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Alexander Kisleiko, director of the Kurile Nature Reserve, poses for a picture on the coast of the Okhotsk Sea on the Southern Kurile island of Kunashir September 16, 2015. Russian residents of the island chain at the centre of a dispute between Japan and Russia that has held up a treaty to formally end World War Two hope a diplomatic solution will lure tourists and investment to help refurbish rickety infrastructure. "The Kuril Islands are a unique territory. There's not a place like it anywhere in the world," he said, suggesting that the best way to preserve its nature was through cooperation with Japan and an international body like UNESCO. "If we manage to merge our natural park with the Shiretoko World Heritage Site (on the Japanese island of Hokkaido) and bring it under the auspices of UNESCO, then no one will be able to build any industry here, and we'll be able to preserve the nature here." The Southern Kuriles are referred to in Japan as the Northern Territories. (Photo by Thomas Peter/Reuters)
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