Among the recommendations delivered by UNEP to the Russian Federation and the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee for greening the Games, are proposals to establish a Western Caucasus Ecological Corridor for wildlife movement, and a buffer zone around the Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Strict Reserve.
Almost 90 proposed projects are now under review by the Government.
12 July 2012: To guide the Government of the Russian Federation and the Organizing Committee of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games in taking environmental considerations into their preparations and staging, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) delivered recommendations to Natural Resources Minister Sergey Donskoy, including on restoring fisheries in the Mzymta River, extending national park protection, and developing an information and monitoring system for the environment.
Other proposed measures to minimize the impact of Olympics infrastructure on Sochi National Park include: the establishment of a nature park for bird life; the establishment of a buffer zone around the Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Strict Reserve; the establishment of a Western Caucasus Ecological Corridor to assist in the movements of wildlife; a comprehensive conservation plan and programme for the reintroduction of the Persian leopard; the establishment of ponds and wetlands for rare reptiles and amphibians; measures to engage young people in environmental activities linked with the Games; the expansion of a nursery for conserving and reintroducing rare and endangered species of trees and shrubs.
A total of almost 90 projects are now under review by the Government. The recommendations, from a team of UNEP-led international and local experts, are part of UNEP’s history of working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to strengthen the environmental legacy of Games. [UNEP Press Release]