#Environmental management #Education #Participation in events #Federal and regional news #Arctic

PetrSU Scientists Participated in the International Arctic Forum in St.Petersburg

17 December 2020

Professor Luidmila Sergienko, Doctor of Biological Sciences of the Institute of Biology, Ecology and Agricultural Technologies, participated in 10th International Forum "The Arctic: Present and Past". She reported on "Arctic Marine Ecosystems – Life under the Risk" at the session "Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Reservations in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation". Forum was held in St. Petersburg on 11-12 December.

Despite the challenging pandemic situation, the 10th Anniversary International Forum "The Arctic: Present and Future" was held in St. Petersburg. Forum featured 29 business meetings, organized by the interregional public organization Association of Polar Explorers. 2,500 people from 70 regions of Russia became the participants of the meetings, and most of the expert community joined the online discussion of relevant issues of the Arctic region development.

The plenary session "Priorities of State Policy in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation" opened with a welcoming speech of Dmitry Medvedev, Head of the interdepartmental commission of the Russian Security Council on Protecting Russia’s National Interests in the Arctic, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council.

"Over the past decade, the forum has gained wide public support and brought together everyone who is involved in solving problems ofthe Arctic development",

- said the numerous media of the forum.

Ildar Neverov, Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Management and Ecology of all-Russian public organization "Business Russia" moderated the section "Biodiversity Conservation and Specially Protected Natural Reservations in the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation". The discussion convened Minister of Ecology, Environmental Management and Forestry of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the State Assembly (Il Tumen) of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) on issues of indigenous peoples of the North and Arctic affairs, Director of the "State Nature Reserve "Ust-Lensky", Scientific Director of the Biodiversity Conservation Program of WWF-Russia, Deputy Governor of the Murmansk Region, Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Komi, Acting Chairman of the Central Council of the All-Russian Society for the Protection of Nature.

Luidmila Sergienkohas reported on complex interaction of biotic and abiotic factors affecting the Arctic ecosystems and assessed the significant risks for their existence in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The speaker added certain positions to the annual Resolution of the forum: to initiate the creation of a group of national experts on coastal ecosystems, to conduct targeted monitoring of the Arctic coastal biota, and centrally collect relevant data on various focal components of Arctic marine ecosystems.