil-forming
functions. A decisive influence on diversity of natural zones, appearance of plants is exercised by meridian mountain
chains of the Ural ridge, altitudinal zonality, against this background invasion of Siberian and European floras contribute
to biodiversity of the property. Rock outcrops along the river banks and mountain tundra are the habitats of endemic,
relict, rare and endangered plants and animals. Virgin forests are comfortable habitats for big predators and hoofed
mammals and able to become a model for studies and modelling (restoration) of primary ecosystems of boreal forests.
The joint UNESCO/IAUCN mission was conducted from 3-11 October 2010 as per Decision 34 COM 7B.25 of the World
Heritage Committee for monitoring of the World Heritage Property “Virgin Komi Forests”. The mission was composed of
the specialist of UNESCO World Heritage Centre, IUCN expert Mania Zupancic-Vicar and Mariam Kenza Ali from IUCN
Secretariat, representatives of different stakeholders and public environmental organizations.
One-day flight over the territory enabled to shape an idea of the southern part of the “Yugyd Va” National Park, forest
area located between the park and Pechoro-llychsky Reserve. The mission had a chance to look at the forests up the
Ilych River separating the National Park from the Reserve. This territory was a part of the previous nomination of the
property "Virgin Komi Forests", but was excluded from the inscription as it had no conservation status. During the flight
the participants of the missions noted that the area consisted of intact primary forests with no signs of human disturbance.
The mission strongly recommended to include that area in the "Yugyd Va" National Park or Pechoro-llychsky State
Nature Biosphere Reserve. It will combine two properties, increase total integrity and add a considerable area of virgin
boreal forests.
As per conclusions of the joint mission the present nomination contains the territory with areas mentioned above.
Criterion (vii): Territory of the property is of outstanding importance from aesthetic point of view which was at various
times noted by the Urals researches starting from XVIII century.
Consistent evaluations of "landscape diversity- of "Virgin Komi Forests-modern territory undertaken during the USSR
times which revealed that it combined all major landscape forming factors, brought into line with landscapes of the
Causases, Baikal and Kamchatka.
The most picturesque parts of "Virgin Komi Forests" are landscapes of the Telpossky, Sablinsky, Nepristupniy mountain
ranges, the outskirts of the Issledovatelsky range - massifs Lapapay and Kursomby, mountain groups of Manaraga,
Narodnaya, Lyaga-Chugra, Shezhymiz, Tumbik, Mansiyskie Bolvany, ranges Man'pupuner and Yanypupuner, granite
massifs Makariz and Turyn’yaner etc.
Particulary scenic are canyon-like rocky areas or the rivers Kozhim, Shchugor, Podcherem, B. Synya; the above rivers of
the property are rich in rapids and riffles of distinguished beauty. The Pechora and Ilych rivers and their floodplain lakes
also to the full extent prove the beauty of the Ural foothills.
The aesthetic important of the property is completed by the glacier relief forms: numerous mountain lakes, glaciers, snow
patches and waterfalls: e.g. the property "Virgin Komi Forests” displays 800 lakes, the most picturesque of them are those
of glacier origin: the largest ones are Torgovoe, Dlinnoe, Okunevye.
38 glaciers add to the beauty of mountain landscape, the biggest ones are glaciers Mansi and Gofman (the area 0,75 and
0,37 km2 respectively) situated on the range Sablya, manifold cirque lakes as well as snow patches.
Outstanding uniqueness, richness and special value are added to the landscapes by the undisturbed virgin forest massifs
stretching through the space of river-valleys, western slopes of the Urals, foothills and Pechora lowland.
Separate sites have become symbols of the property "Virgin Komi Forests": e.g. the highest peak of the Urats - mount
Narodnaya and mount Managara as well as unique rock pillars and caves.
The Ural North has attracted tourists from the whole Soviet Union since the 1930s. One of the major reasons of interest
towards this area is the exceptional beauty of landscapes, praised severe glory of the White Urals in combination with
mysteries and legends stipulated by insufficient state of exploration of the region and the untouched forest massifs.
Criterion (viii): The property is an outstanding example of major stages of earth's history being available for on-going
geological processes, is noted for diversity of geomorphic features of the relief and includes numerous archaeological
monuments.
The history of the Urals developments determined existence of two complexes (structural stages) in the geology aspects
of infolded structures. The lower complex (stage) is represented by doorvick stratums. Stones of this stage include
various gneisses and crystalline schists of Archean. In sonic places one can find metamorphic cleaving stones, quartz
rocks and crystalline limestone of Lower Proterozoic era. Above these stratums Riphean (Upper-Proterozoic) deposits are
disposed.
In conditions of practically untouched nature various natural processes take place - of both abiotic (glacial, erosion, the
processes of channel ways development by the rivers), and biotic character (organic enrichment of lowland and tundra
lakes, succession - primary and secondary etc). Development of layout of mountain slopes and riser valleys is ongoing –
under the influence of erosion, corrosion, soli and other landscape-forming factors. The overallpicture is completed by
the eternal-frost layer, thermokarst and other phenomena peculiar only for the northern areas. The mountainous relief
strengthens the severity of climate, adding more specific nature to development of natural complexes. The most
characteristic part on the territory of the Park is the glacial valleys of headwaters of the river Kozhim and its fluxes.
The following geological, geomorphic, paleontological and other natural monuments can he distinguished on the
nominated property:
- Logs-stratotypes (Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian (the river Kozhim), Carbon (the rivers Bol. Synya, Kozhim, Shchunor),
Permian (the rivers Bol. Synya, Podcherem), Triassic (the river Bol. Synya);
- Outcroppings which show important details of geological structure of the Urals;
- The monuments of activity of tectonic processes - well-defined lines of tectonic dislocations, polished surfaces of faulting
sheets etc. (The Sablinsky Range, mountain groups of the mount Narodnaya, mount Karpinskogo and others);
- The monuments of activity of exogenic processes - corrosion, wash-out, erosion, results of resorption processes of
karsting rocks: "stone cities", caves and grottos (e.g. Grottos of the river Balban'yu, lordansky Narrow and others), rock
pillars, for example on Man'pupuner, Torreporeiz table land.In2008 rock pillars were announced one of 7 Wonders of
Russia;
- Mineralogical monuments - locations of rare minerals (mount Yuma, environs of Neroyka mount), somewhere
metamorphic cleaving stones, quartz rocks and crystalline limestone of Lower Proterozoic era can be found. Above these
stratums Riphean (Upper-Proterozoic) deposits are disposed;
- Paleontologic monuments - locations of fauna and flora fossils (lower stream of the river Kozhim, middle stream of the
river Podcherie. Medvezhiya, Tufovaya, Ledyanaya caves and others):
- Mountain peaks and mountain groups having largest heights or located singularly;
- Examples of glacier relief - glaciers and snow patches, glacial clays, cryosolic outputs;
- Hydrological monuments (mountain lakes, waterfalls, canyons, spring brooks, underground sources of mineral and fresh
waters):
In the nominated territory there are numerous archaeological monuments including three monuments of the Kozhim River
with remains of settlements IV-III millennium B.C. and around II- I millennium B.C., ancient sanctums ("Arch” grotto,
Erkusey, Valley of ancestors, Kaninskaya and Unyinskaya caves). The collection of metal objects of the famous
Podcheremsky treasure from the early Middle ages is among the unique.
Criterion (ix): The nominated territory is highlighted by the World Wildlife Fund as one of the Global-200 ecological
regions capable of preserving 90-95% of biodiversity of the planet.
The exclusive biodiversity of the territory is preserved under integrity of original boreal forests growing on the border of
the Pechora Lowland and western macroslopes of the Northern and Sub-Polar Urals.
In conditions of practically intact nature various natural processes take place, both abiotic (glacial, erosion, river bed
formation processes) and biotic ones (eutrophication of valley and tundra lakes, succession - primary and secondary
etc.). Mountain slopesand river valleys continue to be shaped under the influence of erosion, weathering, solifluction and
other landscape factors.
Biodiversity along with integrity of the territory are determined by the change of latitudinal belts of the property from the
middle and northern taiga to forest tundra, as well as distinct altitudinal zonality from light coniferous forests in the
western part of the property to mountain dark coniferous forests, crooked forests, meadows, mountain tundra and bald
mountains in the east of the property.
The Ural watershed is a convergence of Western (European) and eastern (Siberian) species. Contact zone of the
European and the Siberian floras enriches the territory with a unique combination of Siberian and European species of
plants. 20% of which are considered to be rare (yellow lady's and blotched slipper, alpine woodsia, rogue peony,
snowdon rose, etc.), endemic (Taliev's thyme, mountain anemone, Ural chalk plant, northern flax, etc.), as well as
growing in isolated populations detached from the main range with abundance of rock outcrops, mountain
tundra and microslopes contributing to this. Totally the floristic list of the property includes more than 600 species of
plants.
Overlapping of population ranges of European and Asian species enables to clearly trace a variety of fundamental natural
regularities and phenomena and to study the pace of natural processes.
Lack of fragmentation of virgin forests of the property creates a comfortable habitat for big predators and hoofed
mammals including population of wild reindeers, as well as provides conditions for nesting of rare carnivorous birds, in
particular, white-tailed eagle, fish-hawk, eagle owl and golden eagle. In the territory there are more than 40 species of
mammals and around 200 species of birds (making 90% of theriofauna and 88% o of avifauna of the European northeastern part of Russia).
Mountain tectonic denudation relief is of steady moderate rise. The main part of the area has an alpine relief, the
remaining part — mid-mountain, ridged and steeply-sloping subdued relief of watersheds.
Ridged and steeply-sloping subdued ancient (neogene) relief of watersheds is characterized by active formation of bald
mountains and significant residual and talus deposits.
At undulating plains of subearial denudation (up to 800-1000 m in elevation and 300-700 in wide) soliflucation terraces
are located (bench height 0.7-5 m) with platforms first tens of meters wide and soliflucation banks (2-5 in high and 8-10 m
wide) up to 150-200 m long. Stone polygons (dia 1,5 - 2 m) and medallion spots are noticed on terraces. At plains of
subearial denudation exhumed dikes are observed, as well as erratic well-rounded boulders of gabbro-diabases on
Losiny and Kursambay Ridges.
Criterion (x): The nominated territory includes natural areas which are more important and significant in terms of
conservation of biodiversity, in particular, habitats of the endangered species being of outstanding word value in terms of
science and nature protection.
In the territory of the reserve 113 species of plants included in the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic and 4 species
included in the Red Data Book of Russia are registered.
The reserve was organized for the purpose of restoration of high-value commercial species of sables (Tobolsk
subspecies). Currently their density in the reserve amounts to 4 species per 10000 ha and they are actively dispersed in
the areas adjacent to the reserve.
The mountainous and plain areas of the reserve are the home of wild forest reindeers protected by the Komi Republic.
They amount to 500 species.
A wide range of birds in the reserve has an official status of rare species. In the federal Red Book the following species
are included: breeding - white-tailed eagle, fish-hawk and golden eagle: transient - pererine falcon and red-breasted
goose. White-tailed eagle, double snipe and crake are included in the international list of globally endangered species. 29
species of birds in the reserve are on the list of endangered species needed to be protected in the territory of the Komi
Republic. The list of species of the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic approved by the Department of environment and
natural resources protection of the Komi Republic in 1997 covers 26 species of birds breeding in the reserve:
I category (threatened species) - honey buzzard, quail.
II category (reducing population) - fish-hawk, white-tailed eagle, golden eagle, eagle owl.
III category (species with small population and limited distribution) - whooper swan, black kite, kestrel, crake, spotted
crake, double snipe, hawk owl, Siberial gray owl, marsh owl, boreal owl, wryneck.
IV category (undefined status) - pochard, jack snipe, pintail snipe, turtledove, pygmy owl.
V category (species under restoration) - pigeon hawk, woodcock, curlew, whimbrel.
Statements of authenticity and/or integrity
Virgin nature of the property "Virgin Komi Forests” is expressed in endless space of taiga and forest tundra which have
never been exposed to cutting. The total area of the territory is more than 34 thou km 2. Plant communities in virgin forests
developed and interacted evolutionarily, forest fires, winds and relief peculiarities participated in that process. In this
respect "Virgin Komi Forests" is the property of outstanding integrity.
Primary (virgin) forests and mountain areas of the "Yugyd va" National Park and Pechoro-llychsky state nature biosphere
reserve represent a unique natural complex developed without human input, the main components of which are
interconnected by the similarity of origin, historical fate, dynamics of natural development, reflect a variety of important
natural regularities and phenomena and fix the pace of natural and cultural processes.
Virgin Komi Forests are characterized by a high conservation of unique natural complexes, great concentration of rare
and high-value animals, plants, in particular, those included in the international, Russian and regional Red Data Books.
The nominated territory includes all elements required for support of its qualitative and aesthetic characteristics for a long
time. All natural components are interconnected and unified by the unique complex of virgin ecosystems spread along the
Main Ural Ridge, the last from the remaining ones in Europe. The most part of geological processes is reflected in the
natural monuments of the park representing the main geomorphological peculiarities of the relief.
Comparison with other similar properties
Location analysis of the World Natural Heritage sites shows that in the western Palearctic (biogeographic kingdoms
according to M. Udvardi's classifier (1975) similar primary ecosystems of this magnitude and conservation don't exist and
adding of the property in the World Natural Heritage List fills up this gap.
If we broaden analysis to the whole Palearctic, only at the World Natural Heritage site the Putorana Plateau there are
substantial areas of taiga, forest tundra, mountain tundra and bald mountains, as well as this property is located on the
border of habitats of west-Siberian and east-Siberian species showing similarities between thePutorana Plateau and
Komi Virgin Forests, but not their identity.
Analysis of World Natural Heritage sites on bionics level brings to conclusion that similar sites of boreal forests are spread
except for Russia also in Canada and the USA (Alaska), however, in America they are presented in the World Natural
Heritage Lists in the form of fragments, on the borders of these two countries they are fragmented by human activities.
Unified massif of virgin boreal forests of equal quality survived only in Canada.
Taking into account that less than 3% of boreal forests grow in Europe, and European Russia possesses more than 90%
of this quantity of boreal forests, the value of virgin Komi forests for conservation of biodiversity, study of natural
processes and probably for modelling and restoration of similar damaged biomes is difficult to overestimate.
World Natural Heritage sites with virgin forests
Name of property and its
status
Nominated property "Virgin
Short description and
characteristics of the property
The last and the largest in
Biodiversity rating
Exclusive biodiversity: more
Komi Forests
Europe massif of primary
than 40 species of mammals, around
200 species of birds
(virgin) boreal forests, developed without
human input
(including those from Red
With exclusive aesthetic
Books), more than 600
qualities of landscapes
Species of plants (of which
20% are rare) and 21 fish
The Putorana Plateau, Russia
1 unique rise of
the Central
Siberian Plateau with original
hydrographic network of high aesthetic
value, areas of virgin ecosystems
species
Ilii.th biodiversity: 569 species of
vascular plants (including 7
endemics), 34 species of
mammals, 140 species of
birds and 25 fish species
Waterton Glacier
Exclusive biodiversity of flora
including endemics
Exclusive biodiversity:
International Peace Park, the USA
— Canada
and mammals, as well as
around 1000 species of
outstanding landscapes
vascular plants (including
(mountains and glaciers), areas of virgin 179 rare species and 20
forests
endemics), 60 species of
Volcanoes of Kamchatka,
The main volcanic landscapes
Russia
of Kamchatka, exclusive aesthetic
qualities of landscapes, areas of virgin
forests
mammals, 50 species and birds and
24 fish species
Exclusive biodiversity: 33
Species of mammals, 145 species of
birds, many plant species included in
the lists of Red Books, in particular,
16 endemics, high biodiversity of
salmon fishes
Extraordinary beauty of landscapes of virgin Komi forests is one-of-a-kind, although observers draw an analogy with the
Alpes (the Pechora Alps). However combination of mountain landscapes with northern plant complexes against their
integrity allows us to speak of no analogues of the property worldwide.