These include four state nature reserves of regional significance: Mestygyegansky in the Nizhnevartovsky District, Kuminsky in the Kondinsky District, Vanzevatsky in the Beloyarsky District, and Verkhne-Vakhsky in the Nizhnevartovsky District. Additionally, plans are underway to establish two natural monuments: The Blue Lakes in the Khanty-Mansiysky District, and Kulumansky in the Nizhnevartovsky District, Press Service of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area’s Government reports.

According to the director of Yugra’s Subsurface Management and Natural Resources Department, Sergey Filatov, the new conservation areas are being created based on proposals from municipal authorities, residents, research organizations and representatives of the indigenous population.  Later, ecological trails, tourist routes and the necessary infrastructure will be developed.

Today, Yugra has 26 specially protected natural areas, five of which are of federal and 21 of regional significance. These territories cover a total of 2.6 million square hectares, or 5 percent of the Autonomous Area’s entire landmass.