The European Green Belt is the territory along the former Iron Curtain. Being for a long time inaccessible to the general public, the areas have preserved their valuable natural heritage, including intact meadows, forests, and wetlands. At the turn of the centuries, the European community joined together to save the largest green network in this part of the world. The goals of the Association are to protect the nature, and to study the cultural and ecological history of this unique area.
The European Green Belt falls into four regions: Fennoscandia, Baltic Region, Central Europe, and the Balkans. Each one is supervised by a regional coordinator elected biennially. Coordinator’s tasks are to provide support to implementation of the Association’s action programme, take part in regional meetings, keep record of activities and prepare reports, launch new projects, contribute to promotion and visibility of the European Green Belt. The only scientific centre supervising this thematic area in Russia is KarRC RAS. Lately, KarRC, represented by its President Olga Bakhmet, has been the coordinator for the Green Belt of Fennoscandia.
The European Green Belt and its segment – the Green Belt of Fennoscandia, provide an environmental framework for the preservation of natural heritage. Karelian Research Centre RAS has been implementing extensive related activities on a regular basis for over 30 years, which is the reason for its being re-elected as the coordinator of the European Green Belt’s largest segment – explained Olga Bakhmet.
Over these years, KarRC RAS has produced feasibility studies substantiating almost all the protected areas (PAs) founded in Karelia in the past decades, and gathered an extensive database on the natural ecosystems of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia and its cultural heritage. E.g., researchers from KarRC RAS prepared nomination papers for the establishment of the Ladoga Skerries National Park and Kalevalsky NP; research work at the Kostumukshsky Strict Nature Reserve has been underway for many years.
- We have also identified quite a number of other areas: landscape reserves and bird sanctuaries, nature monuments, and others, varying in significance, objects of interest, and size. Many of the PAs have been endorsed, quite a few remain in process – so called “provisional PAs” – KarRC RAS President added.
At present, Karelian scientists together with colleagues from European countries, namely with the Ministry of the Environment Finland, are implementing a number of large projects for the protection of rare and endangered species, environmental education, and sustainable management of natural resources. Conferences, workshops, working meeting are organized. E.g., after the European Green Belt Association General Assembly meeting on November 5th, it was decided to have the next conference in Petrozavodsk in 2021, if the epidemiological situation allows.
Implementation of projects related to the Green Belt of Fennoscandia is a federal-level task in Russia, handled, in particular, with support from the Russian Environment Ministry. Karelian Research Centre RAS oversees Green Belt border areas not only in Karelia, but also in the Murmansk Region, i.e. the Russian-Finnish and the Russian-Norwegian sections of the border.
The fact that over a half of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia falls in the Arctic zone adds to the relevance of its conservation. The proposal to employ earlier developments in this sphere is already recorded in the documents regarding the development of the Russian Arctic.
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November 30, 2020
Karelian Research Centre RAS was re-elected as the regional coordinator of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia, encompassing border areas of Russia, Finland, and Norway.
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June 26, 2025
Ice-related phenomena on rivers emptying into the White Sea now last three weeks less than 60 years before
Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
June 23, 2025
Citizen science and web technologies help researchers study insects of Karelia
More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.
More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.
June 20, 2025
Application process for 2025/2026 Doctoral Studies started at KarRC RAS
On June 20, Karelian Research Centre RAS began accepting papers from applicants for its Doctoral Courses. This year, university graduates can choose from ten academic specialties in the STEM, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
On June 20, Karelian Research Centre RAS began accepting papers from applicants for its Doctoral Courses. This year, university graduates can choose from ten academic specialties in the STEM, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
June 17, 2025
An important phase of the KarRC RAS Director General election procedure completed
The Electoral Commission has summarized the results of the voting for the election of the Director General of KarRC RAS. The turnout exceeded 80% of the Center's employees. The majority of votes, 391, were cast for Alexander Kryshen, Director of the Forest Research Institute. Acting Director General Olga Bakhmet was supported by 252 voters, and Deputy Director General Yuri Zaika received 17 votes. The Electoral Commission documented these results in its report, which will be submitted to the HR Policy Department of the Federal Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The candidacies will now undergo the procedure of approval by federal agencies, after which the employment contract will be signed with the winner of the competition.
The Electoral Commission has summarized the results of the voting for the election of the Director General of KarRC RAS. The turnout exceeded 80% of the Center's employees. The majority of votes, 391, were cast for Alexander Kryshen, Director of the Forest Research Institute. Acting Director General Olga Bakhmet was supported by 252 voters, and Deputy Director General Yuri Zaika received 17 votes. The Electoral Commission documented these results in its report, which will be submitted to the HR Policy Department of the Federal Ministry of Science and Higher Education. The candidacies will now undergo the procedure of approval by federal agencies, after which the employment contract will be signed with the winner of the competition.
June 11, 2025
Posseidon research vessel is back from this season’s first integrated expedition
Employees of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS completed an expedition around Lake Onego on board the Posseidon research vessel. The expedition covered 19 sites in bays, Central Onego, and Kizhi Skerries region. Scientists have sampled water for chemical and biological analyses.
Employees of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS completed an expedition around Lake Onego on board the Posseidon research vessel. The expedition covered 19 sites in bays, Central Onego, and Kizhi Skerries region. Scientists have sampled water for chemical and biological analyses.