Golden Mountains of Altai

Altaisky Strict Nature Reserve is particularly exposed to wild fires (Onuchin, 2012). From 1972 to 2017, there were 52 wildfires in the reserve, with a total affected area of about 27,000 hectares (Sakhnevich and Chukhontseva, 2018). In 2010-2011 two fires with the total area of 20 hectares occurred also within Katunskiy Reserve (both are antropogenic and transboundary, with its sources in adjoining areas of Kazakhstan) (IUCN Consultation, 2025).

Although there is no evidence that fire events constitute currently a major threat for the OUV of the property and its integrity, it is likely that such events whatever their source, anthropogenic or not, are a growing threat for the OUV of the whole property, in a region that is very much exposed to climate change. Therefore, although the fire hazard is considered low, forest fires do still occur, especially during dry periods. Moreover, due to the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, including prolonged heat and drought, the risk of forest fires is expected to rise in the future (Roshydromet, 2020).

Since the last outlook assessment, fire-fighting equipment has been improved and an agreement with the autonomous regional agency in charge of forest protection using aviation protection resources was signed with the reserve administration (Russian Federation, 2024).

As stated in the previous outlook assessment, a broad range of local natural resource uses occurs in the Altai Mountains, including within the property. Medicinal plant collection and poaching have been listed as threats in Ukok Qiet Zone Nature Park (Debonnet et al., 2012); poaching has also been listed as a minor threat to Altaisky Strict Nature Reserve, with numerous cases detected and prosecuted (Rao et al., 2007), as well as helicopter hunting that has also been reported in the past (UNEP-WCMC, 2011; IUCN, 2009). Poaching may threaten a number of large charismatic species, including those of conservation concern such as Argali sheep, Siberian ibex, musk deer and snow leopard, the latter related to both the wildlife trade and in the form of retaliation killings (Jackson et al., 2008). However, the most recent data provided by the State Party (Russian Federation, 2022) seem to show that the level of poaching remains relatively low. But those data are not exhaustive for the whole property and so it is not possible to conclude further details on the level of this threat to the OUV of the property. The context has not changed with regard to fishing, which remains common in the rivers and lakes, and not regulated in a large part of the Lake Teletskoye. Fishing may impact the values of the site in the future (State Party of Russia, 2020) and also increase with the development of tourism. Poaching of valuable fish species occurs on the left bank of the water area, which does not have the SPNR status. Due to the impossibility of controlling the migration of valuable fish species from the protected half of the Lake Teletskoye World Natural Heritage Site, security measures and control over the number of large specimens, which are the main prey of poachers, are difficult (Russian Federation, 2024).

As stated in the previous outlook assessment report, commercial timber extraction does not seem to be a current issue; local communities do harvest, but wisely, non-timber forest products, including for commercial use and export (Rao et al., 2007). Since 2012, illegal collection of the medicinal plants, including Rhodiola Rosea, is taking place in the buffer zone of Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve. However, there are no data clearly indication the impact of these activities onto the state of the plant populations (IUCN Consultation, 2025).

Generally, the low level of control over the territory of natural parks creates preconditions for the uncontrolled use of natural resources, including hunting and fishing, however there is a lack of data to sufficiently inform the threat level rating.

Most of the property is remote and relatively difficult to access, which severely limits tourism (Debonnet et al., 2012, UNEP-WCMC, 2011, Rao et al., 2007, IUCN, 1998). However, the accessibility of the territories is improving every year. The most popular among tourists are regional PAs: the “Ukok Quiet Zone” and “Belukha” Nature Parks and the “Mount Belukha” and “Teletskoye Lake” Natural Monuments.
Growing from year to year, the tourism pressure in Katunsky Reserve seems still reasonable and does not exceed the capacity, as reported by the State Party for 2023 an 2024; this pressure is also seasonal, concentrated over the 2 summer months and on a very small part of the property's territory (e.g. Korbu waterfalls received 50 000 visitors in 2021).
Regarding federal protected areas (Altai Nature Reserve and Katunsky Reserve), the visitor’s access is limited to specific areas and controlled strictly by the administration; moreover, many events are organized each year in order to promote and develop ecological tourism (Russian Federation, 2022) and activities are carried out on a regular basis, seeking to involve young people in the preservation of the property. Educational tourism activities are also undertaken throughout the year (eg. exhibitions, festivals, seminars and meetings, media), promoting the property’s values and informing the civil society of the interest and sensitivity of the property. A new visitor center of the Katunsky Nature Reserve was opened in the village of Ust-Koksa (Altai Republic) in 2023, which disseminates information about the global value of this territory and measures for its conservation. The number of visitors to the visitor center is 5-6 thousand people per year (Russian Federation, 2024).
Regarding regional protected areas, there is no reliable information on the number of tourists and their impact on the site's ecosystems. However, it is known, for example, about the problem with rubbish in the Belukha Mount Nature Monument. For example, at the end of the 2024 season, more than 2 tonnes of rubbish was removed from the mountain and adjacent trails (Altai Republic, 2024).
Furthermore, Ibisch et al. (2015) suggest the lack of sharing tourism benefits with local communities to be the main concern. However an ecotourism strategy has now been developed for the Katunsky Reserve in response to multiple World Heritage Committee requests (World Heritage Committee, 2017; 2018; 2019; Debonnet et al., 2012). According to the State Party efforts are underway to create alternative sources of income for local residents living near the World Heritage site by involving them in the development of local environmentally responsible entrepreneurship (Russian Federation, 2024). As part of the program for sustainable livelihoods of local communities implemented with the participation of the Katunsky Nature Reserve, mechanisms have been created to involve civil society in environmental activities.

Documented consequences of changing temperature and precipitation in the Altai-Sayan region include glacial retreat, upward movement of vegetation belts and warmer and drier conditions in the steppe areas (Kokorin, 2011). In Katunsky Strict Nature Reserve, temperature increases are of greater magnitude at lower altitude (Yashina, 2011). Despite observable changes, there are no concise data on the ecological effects of climate change in the site.

Observations of the alpine plant communities within Katunskiy Reserve demonstrate the upward shifts of the vegetation in the treeline-alpine ecotone. Between 2005 and 2015, plant species in this zone shifted their distribution to higher altitudes by 5.3 m as an average. Species richness increase at higher summits and decrease at lower ones have been noted (Artemov, 2018). Furthermore, the reatreat of glaciers within Katunskiy Mountain Ridge and Mt. Belukha massif has also been documented (Nosenko et al. 2015). Studies from elsewhere within the region suggest significant changes in glacial front succession (Cazzolla Gatti et al., 2018) and accelerating upward treeline shifting (Cazzolla Gatti et al., 2019) which suggest similar trends are likely within the site.

With the exception of the glaciated areas most of the Altai range has been grazed by livestock throughout its ongoing human history, including what is today the World Heritage site, however excluding the federal protected areas Altaiskiy and Katuinskiy Reserves. Livestock grazing can be an adapted use of ecosystems, but it can also result in important impacts when the grazing intensity exceeds the capacity of the rangeland, resulting in erosion and changes in species composition of the native vegetation. Less visible impacts include competition with native grazers, disease transmission between livestock and native fauna and incentives to control or remove livestock predators. Overgrazing has been suggested for parts of the Ukok Plateau while acknowledging uncertainty in terms of extent and impact (Debonnet et al., 2012) and has in the past been attributed as the “principal human impact to date” (IUCN, 1998), while also stressing that it remained “isolated and at a low level.” Ibisch et al. (2015) listed overgrazing as a “very high threat” in the biosphere reserve overlapping with the site. It is clear that livestock grazing is both an important source of livelihood and a conservation issue, which requires careful attention. According to the State Party a detailed study of grazing impact on the vegetation is required in the Nature Park "Quiet Zone Ukok" along with special monitoring (Russian Federation, 2024).