Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of August 10, 1995 №440

Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus dated August 10, 1995 No. 440 «On the Establishment of the National Park «Braslav Lakes» and on Certain Other Issues of the Park's Activities»

As of January 16, 2007
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus
RESOLUTION
August 10, 1995 No. 440
Minsk

ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL PARK «BRASLAV LAKES» AND ON CERTAIN OTHER ISSUES OF THE PARK'S ACTIVITIES

In order to preserve unique ecosystems and to ensure effective and fuller use of the recreational potential of the natural resources of the Braslav district, and in accordance with the Scheme for the Rational Distribution of Specially Protected Natural Areas of the Republic of Belarus, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus RESOLVES:

To approve the proposal of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, and the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus to establish, as of September 1, 1995, on the territory of the Braslav district, the National Park «Braslav Lakes» and to transfer it under the authority of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus.
To approve the attached Regulations on the National Park «Braslav Lakes».
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, together with the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, shall, within one month, submit in accordance with the established procedure a draft legislative act on the approval of the boundaries of the National Park «Braslav Lakes».
To take into account that in 1995–1996 the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, jointly with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, shall ensure the development of a technical project for the operation of the National Park «Braslav Lakes» and shall approve it in accordance with the established procedure.
To establish that until the transfer of land plots by landowners, land users, and landholders to the National Park «Braslav Lakes», they must comply on these lands with the regime of economic activity and the rules for the protection of natural resources in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus, the provisions and charters of the relevant enterprises, institutions, and organizations.

Prime Minister
of the Republic of Belarus M.Chigir
APPROVED
by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers
of the Republic of Belarus
dated August 10, 1995 No. 440

REGULATIONS

on the National Park «Braslav Lakes»

The National Park «Braslav Lakes» (hereinafter — the National Park) is a comprehensive environmental, economic and scientific institution, whose objectives include:

preserving the natural complex of the Braslav group of lakes as a historically developed landscape and the genetic pool of flora and fauna typical for the Belarusian Lake District;
organizing ecological education and awareness among the population;
conducting scientific research related to the development and implementation of scientific methods for the conservation of biological diversity, natural and historical-cultural complexes and objects in conditions of recreational and economic use, and evaluating the ecological situation in the region;
developing and implementing scientific methods of environmental protection and natural resource management;
preserving cultural heritage (objects of ethnography, archaeology, history, paleontology, etc.);
organizing recreational activities;
maintaining integrated farming based on traditional methods and advanced achievements in natural resource use.

The National Park operates in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus and these Regulations.
The National Park is a legal entity, has its own bank accounts, independent balance sheet, a seal with the image of the State Emblem of the Republic of Belarus, and its own name.
On the territory of the National Park, depending on the degree of preservation of natural territorial complexes in their natural state, their health, scientific, recreational, historical-cultural, and aesthetic value, and the tasks assigned to the Park, the following functional zones are established:

a protected zone intended for the conservation of the genetic pool of flora and fauna, the creation of conditions for the natural development of biogeocenoses and their comprehensive study. All types of economic and other activities are prohibited in this zone, except for scientific research and protection of natural complexes. Scientific research is carried out only according to the scientific research plan of the National Park;
a regulated use zone, which serves as an object for studying restoration, development dynamics, and resilience of ecosystems not disturbed by human activity, effective implementation of scientifically based environmental measures, creating optimal conditions for the conservation and evolutionary development of the genetic pool of flora and fauna. In this zone, the following are permitted:

scientific research and other activities necessary for the conservation of the park’s biota;
fire prevention measures (removal of windfall, deadwood, and dry trees), creation of firebreaks and mineralized forest rides, construction and repair of fire and tourist roads;
pest and disease control in the event of mass outbreaks;
forest thinning and selective sanitary logging;
amateur and sport fishing;
hunting and commercial fishing in accordance with legislation and with the consent of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection;
veterinary, sanitary, medical-preventive and biotechnical activities for the conservation of the genetic pool and prevention of diseases among wild animals;
feeding of hoofed animals (in extreme conditions);
on limited and specially designated plots: haymaking, berry and mushroom picking, cattle grazing, and other types of use necessary to meet the needs of residents of the settlements located within the park’s territory;

a recreational zone designed for the placement of facilities and structures necessary for public recreation, cultural and wellness events, as well as for organizing parking lots, tent setups, and campfires in designated places (locations of recreational facilities and tourist routes are determined by the technical project for the operation of the National Park). Economic activities in this zone must not negatively affect the landscapes, water bodies, flora, and fauna. The following are permitted in this zone: activities allowed in the regulated use zone, as well as forest maintenance activities: branch trimming, sapling care, thinning and removal of undergrowth, edge maintenance, landscape-forming logging, reformation and renewal logging;
an economic zone designed for the placement of facilities related to servicing park visitors, as well as administrative, recreational, economic facilities, residential premises, and for conducting economic and other activities that do not contradict the objectives of the National Park, using environmentally friendly technologies and traditional methods.

The area and territorial placement of the National Park zones are established by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus based on the technical project for the operation of the National Park.
Protection of natural complexes and objects within the boundaries of the National Park is carried out by landowners, land users, and landholders on whose lands these complexes and objects are located.
On the territory adjacent to the National Park, a buffer zone is established by decision of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, with a special regime of nature use governed by these Regulations, intended to reduce the negative impact of economic use of adjacent territories on the natural complexes of the National Park. The lands of this zone remain in the ownership, use, and possession of the previous landowners, land users, and landholders.
The following are prohibited in the buffer zone:

acclimatization of species and subspecies of forest plants and wild animals alien to the local flora and fauna;
water intake for economic purposes in amounts that change the regime of water bodies, discharge of wastewater and waste into them;
clearing of aquatic and coastal vegetation in water protection zones of rivers and water bodies, except for existing reclamation networks;
economic activities that may negatively affect the natural complexes of the National Park.

The National Park monitors compliance by landowners, land users, and landholders with environmental legislation and the nature protection regime established by these Regulations on the park’s lands and lands in the buffer zone.
Scientific research in the National Park is organized and conducted by the scientific department.
Scientists and specialists from other institutions and organizations may be involved in research and scientific-methodological work in the National Park on a contractual basis.
Scientific and methodological guidance in the National Park is provided by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the Scientific Council of the Park.
The composition of the Scientific Council, its chairman, and its regulations are approved by the authority under which the National Park operates, in agreement with the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The Scientific Council is an advisory body under the director of the National Park.
The Scientific Council includes leading scientists and specialists of the National Park, as well as prominent scientists and specialists in environmental protection, forestry, representatives of public environmental organizations, and local government bodies.
The Scientific Council reviews and approves, with the consent of the park director, plans for forest management, fire prevention, sanitary, recreational, biotechnical, and other activities, drawn up on the basis of scientific recommendations and the technical project for the park's operation, as well as other issues related to the park's activities.
The activities of the National Park are financed from the state budget, extrabudgetary nature protection funds, as well as from revenues from scientific, environmental, economic, and other activities that do not contradict the park's objectives, and from voluntary contributions.
Employees responsible for protecting the National Park are entitled to all rights and benefits provided for employees of the state forest protection service.
The National Park is headed by a director who manages the park in accordance with current legislation and these Regulations.
The director is appointed and dismissed in accordance with current legislation.
The structure and staffing of the National Park are approved by its director within the limits of the staff size and wage fund established by the authority to which the park is subordinated.
The National Park may bring legal claims against legal and natural persons for damages caused by violations of the nature use regime established by these Regulations.
Damage caused to the National Park as a result of violations of the legislation of the Republic of Belarus on specially protected natural territories and objects shall be compensated in full by legal and natural persons.
Losses caused to landowners, land users, and landholders due to restrictions on their economic activities or withdrawal of land in connection with the establishment of the National Park shall be compensated in accordance with the legislation.
Persons guilty of violating the requirements of these Regulations or environmental legislation shall bear administrative or criminal liability in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Belarus.