Four New Protected Areas to Be Created in Sochi

Economic activities will be prohibited on these lands. The list of specially protected areas will include a section of the Colchis forest on Lesnaya Street, as well as the natural recreational zones "Northern Slope of Mount Bytkha," "Monastery Primroses," and "Cynack Forest". Work has also begun on the formation of a specially protected natural area in the forest massif between the Mamaika microdistrict along the coast to the 73rd kilometer.

"We will preserve it in its pristine form, protect it from any construction and give it a specially protected status. We are already preparing documents for this," said Sochi Mayor Andrei Proshunin.

Currently, there are nine specially protected natural areas of local significance in the city, with a total area of 30 hectares:the Upper and Lower Primorsky Park, the park in the Makarenko microdistrict in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Krasnodar Territory, the "Chekists" squares, on Constitution Street, October Street, and "Old City", the parterre in front of the Central District administration, the Russian-Japanese Friendship Garden, and the subtropical garden of Kuban on the territory of the "White Nights" sanatorium. Information about them is posted in the Unified State Register of Real Estate,which guarantees the preservation of green areas from development and any economic activity. The special protected status of the territories excludes any activities that could lead to changes in the historically established natural landscape,a decrease or destruction of ecological, aesthetic, and recreational qualities. In total, the authorities are considering 59 natural recreation areas for protection from any economic activities. Their list was compiled jointly with experts. It includes sections of forest массиves, forest parks, park areas, and squares in all districts of the city.