A new status of Gydansky National Park: it is permitted to move with reindeer herds, it is prohibited to drill

Residents of the settlement Gyda in Tazovskiy district communicated with the head of Gydansky National Park, which was transformed from the Gydansky nature reserve at the end of December of 2019. They learned about the rules of residence and nature management in the Park. Now it is possible to live and lead the traditional way of life in the Park, to be busy with reindeer husbandry and amateur fishing and to pick up wild-growing plants. To stay in the Park, it is necessary to have a pass, which is easily issued to any resident of the Gydan Peninsula.

The head of Gyda Oleg Shabalin explained to a correspondent of the news agency “Sever-Press” that the change in the status of “Gydansky” was very relevant: about 100 indigenous residents needed it. There is also a great require for tourism on this territory – many people are interested in northern nature and the traditional way of life of nomads.

“Although it will be very expensive tourism to remote and hard-to-reach places and requiring additional efforts”, said Oleg Shabalin. – “After all, it is a closed border zone, and it will take a month to issue a pass for a Russian citizen, who does not live in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Foreigners really want to arrive, and it will take three months for them to issue a pass”.

The nature reserve was transformed into the national park only a month ago, and now creation of tourist infrastructure is only planned. It will probably be possible to connect district programs. Gyda will become a supporting base, and indigenous people will be able to work in ethnic tourism directly in the National Park.

Hunting will still be prohibited here. The new status does not influence on inspectors, there are several cordons in the National Park.

Scientific activity was and remains one of the areas of work of the nature protection structure. The unique flora and fauna on the protected area of the Gydan tundra arouse interest not only of Russian but also of foreign researchers. Scientific expeditions worked in the nature reserve every year, and this year they will continue their activity.

According to Oleg Shabalin, the participants of the meeting with the head of the Park were only worried about the fact that the change in the status would give the green light to fuel and energy companies. But their fears were dispelled: no production activity can be carried out on the territory of the Park; the status is changed solely for comfort of indigenous residents.