Model River Project is Close to the Rural Population
Silver Taiga representatives Przemyslaw Majewski (Director) and Valentina Semyashkina (Local Communities Project Manager) had a meeting with the representatives of AgroUdora Cooperative (Udora region of Komi) – population of Glotovo village – one of the oldest Komi settlements located along Mezen River. The meeting was held under Model River Mezen Project.
The aim of the meeting was to discuss the goals and current activities of the project and to involve the local population into the project as it should be the key project participant.
Fishing is traditionally popular among population of Glotovo village. Fish is one of the main food products and fishing is the main occupation for the local population. That is why the local population is very interested in the project as the main goal of the project is to restore fish resources of Mezen River and further sustainable river management.
Even now population of Glotovo village is trying to organize river management on their leased areas – five lakes in upper Mezen watershed: more than a year ago local people supported the creation of AgroUdora Cooperative in the region and more than 40 people from different villages have become its members.
The following problems were discussed as well during the meeting: overrated catch quota directed from the upper management that will cause fish resources destruction; other problems dealing with river management. All these problems can be solved thanks to wish and cooperation of interested parties. Model River Mezen Project is the platform for such cooperation.
In conclusion it should me mentioned that the representatives of AgroUdora Cooperative understands that fish recourses of Mezen River are exhausted and that their restoration is in the interest of the local population. That is why fishermen from Glotovo village are very interested in the project and are ready to cooperate. Understanding of the necessity of transfer from the thoughtless river recourses management to sustainable management by the local population is the main condition for the project success.