The Ecologist’s Day is on the 5th of June

The World Environment Day established by the United Nations and celebrated annually on the 5th of June for all ecologists and environmental organizations is one of the main ways to attract global attention to environmental issues. The holiday was established in June of 1972 on the Stockholm conference on problems of the environment.

In Yamal ecologists pay special attention to issues of ecology. In 2012 the region started full-scale liquidation of ecological damage. Cleaning of Beliy Island is continued. During 4 years 7 objects were liquidated, work was started on other 8 objects. Vilkitsky Island is next in plans. Besides, the state biological reserve of regional significance “Synsko-Voykarsky” will be created this year to protect places for spawning and wintering of precious whitefish. Thirteen specially protected natural territories of different categories are situated in the region. Ecological monitoring sites for conducting of complex researches on undisturbed background territories of the region have been working since 2010. Samples of snow, soils, surface water, bottom sediments and plants are taken on the sites according to the specially elaborated program. Specialists study terrestrial fauna for complete registration of the whole complex of species variety of the animal world. The scientific and research project “The shelter for the polar bear in the Russian Arctic” was inculcated in Yamal. The strategy on protection of the strongest beast of prey in the high latitudes will be elaborated by its results. The idea of registration and monitoring of polar bears in Yamal was supported by the World Wildlife Fund. Last year the interregional expedition center “Arktika” purchased 5 satellite collars (ARGOS) for funds of the grant. They will give understanding about travels of the animals. Pilot researches were conducted on Beliy Island, the response unit was created. It is supposed that “the bear patrol” in Yamal will become a mobile instrument to solve three important tasks: fulfillment of rescue and protection measures in conflict situations, of scientific research, transfer of knowledge to specialists in localities. The Public Council on issues of environmental protection and ecological safety under the government of Yamal was created in the region. A half of its number consists of representatives of public associations of the region. The Russian center for exploration of the Arctic plays an important role in ecological sphere of Yamal. The establishment evaluates risks and threats and elaborates decisions of complex tasks set in “The bases of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic till 2020 and further prospect” and “The strategy of development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and national safety till 2020”. The center organizes yearly scientific expeditions of Russian scientists to different parts of Yamal. Ecology is also an important part of work of the scientific center for study of the Arctic. Its specialists regularly organize expeditions to study ecological problems of the region. The interregional ecological and sociological organization “Green Arctic” was created in the region. It supports public initiatives of citizens and their associations on protection and improvement of environment, systemic development of voluntary initiatives in the sphere of harmonization and improvement of surrounding areas. During the latest years Yamal confirms its status of the All-Russian and international platform for discussion of ecological problems, as the press-service of the governor of Yamal informs. The international scientific conference on “Waterfowl of Northern Eurasia: research, conservation and sustainable use” took place last December in Salekhard. It was organized by international scientific organizations together with scientific and research institutions of the Russian academy of sciences, the government of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug and specialized departments of the region. More than 100 scientists from 17 countries of the world participated in it. Besides, the operative conference on issues of increase in effectiveness of control and supervision over observation of environmental legislation by subsoil users in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation took place on the 27th of May in Salekhard. It was conducted by the prosecutor general of the Russian Federation Yuriy Chaika. Its participants discussed several concrete suggestions on increase in effectiveness of control and supervision activity in observation of environmental legislation by subsoil users in the Arctic zone of Russia.