ABSTRACT
Zapovedniks are scientific institutions established primarily for carrying out research on tracts of land and bodies of water in the Soviet Union especially set aside for that purpose. Nature is protected in zapovedniks for the same basic reason it is in most, other nature-reserve systems in the world— namely, to perpetuate plants and animals in their natural environment, with a minimum of interference from humans. The concept of zapovedniks has evolved since they were first established as strictly nature reserves, often with rather narrow purposes. To conduct the studies, the zapovednik needs experts in soil science, hydrology, geobotany, botany, forestry, entomology, phytopathology, mammalogy, ornithology, parasitology, animal physiology, plant biochemistry, microbiology, and so on. Further, the protection of nature within the boundaries of a zapovednik gives rise to many specific problems—just as in any strictly protected nature preserve. The impetus for creating zapovedniks came from a desire to save valuable tracts of land in regions of intense economic development.
