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The Newsletter of
the
Socio-Ecological Union
A Center for Coordination
and Information
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Moscow, Russia -- Issue January 17, 2005
SEU Times is a newsletter devoted to environmental news, events, NGO work
within former Soviet Union territory. Currently it is mailed out on special
occasions.
MORE NEWS IN ENGLISH FROM SEU-TERRITORY are available on Ecoport - green
news project English version at http://www.seu.ru/news_en/npa.php
IN THIS ISSUE:
THE PROJECT THAT WILL KILL BAIKAL
The WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE SITE
"WEST CAUCASUS" in RUSSIA is in DANGER!
NEW AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR 25 YEAR LONG OLD-GROWTH LOGGING MORATORIUM
NORTH-WEST RUSSIAN NGOs ARE UNITING FOR PROTECTION OF SMALL RIVERS AND
LOCAL NATURE VALUES
THE PROJECT THAT WILL KILL BAIKAL
The NGO "Baikal Environmental Wave," and the International
Socio-Ecological Union finished collecting signatures on the
following statement, addressed to President Putin and Prime Minister
Fradkov. Environmentalists are outraged by hastingly approved project
of building of the "East Siberian - Pacific Ocean" oil pipeline.
Procedures like state eviron-mental assesment and public hearings were
flawed, and public assesement was done exclusively by an astroturf
pocket group "Public ecology", funded by Transneft.
Such haste will lead to tragedy for nature and people, and
environmentalists call on Presi-dent and Prime Minister to stop the
disaster.
It was open for signatures until 17th January, after which it will be
sent to the addressees.
Declaration
To President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin and Chairman of the
Government of the Russian Federation M.E. Fradkov
Regarding the adoption of the Russian Federation's governmental
directive in connection with the building of the "East Siberian -
Pacific Ocean" oil pipeline.
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!
Dear Mikhail Efimovich!
On 31st December 2004 the government of the Russian Federation issued
a decree, 1737-r, on the planning and building of an "Eastern Siberia
- Pacific Ocean" oil pipeline system with a route from Taishet
(Irkutsk Region) - Skovorodino (Amur Region) - Per-evoznaya Bay
(Primorsky Krai), with a transport capacity of up to 80 million tons
of oil a year, at the cost of 16 billion U.S. Dollars.
This event took place against the background of one of the worst
tragedies in the history of mankind, when the whole world was
shattered by news of hundreds of thousands of dead and missing victims
of the earthquake in South-East Asia.
We would like to remind you of the fact that the building of the
"Eastern Siberian - Pacific Ocean" oil pipeline is planned in the
water-catchment area of Lake Baikal through a rift zone where it is
planned to build two oil pumping stations and a large-scale oil
de-pository for the transfer of oil into cisterns for future shipment
via the BAM railroad. The developers themselves admit that the highest
levels of seismic activity in Eastern Siberia with magnitudes of up to
9.0 - 9.5 have been recorded in this area, comparable to the level of
the recent catastrophic earthquake's epicenter in South East Asia.
However, nei-ther our suggestion to shift the pipeline route out of
the water catchment of Lake Baikal, nor the suggestions of other
regional environmental non-governmental organisations have been taken
into consideration by the client.
By cutting the time taken for the state environmental impact
assessment, by not insisting on the presentation of project
documentation by "Transneft" to Non Governmental Organi-sations for a
citizens' environmental impact assessment, and by not taking into
considera-tion the views of the local population, you take full and
personal responsibility upon your-selves for the consequences if such
an earthquake were to take place and result in the contamination of
Lake Baikal, reservoir of 80% of Russia's and 20% of the world's
surface freshwater, by oil.
Is it really possible that the horrific tragedy in South East Asia
does not serve as a lesson for you, nor direct your attention to the
danger of political and administrative pressure when making such
important decisions?
We are registering our distrust of:
- the results of the state environmental impact assessment of the
project "Grounds for In-vestment in the Building of the "East Siberian
- Pacific Ocean" oil pipeline system, con-ducted under administrative
pressure within an unprecedentedly short time;
- the results of the citizens' environmental impact assessment
conducted by Moscow Re-gional Non-Governmental Organisations that are
not authorized to represent the interests of local people or
organisations of Siberia and the Far East who could personally suffer
from the negative impacts of the project.
We appeal to you to:
- Make clear the circumstances surrounding the violation of
legislation during the time the environmental impact assessment was
being conducted and take all necessary administrative measures.
- Provide conditions for the realization of the rights of
citizens to participate in the decision making process in connection
with this project, and oblige "Transneft" to submit their materials
for citizens' environmental impact assessment to all the
organisations that have registered their intent to conduct one in
accordance with the law.
- Change the route planned for the oil pipeline so it will skirt
around the Lake Baikal watershed and take into consideration other
suggestions made by the public concerning improvement of the
environmental safety of this project.
More information
Marina Rikhvanova
Baikal Environmental Wave
marina@baikalwave.eu.org
www.baikalwave.eu.org
The WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE SITE "WEST CAUCASUS" in RUSSIA is in DANGER!
Plans to build the Damkhurts - Krasnaya Polyana highway
through the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve)
In November 2004 the investment basis for the construction of
the Cherkessk - Adler highway was submitted for the state
environmental review to "Rosprirodnadzor" (Russia's Service on
Control of Natural Use Management). The Damkhurts - Krasnaya
Polyana part of this road is going to be built through the
territory of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve (World Natural
Heritage Site "West Caucasus") and virgin mountain areas bordering
it. Building owner of the project is "The Department of Federal
Highways in Karachay-Circassian Republic". This project is not
accepted for carrying out the state environmental review yet, but
it may happen soon.
Not so long ago there were plans to construct the highway
through the Caucasian Reserve (Lagonaki Plateau) on Maikop -
Dagomys route. Fortunately public protest campaign against this
construction was successful and this project was not put into
practice. But Adygeya Republic authorities are still planning this
road-building, so the danger is not eliminated completely. And now
a much more dangerous threat of road construction through the
Caucasian Reserve is coming from Karachay -Circassian Republic
authorities. The government of this North Caucasian republic, as
well as Adygeya's authorities, wants to get a direct outlet to the
Black Sea coast. So Karachay - Circassia leaders have been
designing the Cherkessk - Adler highway since 2001. But the only
direct way from Karachay-Circassia to the Russia's Black Sea coast
lies through the Caucasian Reserve. This project can severely
damage both - the integrity of the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve and
its natural complexes.
Nine options for this highway route were considered within the
framework of the investment basis for the Cherkessk-Adler highway
construction. Karachay-Cherkessia promoted the 6th option most
actively. According to the promoted option, the highway is planned
on the route: Cherkessk - Psemen - Rozhkao - Damkhurts - Damkhurts
River valley - Tsakhvoa River valley - Kardyvach Lake - Engelmanova
Polyana - Krasnaya Polyana - Adler. Total length of the highway on
this route is 313 kilometers. Construction of two tunnels with the
total length of 12,6 kilometers is planned. So the highway is going
to be built on extremely valuable areas in southern part of the
Caucasian Reserve near the border of Russia with Georgia
(Abkhazia). Virgin areas in both of Damkhurts River and Mzymta
River valleys, bordering the Reserve, will also suffer from this.
Here the highway lies also on a protected areas: Sochi National
Park, Sochi Zakaznik (wildlife refuge) and Damkhurts Zakaznik. As a
result, if this project is realized, huge areas of the West
Caucasus wilderness will be deeply influenced by intense
anthropogenic impact.
Caucasian Reserve, as well as other unique natural complexes of
Russia, is now in great danger. In the last few years, illegal but
profitable for authorities projects were widely practiced in Russia
and Northern Caucasus in particular. These projects are usually put
into practice even despite the heavy opposition from the public.
But the main danger now is that even laws can be easily changed,
Deputies of the governmental party "United Russia", make up the
majority in the State Duma (Parliament of the Russian Federation)
and are changing laws one after another. So it is quite possible
that Russian authorities might even change the federal legislation
making it possible to stretch the highway through the Reserve.
The areas of the Caucasus Reserve where the road construction is
planned are a part of the World Natural Heritage. This fact will
hardly become a serious obstacle for those behind this project,
unless the international community will raise a question at the
highest level about the inadmissibility of this construction.
This problem is very important and calls for active actions from
all people and organizations concerned on the conservation of wild
nature of The Caucasian Reserve. Russian environmental
organizations are starting a public campaign against the
construction of the Damkhurts - Krasnaya Polyana highway.
As part of this campaign Environmental Watch on North Caucasus
with the support of other local NGOs and also Greenpeace Russia and
Biodiversity Conservation Center is preparing to carry out a public
environmental review of this project.
More information
Andrey Rudomakha
(Environmental Watch on North Caucasus)
ies@rambler.ru
NEW AGREEMENT SIGNED FOR 25 YEAR LONG OLD-GROWTH LOGGING MORATORIUM
On December 29 2004 head of forestry unit OJS "Pyaozersky
lespromkhoz"(Karelia) and representatives of three NGOs -
International Socio-ecological Union, Biodiversity Conservation Center
and Greenpeace-Russia signed agreemnt for 25-year long moratorium
in old-growth forests within the area rented by forestry unit OJS
"Pyaozersky lespromkhoz".
According to this paper, old-growth territory of 109,2 ha bordering
Paanajarvi national park is closed for logging for 25 years, starting
from January 1, 2005.
The issue of old-growth taiga forests conservation in North-West
Karelia came up in mid 1980-ies. In 1992 Paanajarvi park was
establsihed, and a protected zone around it. However, the norther part
of the valuable forest was not included into protected area.
In the middle of 90-ies this area became a subject of conflict.
Pyazoresky forest industry unit made attempt to do organize massive
logging in the area, while NGOs insisted on conservation of the unique
forest area as an exmple of undisturbed nature.
As the result of long campaining and negotiations NGOs and loggers
reached temporary agreement in the end 2001. The agreement ended up on
December 31, 2004. Three years were to be used for finalising agreement
on conservation and logging areas.
After eight years, agreement was finally reached.
Published and translated by Forest.ru
NORTH-WEST RUSSIAN NGOs ARE UNITING FOR PROTECTION OF SMALL RIVERS AND
LOCAL NATURE VALUES
Press-release of "Children of the Baltic"
January 13, 2005
How to improve environmental situation in small river basins of
North-West Russia and save nature and cultural values? What NGOs and
public can do for that?
These questions where discussed by participants of Inter-regional
seminar "Development of public participation in the river basins
management and prjtection of local habitatl values in the Baltic Sea
region". The seminar was held in Lomonosov on 8-9 January by Children
of the Baltic NGO within the CCB "RIVER WATCH" program and regional
program "OUR HABITAT VALUES".
Experts from Neva-Ladoga Basin Administration, North-West Russian
Department of Federal Inspection of Nature Use, Baltic Federation of
Fishermen, Russian Science Hydrotechnical Institution, more then 25
leaders and NGO activists and teachers from St.-Petersburg and
Leningrad region, Velikiy Novgorod and Novgorod region, Vologda
region, Pskov region, and representatives of mass-media took part in
the seminar.
North-west Russia is the area with very intensive industrial pressure
to nature. For a long time attention of investors, small business and
private companies was attracted to the coastal zones and river banks,
where they got easy access to nature resources and transport
infrustructure. NGOs, taking care of nature conservation, took under
public control a lot of local nature values and rivers: Luga,
Gladyshevka and Roschinka, Karasta, Lebiazhia, Kikenka, Strelka,
Slavyanka and Tyzva, brooks and springs on the South and North shores
of the Gulf of Finland; rivers Sodima, Shogash, Suhona, Losta, and
another in Vologda oblast; rivers Lovat', Msta, Volhov, Pola and so on
in Novgorod oblast; river Velikaia and small rivers in Pskov oblast,
come coastal zones of Gulf of Finland, Ladoga and Onega lakes.
The most typical problems in the river basins, discovered by
participants were: water pollution from industry and householders,
illegal dump sites, cutting down trees and bushes, destroying river
banks, unlegal dams, non-working or uncorrectly working
hydrotwechnical constructions. Last years much more illegal private
buildings have appeared in the water protection zones, prevented
public acess to water objects. Participants gave special attention to
the worsening ecological situation in the Gulf of Finland region.
Inhabitants can not use their rights on the good ecological status of
environment, lost possibility to make good use of water resources as a
national property.
NGO's activists together with state experts discussed possibilities
for co-operation for more effective actions and efficient reaction on
environmental violations. They have stated, that public, NGOs and
youth groups, making environmental monitoring, can provide state
nature protection bodies with urgent and unique information on alarm
situations. Russian legislation gives public and NGOs right for access
to environmental information and public participation. Most of people
don't know about these rights and how to use it in practice to protect
there own environment. NGOs try to develop their scills and distribute
positive experience. At the seminar Children of the Baltic presented
experience on organizing public hearings in Lomonosov on bitumen
terminal, on establishing coasta nature reserve "Wetlands of
Kronkolony", shared information on public hearings in Kaliningrad
region on oil terminal, organized by EcoDefence. Baltic Federation of
Fishermen showed example of public participation and consolidation of
fishermen and nature protection activists, stopped together the
dangerous for nature plan to blow up ice in Ladoga Lake in Spring
2003. Participants discussed the most effective forms of public
participation, importance of environmental education for children;
education for general public on environmental rights; froms of
cooperation with various starta of society.
At the seminar participants agreed about correctons and proposals to
the New Water Code of Russian Federation.
The most significant result of the seminar is official signing of
Agreement about Public Movement "North-West Russia River Network"
(NWRRN). Establishing this Public Movement was initiated by members of
the CCB River Watch network a year ago at the Children of the Baltic
seminar "River watch network for sustainable development in the Gulf
of Finland region". This idea was supported by participants from
Kaliningrad and Velikiy Novgorod. A year later NGOs from Vologda and
Pskov regions joined this Movement. Participants has agreed about
Agenda of the NW network, information and methodical cooperation,
common applications to NW nature protection bopdies on alarm
environmental problems. The first common public action of the NWRRN
"Green Coast - Clean Wave" will be performed in May - June 2005. It
will be organized in each region by members of NW Russian Network.
Action results and will be sent to NW Department of Federal Inspection
of Nature Use and distributed among mass-media and authorities.
For more information please contact:
Vera Ovcharenko,
Co-coordinator of "River Watch Network"
Tel.: +7 (813) 76 73 210
Fax: +7 (812) 315 66 22
E-mail: vera@rvshool.spb.org
Olga Senova,
Council chairwoman
Tel./fax: +7 (812) 428 06 58
E-mail: olga.senova@spb.org.ru
Back to SEU Times home page
This issue was written and complied by
Olga Zakharova seupress@seu.ru
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