Mikhail Kotyukov: Studying the impact of industrial enterprises on nature together with the scientific community will allow us to form new standards of work in the Arctic Circle

(krskstate.ru ) - The Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Mikhail Kotyukov took part in a round table at which scientists of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences presented the results of a study of the impact of Norilsk Nickel enterprises on the ecosystem of the region.

"The comprehensive scientific work carried out is a new milestone not just in the study of Taimyr, but in the issues of scientific and technological development of the country. This is a unique example of cooperation between fundamental science and an industrial enterprise," Mikhail Kotyukov noted.  

"I am sure that the results will allow us to improve the technologies of work in the Arctic, bringing them not only in line with modern standards, but also to set new world standards for activities beyond the Arctic Circle. It is necessary to involve not only leading scientists in this work, but also teams of youth laboratories that the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with the Ministry of Higher Education of the country, is creating as part of the national project "Science and Universities"."

The scientific and practical project of the  Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences together with Norilsk Nickel on biodiversity research started in 2022 and covered the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Murmansk Region and the Trans-Baikal Territory. In total, more than 71 thousand sq. km. Such large-scale studies were conducted for the first time in the history of modern Russia. On the territory of our region, scientists focused on the section of the Northern Sea Route, as well as the Norilsk Industrial District, including the port of Dudinka.

"It is far from the case when they say that Russian industry, business does not want to interact with science. An example of such cooperation is our joint work with Norilsk Nickel, thanks to which the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences participated in a large–scale scientific and practical project for the first time. In the 40 years that I have been working at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, this is the first expedition of this scale focused on the study of the biodiversity of the Arctic coast, which is influenced by industrial enterprises. And we are already using the experience gained for further work," said Valentin Parmon, Chairman of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

More than 70 specialists from seven institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as Siberian Federal University, Irkutsk and Altai State Universities, Taimyr and Kola Peninsula nature reserves were involved in the scientific and practical project.

"A large scientific expedition is being conducted so that the company, residents and scientists understand what is happening to nature in the territories where Norilsk Nickel enterprises are located. After all, we are completely dependent on nature. Human well–being as a biological species depends on the state of the environment, and its economic well-being depends on the state of natural resources," commented Stanislav Seleznev, Vice President for Ecology and Industrial Safety at Norilsk Nickel.
 
"The data obtained are already used in our daily work and in long-term planning. We will continue to regularly inform a wide audience about the progress of research and about changes taking place with ecosystems and their biodiversity."

It is planned that the work within the framework of the scientific and practical project will continue in 2024.