CANADA DENMARK FINLAND ICELAND NORWAY RUSSIA SWEDEN UNITED STATES IV. Russian Geographical Society
89
The First International Arctic Forum The Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue was held in Moscow on September 22–23, 2010. The main Forum’s topics were the current problems of the Arctic in terms of national interests and international dialogue, preservation of the environment in the region and development of the Arctic resources. The Forum was attended by the world’s leading experts, scientists, and politicians. The Forum organized by the Russian Geographical Society and supported by the RIA Novosti was held at the Lomonosov Moscow State University site. The Forum was attended by Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation; Sergey Shoigu, President of the Russian Geographical Society, Minister of EMERCOM; His Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco; His Excellency President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson; Yu.P. Trutnev, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology; A.N. Chilingarov Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, and others. 60 out of 121 Forum participants represented 13 foreign nations. Immediately after the completion of reorganizing its activity, the Society actively got into supporting the big cleanup in the Arctic. The first sign of this big project was cleaning the Alexandra Land coast (Franz Josef Land archipelago) from the man-made pollution. Similar works are expected to be carried out on Wrangel Island, in Russian settlements on Spitsbergen, and on the New Siberian Islands. In addition, a comprehensive assessment of the environmental status will also be carried out in seven large regions of the Arctic zone. In 2011–2012, an expedition was also conducted to study the current state of the New Siberian Islands archipelago. The expedition carried out a series of paleogeographic and paleontological, permafrost-geological, zoological (fauna, ornithology), and biogeographic studies, estimated the parameters of cryogenic processes and performed environmental and methodological work. On September 22–23, 2011, the Second International Arctic Forum The Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue was held in Arkhangelsk. Over 300 scientists, experts, politicians, heads of state and government and journalists from different countries (Russia, the USA, Canada, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and many others) took part in the Forum. The Forum primarily addressed the issues of developing the Arctic transport system as the basis of developing the entire Arctic region. There were also discussed the issues of aerospace means to ensure transportation security, integrated safety and security, prevention of emergencies, environmental protection in the context of the Arctic transport system development, preservation of the traditional lifestyle of indigenous peoples of the North, etc. Research is conducted under the RGS auspices, which will be the basis for developing strategies for the preservation of polar bears and for the study of man-made impact on the beluga whale population. We constantly expand the geographic scope of our activities in studying the endangered species of animals in the Russian Arctic, and now this covers Franz Josef Land, the White Sea, the New Siberian Islands and Chukotka. The Russian Geographical Society pays special attention to education issues. For example, the RGS supported the Roshydromet initiative to establish the Arctic Floating University. The results of successful cooperation between a public institution (RGS), science (Roshydromet) and education (Northern (Arctic) Federal University) were not slow to arrive. In summer 2012, high-tech equipment was purchased at the expense of the RGS grant to carry out research onboard the research vessel Professor Molchanov. Now, it is the only vessel in Europe that houses a unique laboratory for scientific research and practical base for training researchers. The voyage resulted in obtaining objective information on environmental conditions of the Barents and White Seas, while young researchers could work in real Arctic conditions together with the well-known experts and acquire a unique experience. Since 2013, The Arctic Floating University project has gained international status as it will involve students not only from Russia but also from the neighboring Nordic countries. In 2013, as many as three expeditions will be carried out. The Third International Arctic Forum The Arctic – the Territory of Dialogue will be held in Salekhard (the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District) on September 24–25, 2013. The Forum’s agenda includes the issues of environmental security and Arctic environment pro tection. Leading Russian and foreign experts will discuss the issues of pre serving the Arctic environment in the industrial development of the North. Over 300 scientists, experts, and specialists will take part in the Forum; the Presidents of Finland and Iceland are expected as guests. The Arctic research has been one of the main activities of the Russian Geographical Society for more than a century and a half of its history. It is so now, and we are sure will remain in the future.
№ 3(7)/2013