Russia's Lago-Naki ski resort sparks outrage over 10,000-tree removal in UNESCO site
A controversial ski resort in Russia's Western Caucasus is moving forward despite years of opposition. The Lago-Naki project, set to involve significant environmental conservation efforts, is planned to open in 2028. It will require the removal of nearly 10,000 trees, sparking opposition from environmental groups who warn of irreversible damage to a protected UNESCO site.
Plans for the Lago-Naki resort began drawing criticism as early as 2021. UNESCO repeatedly urged Russia to halt construction between 2022 and 2025, citing threats to the Western Caucasus World Heritage Site. The WWF campaigned with petitions and reports on biodiversity risks in Krasnodar Krai, while Greenpeace escalated protests, legal action, and public campaigns through 2025. Yet by early 2026, no major concessions had been made.
In February, Adygea's Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit from the Social and Environmental Union against the Republican Committee on Architecture and Urban Planning. Activists had argued that transferring the land from federal ownership to the Dakhovskoye rural settlement violated forestry laws. The plots, once part of the forest fund, were reclassified to allow construction.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently met with Aleksander Tkachev, a key investor in the project, to discuss a new road linking the ski resort to Black Sea coastal resorts. The full resort is expected to be completed by 2032, despite ongoing objections from environmentalists.
The resort's development continues, with up to 9,950 trees marked for removal. Legal challenges have so far failed to stop the project. Construction remains on track for a 2028 opening, though opposition groups vow to keep fighting the decision.
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