Let’s make the Arctic green

I would like to note that the public organization Green Arctic is not related to any major international environmental structures, such as Greenpeace. The ecological movement Green Arctic will work on, first of all, development and implementation of projects on oil and gas production, as well as on solving environmental problems we have inherited from the time of exploring the Arctic territories, particularly since the Soviet period.

Clearly, to successfully function, at the initial stage the organization will need the support of various federal institutions, industrial enterprises and public organizations, because environmental control is a difficult task, particularly in terms of interaction with oil and gas producing companies. We wouldn’t like to see the new environmental organization as a “whip”. Rather, it should represent a close cooperation with different companies, working in the Arctic area, the population of the northern regions, as well as local and federal authorities.

I want to emphasize that Yamal’s Government sees Green Arctic, in the first place, as an independent organization, free in pursuing its objectives. Only then will it be able to act effectively. However, at the initial stage, the regional government considers it its duty to provide necessary support to the environmental organization.

It should be noted that in recent years various federal environmental projects have started being implemented in Russia, in particular, on Franz Josef Land, Wrangel Island, the island of Alexandra Land. One of the main results of these programs is, of course, that they leave an imprint on the minds of people, directly involved in these projects: volunteers, professionals involved in removal and recycling of collected garbage, and many others. People themselves are changing, their habits, their attitude to nature. No volunteer, who has worked in the eco-expedition for at least one shift, will throw trash on the ground back home without thinking about the consequences of his actions.

A well-known story about a small polar bear, wounded by poachers and rescued by volunteers on Bely Island. Now the 2-year-old polar bear, named Seriku, feels great at the new location at the Zoo in Perm. Then, the poachers were sure that there were no people on the island, and thus illegal hunting would not have any consequences. However, after the story was publicized, I think no one would dare shooting animals there. Now they know that the environmental troops are to stay on Bely Island for a long time.

Our dream is to make Bely Island a national park. Such a status will prohibit any economic activities on the territory, it will be possible to develop tourism and provide free access to people, wanting to visit the island - the northernmost point of Yamal. After all, the nature and wildlife of the island are unique: in addition to a large number of polar bears, there are 62 bird species, there are walrus, ringed seal, wild deer. However, Bely Island is very vulnerable: the famous white sand coast, which ensured the name of the island, is very unstable and constantly being eroded by waves.

It happens that we lack the required support, especially in financial terms. Despite the fact that all volunteers work for free, this program is quite expensive. Helicopter deliveries, as well as garbage removal and recycling, require serious expenditures.

But we are doing everything to ensure that our main goal is achieved. The Government of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug will pay great attention to environmental projects. We want to make people see the extent of environmental pollution in the Arctic, and we hope that it will force them to believe that the problem is easier to prevent than to eliminate its consequences. Only together we can make the Arctic green.