Russian Residents Brave Risks to Protect Their National Park

Post by : Priya

  Photo:AFP

Nature and progress often stand on opposite sides of a complex, difficult balance. Nowhere is this struggle more sharply seen than in Korolyov, a town on the outskirts of Moscow, Russia, where a plan to build a highway through the Losiny Ostrov National Park has sparked fierce local resistance and opened a window onto wider concerns about environmental protection, governance, and community voices in modern Russia.

Losiny Ostrov, also known as Elk Island, holds special significance as one of Russia’s oldest national parks and a vital green lung for the Moscow region. It covers nearly 130 square kilometers and shelters a rich collection of wildlife, including rare birds and the iconic elk. The park’s history stretches back centuries, originally set aside as hunting grounds for Russian princes and Tsars, and more recently declared a national park in the 1980s. Despite its protected status under Russian law, this precious natural sanctuary now faces a direct threat that pits urban development and transport infrastructure against conservation.

The plan, initiated by local authorities in Korolyov, involves building a new highway passing directly through the park. The official reasoning centers on relieving severe traffic jams that affect commuters traveling into Moscow and connecting new residential developments rising in the area. The highway project is estimated at around 5.4 million euros and aims to be completed by March 2026. While improving traffic flow and local access may be necessary, the environmental costs are already sparking alarm.

Legal and Ethical Challenges

Russian law prohibits construction within national parks, yet the project is proceeding amid controversy over how authorities have classified the work as "repairs" to an existing road. However, environmental lawyers and experts point out that no real road existed—only a small, unpaved path used occasionally by forest rangers. To retrofit this path into a highway, construction crews even spread asphalt powder to classify it as a road, an act critics say amounts to falsification and deceit.

This legal maneuvering has not gone unchallenged. Local residents and environmental activists have courageously spoken out and taken direct action to halt the construction. Among them is 62-year-old Irina Kuriseva, who, along with a small group of activists, physically blocked machinery spreading asphalt in the forest. Their protest led to police detention, fines, and harsh questioning that Kuriseva described as treating them like serious criminals.

The judicial response to activists' dissent reflects the broader political environment in Russia today, where continued military operations in Ukraine and a tightening grip on freedom of expression have left many voices of dissent marginalized or suppressed. A judge linked to this case even suggested activists pay fines to avoid further complications, highlighting the limited room for legal recourse.

Community vs. Authority

Despite these pressures, the local community’s resolve remains strong. Activists and residents continue to voice their concerns, appealing to the highest levels of government. In June 2025, around a thousand people gathered outside the presidential administration building in Moscow to hand over petitions and complaints, hoping for intervention. Their appeal draws on President Vladimir Putin’s words from a 2010 visit to Losiny Ostrov, where he called nature a “gift from God” requiring protection.

Yet the current stance from the Kremlin is markedly different. The official line places responsibility on regional authorities and emphasizes that environmental protection should not impede development and the residents’ comfort. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the president should not be involved in this "local" issue.

Environmental and Social Impacts

The implications of paving a highway through Losiny Ostrov extend far beyond bureaucratic or political debates. The park’s ecosystem is fragile and unique, acting as a habitat for endangered species and a vital green space in an increasingly urbanized region. The construction and resulting traffic increase could lead to habitat fragmentation, pollution, noise, and increased risks to wildlife, undermining decades of conservation efforts.

For locals like Kuriseva and others, the fight to protect Losiny Ostrov is about more than just a patch of forest; it's about defending a community’s right to a healthy environment and preserving a natural heritage for future generations. They warn that once the forest is sacrificed for short-term convenience or development goals, it cannot be restored easily.

Broader Reflections

The conflict over Losiny Ostrov mirrors global challenges in balancing ecological preservation with economic growth and urban development. It brings into sharp relief key questions for Russia and other nations: How should societies preserve natural spaces amid growing populations and infrastructure needs? What role should grassroots movements and environmental defenders play in shaping such decisions? And how transparent and accountable should governance be in weighing competing interests?

In Russia’s case, where activism faces heavy restrictions and priorities often lean toward economic or political agendas, the Losiny Ostrov controversy reveals the stakes and tensions in safeguarding the environment amid powerful development interests.

Losiny Ostrov National Park