The Russian Arctic does not have enough specially protected natural areas, said Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) corresponding member and Director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vyacheslav Rozhnov.

He pointed to the seven reserves, three national parks, four wildlife sanctuaries, one natural monument and about 40 specially protected natural areas in the Russian Arctic, but said the existing specially protected areas were created primarily to protect terrestrial ecosystems, while marine areas were hardly protected.

"Unfortunately, all these protected areas are primarily land-based. In fact, there are no marine protected areas in the country, except a marine reserve in the Russian Far East. Fortunately, some lands have adjacent waters, which are also protected as they are part of the nature reserves," he said.