23 November 2015
Moscow

Russian plans to extend Olympic ski resorts into a UNESCO World Heritage site cancels commitments to expand natural protections and threatens a reintroduction programme of the endangered Persian leopard.

As part of a massive resort expansion, Russia has pulled its Olympic promise to create two protected areas bordering the Western Caucasus World Heritage site and instead has downgraded existing protections to make way for a mountain ski complex. The plans deal double damage to some of Russia’s most important natural reserves.

“Using the cover of international sport to expand into an essential natural site is dangerous business,” said Igor Chestin, CEO of WWF-Russia. “The world watched the Olympics in Sochi and is now watching Russia break its commitments to protect this globally important natural site.”

Two ski resorts that served as hosts of the 2014 Sochi Olympics - Roza Khutor and Laura - are preparing to expand into the protected areas through four separate projects over the next seven years. The plans are cause for serious concern in the scientific community, particularly because of the impact on a programme to reintroduce the Persian leopard.

The region at risk is part of the second largest protected area in Europe and one of the most biologically diverse in Russia. Plans to release three Persian leopard kittens next year after almost a 100 year absence are now in jeopardy.

“Russia's downgrading of the environment puts recreation and private business interests over the protection of a natural area of international significance,” said Chestin. “WWF will not stand by as Russia pulls away from its commitments to the international community and the environment.”

WWF initially raised caution over the same site being used for a bobsleigh track, Olympic village and biathlon stadium during preparations for the 2014 Olympics. A joint effort by the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, WWF and other organizations ended in agreement with the government to instead extend World Heritage protections to the area as part of the environmental compensation for the Games.

According to plans seen by WWF, current construction designs are even more invasive than those that were abandoned over environmental concerns prior to the Olympics and include the construction of hotels, ski lifts and ski slopes.

"Instead of using sport to increase awareness and support for the environment, the proposed expansion will impact an internationally important natural site whose protection should be strengthened and not weakened,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International.

Russia reversed the decision to expand the World Heritage site during a visit of international conservation officials last month. The move calls into question how Russia used empty promises during the Olympic bidding and planning processes.

In addition to stripping the area of its promised World Heritage status, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources reduced protections for the entire Sochi Federal Refuge and parts of Sochi National Park cutting off a migratory path for the Persian leopard, brown bear and other species. There are probably only about 10 Persians leopards remaining in Russia and up to 1,290 worldwide.

The region, home to hundreds of species, has already been harmed by sports venues; additional resort construction would further tarnish Sochi’s Olympic and environmental legacies.

In objection to the plans on the Olympic site, WWF Russia and several partners sent a letter to UNESCO calling for immediate action to stop the proposed expansion and warning that construction plans could cause the area to be included on the World Heritage in Danger List.