Analysis of visitors to nature protected territories in the context of biological resources conservation and use (the case of the Arkhangelsk region)

This article explores current challenges arising from the growth of tourism in protected areas of the European North of Russia, which is creating new conditions for implementing conservation goals. The objective of the study is to analyze visitor numbers to federal protected areas and regional wildlife refuges in the Arkhangelsk Region in the context of bioresource conservation and use. The study focuses on the structure of visitors to these protected areas, their motivations for visiting, and the use of bioresources in these protected areas. The study's methodology includes an analysis of publicly available data on visitors to federal protected areas and a summary of the results of a survey of state inspectors on visitor numbers to regional wildlife refuges in the Arkhangelsk Region. The study results show that the number of visitors to eight federal protected areas located in the Arkhangelsk Region is approximately 80 000 per year, more than half of whom are interested in the extraction of biological resources. The largest contribution to this figure comes from one national park located near the largest urban agglomeration. Regional wildlife sanctuaries in the Arkhangelsk Region are predominantly visited by unorganized visitors and local residents, whose primary activities are wild-growing and fishing. Visitor numbers to regional wildlife sanctuaries are affected by the development of the road network and increased economic activity near their boundaries. The most accessible and visited wildlife sanctuaries are characterized by a diverse visitor mix, including not only local residents but also residents from other regions. The study's findings highlight the need to develop a comprehensive approach to tracking visitors to protected areas to ensure timely decisions on bioresource conservation. This approach should include both tourists (including nature-oriented individuals) and local residents living near protected areas and traditionally using the biological resources within them.