For several years now, there have been serious battles in the region regarding the further development of the National Park; both the park administration and the regional Government have their own point of view on the future fate of the park.
“The first concept for the development of the TRZ was developed in 2007-2009. However, investors did not show interest, residents did not start working, management companies did not come to develop the territory, and besides, the development of the TRZ was seriously hampered by problems with land, since in fact the current legislation prohibits construction on the territory of the Curonian Spit.” Rugrad.eu
“The head of the department of special economic zones and project financing of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Levchenkov, said at one of the meetings that draft federal government resolutions have been prepared on the closure of tourist and recreational SEZs in the Kaliningrad region, as well as in the Stavropol Territory. In these regions, projects could not attract a single investor.” 39.ru
For example, Felix Alekseev, Honored Ecologist of the Russian Federation, spoke about this at a meeting held at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation (the material is posted on the Free Kaliningrad website.
About settlements
But still, in my opinion, the main problem lies with the residents of the villages of Rybachy, Morskoye and Lesnoye, located on the territory of the National Park. Officially, about 1,558 citizens now live in these villages, all villages are united into the municipal formation “Rural Settlement of the Curonian Spit”.
“The municipal formation “Rural Settlement Curonian Spit” includes 3 settlements with a total population of 1,558 people as of January 1, 2010, including: Rybachy village - 1,001 people; Morskoe village – 132 people; Lesnoy village - 425 people, of which the working population - 999 people, retirement age - 325 people, children and teenagers - 234 people. 154 people are employed in the public sector, 79 people in agriculture, 450 people in other industries.”
The budget of the municipal formation “Rural settlement of the Curonian Spit” is:
1) the total amount of budget expenditures for 2012 in the amount of 9930 thousand rubles, for 2013 in the amount of 10120 thousand rubles;
2) total budget revenues for 2012 in the amount of 9180 thousand rubles, for 2013 in the amount of 9360 thousand rubles, based on:
- tax and non-tax income for 2012 in the amount of 7,500 thousand rubles, for 2013 in the amount of 7,600 thousand rubles;
3) the settlement budget deficit for 2012 in the amount of 750 thousand rubles, for 2013 in the amount of 760 thousand rubles.
The maintenance of 10 deputies and the village administration will cost almost 4 million rubles in 2012, more than the cost of housing and communal services. (data taken from here http://kursh.gov39.ru/index.php/ru/2009-10-19-08-30-25/115------q---q--22--2010 --18 )
The head of the rural settlement is Balbutsky Sergey Nikolaevich, elected in 2009; before his election, he worked mainly in construction organizations (1977 - 1987 - work in various positions in construction and commercial organizations in Belarus and Russia.
-1987 – 2005 - work in senior positions in commercial organizations in Krasnoyarsk
-from 10.02. 2006 – to July 26, 2006 – General Director of Kranz Stroy Invest LLC
-from 07.26.2006 to 03.10.2009 - General Director of JSC Zelenogradsk-Selstroy) (http://kursh.gov39.ru/)
The most important asset of the administration of a rural settlement is the land located within the boundaries of the settlement. Formally, it is located on the territory of the National Park, but in fact it is managed by the administration chosen by the residents.
This is a certain issue that needs to be resolved radically.
National Park
How do you see the development of the Curonian Spit? Visitors to the official page of the Curonian Spit National Park on the Internet were asked to answer this question.
The main thing is to focus on preserving and maintaining the unique nature of the Curonian Spit
79.30%
Develop a project for the construction and development of infrastructure of the Russian part of the Curonian Spit and look for investors
10.53%
Close the Curonian Spit for tourists and vacationers
10.18%
From the official website of the Curonian Spit National Park http://www.park-kosa.ru/cn_o_parke/deyatelnost/
UNESCO materials on the inclusion of the Curonian Spit in the World Cultural Heritage List http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/994/documents/
Moreover, since 2010, Unesco has expressed concern about the development plans of the Curonian Spit on the part of the Russian Federation, and no development can be carried out on the part of the administration of the National Park, since their main task is to preserve the natural landscape, but what are the tasks of those elected for only five 10 years of deputies and the head of the administration of a rural settlement do not have to guess.
UNESCO Notes 2010
"5. Expresses its concern about the possible tourism economic zone in Kaliningrad, and also requests the State Party of the Russian Federation to halt the development projects in the light of their potential impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property, and to provide full details of plans already approved, and in preparation, and their related Environmental Impact Assessments for evaluation by the World Heritage Centre, and the Advisory Bodies; (Decision - 34COM 7B.91 - Curonian Spit (Lithuania / Russian Federation) (C 994))"
UNESCO Notes 2011
"4. Notes with great concern the designation of an economic development zone within the Kaliningrad region which appears to conflict with the needs of the property, and proposals for large leisure complexes which would overwhelm the fragile landscape of the Spit and threaten its integrity; 5. Requests the State Party of the Russian Federation to halt immediately the current proposals, not to pursue the development of large leisure complexes and to review the designation of the economic zone; 6. Also requests the State Party of the Russian Federation to review the overall legal protection arrangements for the property in order to ensure that development respects the Outstanding Universal Value; (Decision - 35COM 7B.99 - Curonian Spit (Lithuania / Russian Federation) (C 994)" http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/994/documents/
That is, in essence, we have, on the one hand, a unique natural landscape, on the other, 1558 residents of unprofitable settlements, while the settlements are building within the framework of their powers, within the boundaries of the settlements and threatening the existence of the Curonian Spit as a World Cultural Heritage, which has found its expression in UNESCO's remarks.
But there are 1,558 officially registered residents living in Rybachy, Lesnoy and Morskoye, and even more private houses have been built under the guise of “guest houses”.
At one time, within the boundaries of settlements, land was allocated for development left and right. So maybe it’s worth thinking about banning permanent residence on the territory of the Curonian Spit, relocating citizens to more favorable living conditions and developing tourism potential on the site of settlements without damaging nature?
