Natural attractions as specially protected natural areas of local importance: theory and practice

The regional legislation of the Russian Federation, which provides for the existence of natural attractions as a category of specially protected areas of local significance, is analyzed. It is established that only six subjects of the Russian Federation (the Republic of Dagestan, the Republic of Crimea, the Republic of North Ossetia – Alania, Krasnodar Krai, Volgograd Oblast and Kemerovo Oblast – Kuzbass) provide for such a category of specially protected natural areas of local significance as natural attractions. It is established that the laws of the six named subjects contain definitions of natural attractions, as well as a number of other norms concerning them. It is concluded that, in general, the regulatory framework in the field of natural attractions is sufficiently developed for its successful implementation in practice. However, in reality, only in Krasnodar Krai do natural attractions actually exist. Moreover, at present, only five of them are functioning. The reasons for the low demand for natural attractions as a category of specially protected areas of local significance are seen in the fact that local governments in the Russian Federation as a whole do not seek to create specially protected areas of local significance, and also in the fact that what the regional legislator understands by natural attractions largely coincides with the understanding of natural monuments in the federal law “On specially protected natural areas”.