Terrestrial (400 square kilometers) and marine (261 square kilometers) protective zones surround the nature reserve. Buffer zone is situated along the land boundaries of both areas on Kunashir Island.
Three parts (Rudny, Tyatinsky, Lovtsovsky, overall area of 222 square kilometers) of the buffer zone border with western, southern and eastern borders of Tyatinsky area of the nature reserve. Two parts (Stolbchaty and Sernovodsko-Golovinsky, overall area of 193 square kilometers) of the buffer zone border with north-east and south-east borders of Alekhinsky area.
The area of terrestrial protective zones is 415 square kilometers (0.48% of Sakhalin Region).