– In 2020, an article authored by forty experts from different countries reported that the world’s large lakes, which are roughly a thousand and a half in number, are degrading. I don’t think this applies to all large lakes of Russia and Eurasia, but problems do exist: continuing eutrophication, biological invasions, microplastics, and many others, which we need to discuss together, – proclaimed Nikolai Filatov, setting the tone for this scientific forum.
The gathering was welcomed by KarRC RAS Director General Olga Bakhmet, RAS Corresponding Academician. She reminded that the Karelian Research Centre RAS is a multidisciplinary institution and the synergy of all its scientific sub-entities provides great opportunities for interdisciplinary research:
– Staff of the Northern Water Problems Institute KarRC RAS are dealing with water issues in Karelia and Northwest Russia. They have for many years been collaborating in system modeling with specialists from the Institute of Applied Mathematical Research KarRC RAS. Aquatic population is actively studied at the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS, – Director General specified.
Director General also emphasized the high relevance of the conference theme.
– We’re glad to be a platform where one can hear the opinions of specialists from various regions. We also constantly have meetings and seminars to discuss the state of our lakes, and do it together with our executive and legislative authorities. Working out a weighted opinion and joining efforts on this matter is truly important, – Olga Bakhmet added.
KarRC RAS Director General, RAS Corr. Academician Olga Bakhmet
The conference opening session was visited by member of the State Duma, Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Valentina Pivnenko.
– Great Lakes of Karelia are not only crucial for the functioning of Northwest Russia, they are also of international and, certainly, pan-Russian significance. That is why legislators have for a number of years now been looking for solutions to secure the protection of the water resources and the environment, – she shared.
Valentina Pivnenko believes a special program based on monitoring by scientists has to be formed to support lakes Onego and Ladoga:
– Together with legislators in the Republic of Karelia, we have prepared a draft roadmap for this subsection to be included in the federal program related to environmental issues and protection of our great lakes. We received support and approval from the legislative and executive authorities of the neighbor regions. Essentially, this work rests upon the background produced by our, Karelian, scientists.
According to the MP, these issues will be discussed in the fall by the relevant committee during the forthcoming State Duma term.
MP (State Duma), Deputy Chair of State Duma Committee on the Development of the Far East and the Arctic Valentina Pivnenko
The first keynote speaker was Nikolai Filatov, who talked about systemic social-environmental-economic studies of waterbodies and catchments. All in all, some 15 presentations were made by researchers from Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The conference is working in a hybrid online/offline format. Attending Petrozavodsk in person are specialists from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Irkutsk, Murmansk, Vologda, and other Russian cities.
Wrapping up the first day, Vice-Chair and facilitator of the plenary session, Deputy Director for Science of the Institute of Limnology RAS Sergey Kondratyev observed that its participants have covered a wide range of issues, techniques, and waterbodies per se. The speakers told about studies of Baikal, Ladoga and Onego, Rybinsk storage reservoir, small lakes of Tatarstan, the Aral, White, and Barents Seas.
Conference audience
Many issues will be covered in detail during six thematic sessions on September 13th. The agenda includes dozens of presentations by experts from over 50 reputable research and educational organizations.
The detailed agenda and poster presentations are available on the conference webpage.
