A new list of species of animals, plants and fungi introduced in the Red Book of the Sverdlovsk Region and subject to special protection. The relevant resolution was adopted at a meeting of the regional government chaired by Governor Yevgeny Kuyvashev on August 10, the Governor's Information Policy Department.

"It is envisaged to re-issue the Red Book every ten years, the latest edition is dated 2008. The list of species of animals, plants and mushrooms has been updated on the basis of proposals received from leading research organizations. Under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Sverdlovsk Region, a commission was established on rare and endangered species whose members agreed on an updated list. Some of the objects of the flora and fauna are excluded, and new species that are estimated to be under threat of extinction are added, "said Igor Sutyagin, Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Sverdlovsk Region.

Among the rare hedgehogs excluded from the Red Data Book of the Sverdlovsk Region, as well as three species of birds: the Little Bittern, the Lutok and the Spittle, and three species of angiosperms: Cornflower whole-stem, Tamyan Talieva, Noricnik Skopoli.

New species of mammals are not included in the new edition of the Red Book. Under special protection there are such animals as European mink, River otter, European reindeer, Brown ears, Natuzius bat, Northern leather jacket, Flying squirrel and several types of maidens.

The list of species of protected birds has been expanded to 45 items. The new edition of the Red Book also includes 15 species of insects, the list expanded to 42 species. Also increased to 158 species the number of protected angiosperms. For the first time in the Red Book moss-like plants are included, in the list of 20 species. In addition, under special protection are 2 species of reptiles, 4 species of amphibians, 9 species of fern-like and plant-like plants, 10 species of lichens and 37 species of fungi.

As explained in the regional Ministry of Natural Resources, changes are associated with a reassessment of the threat of extinction of certain species to exclude their extinction. In addition, the regional list of rare species of animals, plants and mushrooms, the new edition will include those species that live and grow in the Sverdlovsk region and are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.