24 October nine new members have been elected to the 21-member World Heritage Committee in charge of implementing UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

An International Practical Conference "Ancient Sogdiana: Past, Present and Future" took place on 18-19 October in Dushanbe. The conference was dedicated to issues of conservation and development of the Yagnob valley and its people - Yagnob small mountain ethnic group (5000 people), speakers of ancient Sogdiana language.

The Lena Pillars nomination file for inscription of the Nature Park of the same name of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on the World Heritage List has been sent to the World Heritage Centre. The Lena Pillars is the 12th natural complex nominated by Russia for receiving the high status of the UNESCO World Heritage Site (8 sites have already been inscribed onto the List, 2 have been neglected and 1 is being presently considered by the World Heritage Centre).

The Russian edition of the World Heritage Information Kit '2005 by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, has come out. The Russian version of the publication was prepared by the Natural Heritage Protection Fund with the support of the TNK-BP Company.

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.