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IUCN Expert Mission to Putorana Reserve

An IUCN expert mission visited the Putoransky State Nature Reserve, Moscow and Norilsk from 28 August to 5 September, within the framework of the project to inscribe the Putorana Plateau natural site on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. During the trip, the expert mission examined the relevant documents at the Putorana Reserve office and held numerous meetings with the staff of the reserve, as well as researchers of the Extreme North Agricultural Research Institute and the Museum of History and Development of the Norilsk Industrial Area. The mission also included a helicopter flight to evaluate the state of conservation of natural complexes of the nominated property. On the 5th of September the final meeting between the IUCN expert and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Rosprirodnadzor was held.

The Putorana Plateau World Heritage nomination was prepared during the period from 2000 to 2006, within the framework of the German-Russian intergovernmental agreement on collaboration in the sphere of environmental protection. The work was coordinated by the Natural Heritage Protection Fund. The Dresden University of Technology assisted the Russian scientists from the Putorana Reserve, the Institute of Geography RAS and the Russian Research Institute for Cultural and Natural Heritage named after D.S. Likhachev with the nomination.

The expert mission will result in a report which will serve as the basis for the IUCN's recommendations to the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee that is scheduled for June, 2008, in Calgary, Canada. At the session the Committee will make the final decision on the inscription of the Putorana Plateau on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The nominated property has a good chance of being added to the World Heritage List, thus becoming the 9th Russian natural World Heritage site.