At the December 1999 meeting in Pushchino of the deputy directors of Russia’s wildlife reserves, it was decided that an expert initiative group should be set up for nature conservation in the Arctic region. The group includes: Yulia Gorelova, program coordinator for the Moscow office of the International Union of Conservation of Nature; Michael Stishov, PhD, Deputy Director of the Ostrov Vrangelya Reserve; Alexander Karyakin, Deputy Director of the Kandalakshsky Reserve; Elena Pospelova, PhD, Deputy Director of the Tamyrsky Reserve; Vladimir Larin, PhD, Director of the Putoransky Reserve; Grigory Tertitsky of the Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences; Irina Pokrovskaya, PhD, also of the Institute of Geography and member of the Socio-Ecological Union’s Living Arctic Action Team.
One of the group’s first steps was to issue a packet of suggestions and initiatives for the Complex Ecosystem Approach to Biodiversity Conservation and Reduction of the Biotopes Disturbance in Russia’s Arctic Project of the Global Environment Facility.
Here is some information about the first stages of this recently launched project.
Protocol
from the Workshop on the GEF project
“Integrated Ecosystem Approach to Conserve Biodiversity
and Minimise Habitat Fragmentation in the Russian Arctic”
I
The Workshop on the GEF project integrated Ecosystem Approach to Conserve Biodiversity and Minimise Habitat Fragmentation in the Russian Arctic” (hereafter Project) arranged in Moscow, 2-4 February, 2000, by the Russian Federation State Committee for Environmental Protection (RF SCEP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and the Arctic Council Program for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), (hereafter Project Organisers), gathered representatives from regional authorities of Murmansk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Taimyr Autonomous Okrug, Sakha-Yakutia Republic, and Chucotka Autonomous Okrug and otgher relevant stakeholders, i.e. involved in other Russian GEF projects, as well RF Ministry of Natural Resources, RF Forest Service, RF State Committee of the Russian Federation for Northern Affairs (Goskomsever), other sectoral ministries and committees, Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON), representatives of International Organizations and representatives of bilateral co-operation with the Russian Federation from the Governments of Norway, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands.
II
The Workshop Representatives recognise the importance of the Russian Arctic for the protection of circumpolar biological diversity, its ecosystems as major drivers of global climate systems, atmospheric gas exchange and ocean current system, and its crucial contribution to the stabilisation and proper functioning of these systems. Recognising also the importance of the Russian Arctic territories to 30 formally recognised indigenous peoples' groups, its importance to cultural heritage conservation, and that this territories hold enormous forest, mineral, metal and petrochemical resources which are valuable today and which could prove to be of key importance to Russia's prosperity and future economic security if their use is properly planned and managed.
The Workshop Representatives recognise that the vast ecosystems of Arctic Russia are still relatively undisturbed compared to more southern ones and among the last remaining wilderness areas of the world. These areas are under increased pressure due to negative impacts of a shifting economic system, poorly controlled development activities and possible effects of global change processes. These combined factors threaten to cause irreversible habitat destruction and fragmentation. The permafrost, underlying the thin biologically active layer, augments disturbances and restoration efforts are extremely difficult.
The Workshop Representatives recognise the importance of traditional use and development by indigenous and local peoples and that initiatives to sustain the ecosystems of the Russian Arctic must consider their interests.
The Workshop Representatives therefore realise that every effort should be made to prevent disturbances and maintain the global biodiversity benefits provided by the Russian Arctic, inter alia through integrated ecosystem approach to habitat management.
III
The following conclusions were made:
The Workshop Representatives strongly support the GEF project “Integrated Ecosystem
Approach to Conserve Biodiversity and Minimise Habitat Fragmentation in the Russian Arctic”;
The Project Organisers agree to ensure local and indigenous participation through training programs, local information gathering, seminars and hearings, etc. on sustainable use of ecosystems.
Representatives of local, regional and federal authorities and Indigenous people's representatives agree to co-operate fully with the Project Organisers and each other in further development of the Project and especially in defining and delineating relevant Model Areas for its conduction.
Representatives from bilateral co-operation with the Russian Federation from the Governments of Norway, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands support the Project and are in favourof coordinating their program activities with the Project.
Representatives of the International Organizations - WWF, Wetlands International, IUCN agree to coordinate their activity on Arctic nature conservation according to the aims of the project.
Project Organisers agree to ensure co-ordination of this Project with other GEF funded projects and other international and bilateral projects in the Russian Arctic.
Project Organisers agree to seek co-funding for the Project through Arctic Governments, bilateral programs with Russia, international investment and funding agencies.
IV
This protocol is signed by representatives from RF SCEP, UNEP, CAFF, Murmansk Oblast, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Taimyr Autonomous Okrug, Sakha-Yakutia Republic, Chucotka Autonomous Okrug, RAIPON and International Organizations, 4 February 2000.
