Elk Island (Losinyi Ostrov) national park: transformation of regulations in urban environment

Abstract

To take into account both ecosystem and socio-economic functions, it is necessary to carry out functional zoning of specially protected natural areas. The dynamics of zoning of the Losiny Ostrov National Park from 1988 to 2012 was assessed from the position of environmental regimes using open-access data. Using GIS technologies, the estimated dynamic schemes of environmental restrictions were obtained. The tendency to easing regulations clearly exists: the weighted average dynamic parameter of environmental value is –3.27 (possible values vary from –20 to 20). The 2012 version established stronger transformations of environmental restrictions than in 2010 (dynamic indicators are –0.62 and –2.65, respectively). The greatest negative changes for natural complexes are associated with the allocation of a historical and cultural zone, the transformation of third-party user sites into economic zones, the expansion of the recreational zone, and the disappearance of the educational and excursion zone. Differences between Moscow city and the adjacent Moscow region are negligible. However, there is considerable disparity between current zoning of urban and regional parts of the park (restriction indicators are 7.41 and 12.17, respectively). Urban space is more oriented towards recreation, indicating an incompatibility with the status of a national park. In contrast to the outer 1000-meter belt, the central part of the park has had greater deterioration of nature restrictions. The weighted average indicator of ecosystem compliance (environmental restrictions and vulnerability of natural complexes) is 3.3 (possible values range from –20 to 20), which points to a sufficient level of compliance with the functional zoning of landscape vulnerability. This accordance is more typical of inner part of the park inner and territories within the boundary of Moscow.