Introduction. The article examines the specific features of the Baikal Natural Territory governance development. The power division among different levels of government, as well as the administrative affiliation of parts of the Baikal Natural Territory to the three federal subjects across the two different federal districts of the Russian Federation, requires the enhancement of the current management systems of environmental protection and socio-economic development of this unique natural area. The establishment of significant support measures at the federal level should imply their effective implementation locally with a consideration for the regional specifics. There is a growing need for the state regulation to ensure sustainable regional development in accordance with the principle «conservation through use».
Materials and methods. An overview of international experience in the management of water resources has been conducted through content and comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks, documents, and publication, in addition methods of systematization and synthesis have been employed. Statistical methods have been applied to assess the sustainability of Baikal Natural Territory development, and relevant visualizations have also been provided. As a main data source, the annual government reports «On the State of Lake Baikal and Measures for its Protection» have been used, along with an analysis of other relevant official statistics. The data used in this study have been obtained from open sources.
Results and conclusions. The article examines environmental, economic, and social indicators of the development of the Baikal Natural Territory, with an additional focus on the region’s tourist attractiveness. The key characteristics of the interaction between natural ecosystems and anthropogenic factors have been identified. New scientific literature on water resource management has been arranged and presented in a table format. The authors provide recommendations for increasing the effectiveness of horizontal interregional and vertical interagency cooperation, as well as for improving governance mechanisms based on a comprehensive approach in the context of Russia’s national development goals and national projects.
Discussion. The recommendations provided can be useful for the development of strategic plans for the sustainable development of territories with unique water bodies, particularly for the Baikal Natural Territory. A key limitation of this study is the insufficient amount of data. This issue is particularly relevant for the analysis of the social component of sustainable development. Future research may employ econometric methods, such as regression analysis, which would allow to assess the impact of individual factors on the overall sustainability of the Baikal Natural Territory development.