The protected areas in Northwest Russia are divided into different categories according to the level of protection and management.
- In strict nature reserves (zapovednik) no economic activities are permitted.
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National parks (nazionalnyi park) are designated to nature conservation, research, educational and cultural purposes as well as controlled recreational activities. In national parks there are restrictions to the management of natural resources.
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Nature parks (prirodnyi park) are the equivalent of the Finnish national parks, designated to both protecting natural values and providing recreational opportunities in the parks.
- In nature reserves (zakaznik) human activities are limited and a certain species, ecosystem or object of nature is protected.
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Nature monuments (prirodnyi pamyatnik) are exceptional objects of living or inorganic nature, such as landscapes, that need protection for scientific, cultural or historic reasons.
Establishment of new protected areas
Establishing new protected areas is usually a slow process. New protected areas have been proposed within the framework of the Finnish-Russian co-operation on nature conservation and also through the nature conservation projects.
The final decision on the establishment of federal protected areas is made by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation.