New Transport Project: Threats to the Regional Geosystem Diversity

Abstract

Currently the China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) attracts the attention of the rest of the world. Two transport corridors, the sea and the land routes, will link China with Europe. For Russia the transportation component of the BRI has gained special significance, because it will allow to unlock the export and transit potential of Russian economy. The eastern transport corridor crossing Transbaikalia is a very interesting project for the Trans-Baikal Territory. One of the priority directions of this project is the possible building of a high-speed railway (HSR). The study purpose is the assessment of the impact of HSR building on the regional landscapes in the context of a) identification and evaluation of risks of loss for the most valuable natural areas and b) necessity of inclusion of these areas in the existing network of natural protected areas. The spatial analysis performed using GIS technologies shows that the HSR project will affect 35% of diversity of the regional landscapes. Fragile natural complexes were revealed among them. Moreover, the greatest impact can be asserted on the "Dzeren Valley" Federal Reserve, a part of natural complexes of which will be covered by the 10-km impact zone. The measures to mitigate and to compensate the negative impact of the new transport infrastructure on the regional geosystems are suggested.