Year: 2019, Number: 1, Pages: 110-124
Kurilskiy Nature Reserve (Zapovednik) was established in 1984. It is located on Kunashir island (the Great Kurile ridge) and the islands of Demin and Oskolki (the Lesser Kurile ridge). The reserve has an area of 65861 hectares (44.2 % of the area of Kunashir Island), the protection zone is 74475 ha (including marine area). The reserve also administrates "Small Kuriles" Federal Refuge, established in 1983, with an area of 45,000 hectares located on the islands of Shikotan, Zeleny, Polonsky, Yury, Tanfilyev, Anuchin, Storozhevoy (the Lesser Kurile ridge). The vegetation is pronounced altitudinal zonation; dark coniferous fir-spruce forests, deciduous forests, thickets of cedar elfin and tall grass predominate. For the islands of Demin and Oskolki meadow motley grass and grass and shrub communities are typical. The flora of the protected areas includes 1339 видов species of vascular plants, 263 species of algae, about 300 lichen species and about 200 species of fungi. The fauna of vertebrates includes 39 species of fish, 3 species of amphibians, 5 species of reptiles, 287 species of birds and 29 species of mammals. 104 species of vascular plants and 95 species of vertebrates are listed in the Red Books of Russia and the Sakhalin Region. The reserve is famous not only for its natural objects, but also for historical sites of various periods. Special geographical location of Kunashir Island, its unusual and rich nature, rare flora and fauna, scientific and economic value of natural and historical sites, and the fragility and vulnerability of ecosystems have been taken into account when creating the nature reserve.