This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of the publication is the sole responsibility of City of Lieksa and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.
The protected areas currently operating within and close to the Lieksa lake-river system are the "Koropinsky" (17,800 ha) and "Konetsostrovsky" (13,700 ha) game sanctuaries, "Judalsky" landscape reserve (1,524 ha) and "Boloto Tiksha" wetland natural monument (556 ha).
Yet, only the landscape reserve and the natural monument enjoy a true protection status, since regulations for game sanctuaries do not restrict nature use, tourism included, except for hunting. Moreover, the Institute of Biology (Karelian Research Centre, Russian Academy of Science) has recommended that the operation of the game sanctuaries be discontinued.
Thus, the only protected areas suitable for tourism organisation in the Muezersky District are the small "Judalsky" landscape reserve and the "Boloto Tiksha" natural monument.
The largest nature protection object holding real potential for tourism organisation and development is the planned "Tulos" National Park - 38,500 ha (see "Tulos" National Park: proposals for designation, 2001. Documents of the Tacis ENVRUS9704 project "Karelia parks development"). In 2001, the period for which the area had been reserved by the Republic of Karelia Government with view to the NP designation expired, and large-scope industrial activities are now permitted there. For the natural complex of Lake Tulos to be preserved as the most valuable and promising object for tourism in the Muezersky District, the territory should be urgently designated as a protected area of some category.
