# Impact of High Water Levels in Lake Baikal on Rare Plant Species in the Coastal Zone
## 3 Results and Discussion
In the context of reducing damage and mitigating the impact of water-level fluctuations on vegetation and fauna, it is reasonable to use the concept of nature-based solutions aimed \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c} \hline
**Lake Baikal** & _Craniospermum_ & _Deschampsia_ & _Coriospermum_ & _Astragalus_ & **Total Damage Cost,** \\
**Water Level** & _subvillosum_ & _turczaminoavi_ & _ulopterum_ & _sericocoamus_ & **Thousand Rubles \({}^{*}\)** \\ \hline
457.00–457.10 & 0 & 223.80 & 0 & 0 & 223.80 \\
457.10–457.20 & 49.80 & 223.80 & 0 & 0 & 273.60 \\
457.20–457.30 & 64.20 & 223.80 & 0 & 0 & 288.00 \\
457.30–457.40 & 82.20 & 223.80 & 0 & 0 & 306.00 \\
457.40–457.50 & 127.80 & 223.80 & 0 & 0 & 351.60 \\
457.50–457.60 & 289.20 & 223.80 & 0 & 0 & 513.00 \\
457.60–457.07 & 481.80 & 223.80 & 12.60 & 0 & 718.20 \\
457.70–457.85 & 2842.20 & 223.80 & 18.00 & 14.40 & 3098.40 \\ \hline \end{tabular} \({}^{*}\)Increment total.  
\end{table} 
Table 2: Damage cost to rare plant species. at preserving and improving biodiversity and contributing to the provision of a range of ecosystem services. There are three levels of ecosystem management: minimal intervention, low intervention, and high intervention or extensive ecosystem management [51]. Minimal intervention (or its absence) implies the preservation of the current state of ecosystems; for example, the creation of specially protected natural areas. One of the ways to preserve rare and endemic Baikal psammophytes is to reduce the anthropogenic load (primarily tourist activity) [52]. High water levels and prolonged standing water are detrimental to vegetation and should be avoided [53]. Thus, limiting water-level fluctuations above 457.00 m is a priority recommendation to prevent damage to the endemic flora. It is acknowledged that during periods of extreme high-water years, it is not feasible to adhere to this restriction [54]. Therefore, a temporary rise in the water level by the minimum possible layer should be permitted. Minor intervention implies the sustainable restoration of disturbed ecosystems through a variety of approaches. When rare plant species are threatened with extinction, measures for their reintroduction must be developed and implemented. Such measures may include the collection and creation of a seed bank, the conducting of laboratory and field reproduction trials, the sowing of seeds in disturbed habitats, and the organization of monitoring observations. Extensive intervention requires significant financial expenses and involves the construction of protective structures or even the creation of new ecosystems. In our opinion, for Lake Baikal, one approach to protect highly productive areas from inundation (Selenga and Upper Angara River deltas) could be the construction of a dam. However, given the current restrictions on the construction of hydraulic structures in the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory, this type of intervention is not permissible and, in terms of costs, not feasible. The current procedure for state environmental monitoring of the unique ecological system of Lake Baikal was established by Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 260 of 18 February 2023. The failure to include flora in the scope of monitoring is a substantial oversight that demands prompt rectification. Currently, the monitoring of rare and endemic plant species is limited to protected areas.