Public hearings on establishment of the Koygorodsky National Park were held in the Koygorodok district administration on 27 July 2018 and in the Priluzye district administration on July 29. The results of the environmental and economic analysis and design concepts for the Koygorodsky National Park were presented in both districts by Yury Pautov, director of the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development, because it was Silver Taiga that won the tender for the technical and economic feasibility study of the new specially protected natural area (PA).
The data of the comprehensive environmental study of the area serving to justify awarding a legal status of a specially protected natural area of federal significance entitled the Koygorodsky National Park (Komi Republic) to it were available for the general public for a month before the public hearings both in hard copies and in the digital form. One could read the documents in Koygorodok and Priluzye district administrations or at the Silver Taiga Foundation’s website (in Russian).
According to Yury Pautov, the area of the PA to be designed will be 56,600 ha, most part of the reserved area (76% of the total area) is located in Koygorodok forestry (in Kobrа district forestry unit), and the rest (24%) is in Priluzye and Letka forestry units (Noshul and Letka district forestry units).
Yury Pautov, director of the Silver Taiga Foundation
As the presenter highlighted, large natural ecosystems and natural habitats that have not been affected by human activity with the area of over 50,000 ha are subject to preservation first of all, according to the federal law On Environmental Protection. The Koygorodok tract is referred to intact forest landscapes (IFL), few of which have remained in the Komi Republic. The most well-known ones are the Yugyd Va National Park and Pechora-Ilych Natural Reserve with the total area of 3m ha, these sites are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, so they are protected by federal and international laws.
There are other IFLs as well – Timan, Pyssa, Karpogory and Verkhnyaya Vashka IFLs – mostly in the periphery of the region. The Koygorodok IFL is the smallest and the most valuable out of the listed ones. It is also the most southern one in the European part of Russia. By establishment of a new federal PA Russia will preserve the last remaining virgin forest tract in Europe located in the southern subzone of European taiga, protect rare flora and fauna species and the unique forest ecosystem, support traditional use of natural resources by indigenous Komi and local population, contribute to diversification of social and economic development of Koygorodok and Priluzye districts and the Komi Republic in general, and get a chance to continue promoting extreme tourism.
The would-be national park is in the very south of Komi, it borders the PA created in Kirov region in 2010 – natural reserve cluster Nurgush – Tulashor. The Koygorodok National Park and Tulashor are the same forest tract spread over the two regions.
The work on establishment of the national park started thirteen year ago. The Silver Taiga Foundation that used to deal with inventory count of all intact forests of the Komi Republic initiated the new PA in 2005. The Foundation suggested conserving the Koygorodok forest tract for PA, however the area was leased by forest users. In 2006, as part of the voluntary forest certification of Koygorodok forestry, an agreement was reached with Mondi Syktyvkar, the leaseholder of the vastest part of the area. The company waived its right of lease for the sake of the new PA. The agreement was coordinated with the management of the Forest Committee, the Silver Taiga Foundation and Mondi Syktyvkar. In 2007, Mayskles also passed moratorium on the use of its leased area as part of its certification on a voluntary basis. After that, the proposal for the new PA was forwarded to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, which in its turn sent a request to the Komi Republic Ministry of Natural Resources. In 2009 the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Komi Republic held a large meeting, and then the Komi Government agreed to conserve the area for the PA of federal significance. Later, various environmental studies were conducted, and in 2011 the area was included in the PA Plan of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. According to the plan, the park had to be formed in 2016, however, it didn’t work at that time unfortunately. Nevertheless, in 2017, respective tasks were received from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, and the design work started. Now, the Silver Taiga Foundation, which won the tender for design activities, is dealing with elaboration of the technical and economic feasibility study (TEFS). In 2019, the TEFS audit is to be held by independent experts, and unless the experts find any deviations, the Russian Government will pass an order on the new PA in 2020.
The value of the tract is absence of any human intervention. The majority of its area is intact forest where no cutting operations have even been conducted, nor roads, electric power lines, gas or oil pipelines have been build, nor any industrial development has occurred. The intact forest landscape has been developing according to the natural dynamics laws for thousands years till now. The area of human impact does not exceed 4%. The biggest part of the landscape is represented by mixed deciduous and spruce forest which is typical for southern taiga. It has preserved some native fir and spruce forest, which cannot be found almost anywhere in Europe.
“For local residents the forest is old, rough and ‘littered’ with dead branches, it has a lot of coniferous undergrowth and underbrush composed of linden, mountain ash and juniper, impenetrable windfalls, swamps and river valleys. For most people it is a real torture to walk in such forest. But that is what primeval taiga, which was used for agriculture by our ancestors in middle ages, looks like. From the environmental point of view, it is a unique ecosystem, as all plants and animals have preserved and cohabited there for thousands years. Environmental experts from abroad look amazed when they observe this ‘disorderly wonder’ of the Koygorodok tract, they are ready to spend weeks there to see natural habitats and species that have already disappeared at their native places,” Yury Pautov noted in his report.
It is old, rough and ‘littered’ with debris forest, is it really that important for future generations?
He explained that it is there where you can find rare species included in the Red Book of the Komi Republic, Red Book of Kirov Region and Red Book of Russia. You can see rare moss and lichen species, like Usnea Longissima. The lichen looks like long threads, which actually were used for Christmas tree decoration in Sweden in the 17th century. That is how the tradition of decorating Christmas trees emerged. Previously, the lichen could only be found almost everywhere in the taiga zone from Sweden to Komi, and now it has remained in such remote places only.
Priluzye residents were surprised to hear that in the 17th century Swedish women used to decorate Christmas trees with Usnea Longissima, which can be found in the would-be national park
A group of Finnish experts found an extremely rare insect species in the Koygorodok tract in August 2009 – Hylochares Cruentatus. It is a large beetle that looks like a bark beetle with short horns and rounded superior wings on both sides. Earlier, ten habitats of the beetle were known, so the Koygorodok tract became the eleventh one.
The reporter spoke in detail about the history of fires and windfalls at this area in the 19-20th centuries. However, the huge fire did not affect the whole area. Most Red Book species are concentrated in the spruce forest which was not affected by the fire that took place 160 years ago, a significant portion of them – in aspen forests and flood basins of rivers and brooks that served as escapes from fires for forest inhabitants. The area of the Koygorodok tract is still poorly studied, potentially it may have up to 150 Red Book plant species and over 30 Red Book animal species. That makes 180 species in total, which is almost 90% of all Red Book, rare and endangered species of the southern part of the Komi Republic. In other words, the area is of utmost importance in terms of its richness in rare and endangered species and its value for future generations. The structure of the national park landscapes ensures preservation of the model of intact South European taiga and all levels of biodiversity – from the genetic to the landscape one.
Project designers suggest dividing the preserved area in the following zones: reserved area (12.6% of the total area), specially protected area (14%), recreation area (72.1%) and also an area for some economic activity (2.5%). The reserve area will border on the Tulashor nature reserve of Kirov region. It is the most valuable part of the tract. The rest of the area is for recreation, where one can relax, conduct scientific tours, go hunting or fishing with a license, go hiking. The recreational area stands close to minor areas for economic activities – that where the park will build houses for visitors and rangers protecting the reserved area.
“One can develop environmental tourist at the would-be area. The Foundation has some experience, we showed the place to tourists from Latvia, Sweden, Finland and Russia, we even created an educational route for this purpose. In addition, it is possible to arrange extreme sport tours with obstacles. Now, there are a lot of Europeans willing to take a walk along intact taiga. I know one person who tried to cross the Koygorodok tract, but failed. It is wild, rough and full of debris. However, there is demand for such type of tourism, and it is quite interesting for tour operators,” Yury Pautov believes.
Participants of the public hearings in Koygorodok district asked the presenter if tourists may become a threat for Red Book species. According to Yury Pautov, none of local hunters will ever move that far to hunt. They can get a wood grouse or a hazel grouse in nearby forests. Extreme tours are planned to be offered to western hunters who demand large catch – big moose or big bears. Neither a moose, nor a bear is included in the Red Book.
Participants of the public hearings in Koygorodok district asked the presenter if tourists may become a threat for Red Book species
To illustrate the case, Yury Pautov gave an example from his experience, “I have just come back from Latvia where I participated in a forestry workshop. Tourism there is organized not for locals, but mostly for hunters from the Check Republic, Germany and Sweden. The income generated by the hunting amounts to 12% of the Latvian forestry budget. A hunter should pay for the following: a) hunting right (license); b) guidance; c) service (accommodation, food, transport, sauna, and other entertainments); d) game. The cost of the captured game may vary from 5,000 to 50,000 dollars depending on its size. All this money goes to the state forestry budget. Here, we can charge from 50,000 to 70,000 rubles for a big bear, and a similar amount for a guide. It is obvious, that for such services we need to equip guest houses, arrange transport, and train forest rangers.”
Public activists proposed to restrict business activity of the area in Priluzye district in order not to let visitors enter its core. As Yury Pautov informed, the plan was to arrange a cordon near the protected area to limit the inflow of tourists who would visit the protected area, so there was no need to restrict business activity.
The Foundation suggests putting the administration of the national park in Koygorodok district and merging it with the administration of the Tulashor Reserve referring to Kirov region. The costs related to the PA establishment will amount to 3-5m rubles, according to design engineers’ estimates.
Residents of Koygorodok continued asking questions after the hearings were over
GERMAN STUDENTS COMPARED PRILUZYE PINE WOODS WITH EUROPEAN FORESTS
| News by Just AuthorA group of German students consisting of 11 bachelors and masters of forestry from Georg-August University of Goettingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) visited demonstration routes arranged by the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development under Komi Model Forest project in the period from 5 to 8 September 2018. In addition to walking the tour, the students attended a lecture on forest exploitation and management history in the Republic of Komi, met the managers of the Priluzye Forestry, and visited Mondi Syktyvkar’s logging plots in the Noshul district forestry and Luzales’ production facilities in Zanulye.
Since 2012 Syktyvkar Forest Institute supported by Silver Taiga and Mondi Syktyvkar has facilitated the international summer Forest School for foreign universities offering forestry and forest environment majors. Learning about foreign experience is an essential part of training in European universities. Students submit applications for special grants, and the brightest of them get an opportunity to observe forest management practices in other countries. This year, these were German students specializing in forest environment, but having no idea of boreal forests, because Germany is mostly covered by temperate forests with such dominating species as oak, beech, linden and hornbeam. While in boreal forests the most typical ‘representatives’ are spruce, pine, larch and cedar, which can hardly be found in Germany.
The Silver Taiga Foundation has been part of Syktyvkar Forest Institute’s Forest School project for the last 5 year, and, as a rule, field trainings start with the Priluzye Model Forest demonstration routes. This year, German students accompanied by Silver Taiga’s director Yury Pautov examined the Chitayevo route, where they learnt about forest exploitation history in the Russian North over the last 10-15 centuries, walked the route Towards Nyula, where they studied various types of natural forest dynamics in taiga, and explored the Sedka route, where they saw landscape regularities of forest development following laws of nature and depending on the type of landscape, soil, and occurring natural disasters such as fire or windfall. Everything was new for the students from Germany, because in their native country forests were transformed and adapted for human needs long ago.
The longest route Sedka made it possible for the Goettingen University students to get an insight into distribution of various types of forests in the boreal landscape shaped by the latest glacial periods which had affected the European North and the whole of Europe over 300 million years, the so-called Pleistocene glaciation. Moreover, the visitors could observe the current forest management activity of Mondi Syktyvkar, one of the biggest lease holders of Priluzye Forestry in terms of logging operations, forest road construction, logistics, forest regeneration and plantation growing.
German students were greatly impressed by clear cutting on huge areas of 30-40 ha. Germany has mostly selective cutting, while clear cutting areas never exceed 2 hectares. At the same time, the students saw the aftereffect of large forest fires their impact on regeneration and growth of young forest. They also had a chance to compare commercial and non-commercial cutting features. All that enabled them to get complete apprehension of today’s forestry sector in Russia.
“A special thing to mention is that the students showed unhidden interest in the topic at the meeting they had with managers of Priluzye Forestry – Evgeny Chernyak and Yury Serditov, they asked a lot of questions, and the discussion lasted for over an hour. The forestry staff were impressed by the German students’ motivation and curiosity. The visitors were surprised to hear that local residents have almost no social rights according to the Russian forest legislation, and the only way for them to protect their interests during forest exploitation is the FSC certification mechanism. In Germany, with its state, private and communal forests, local self-government is very strong, and all forest operations have to be agreed with locals who can be affected by such changes.
At Luzales’ lower landing in Zanulye
The German students were also curious about traditional forest use, they asked how local residents used forest products, not only mushrooms and berries, but also birchbark, firewood and construction wood. Later, during the private conversation, the students said that two people had been fined in Germany some time before for collecting 19 kilos of mushrooms. According to German standards, one person cannot collect more than 2 kilos of mushrooms, so the fine was around 135 thousand in Russia rubles. That is why, at first, when we told them that families in Komi find mushroom and berry gathering a great help, they could not understand what we meant. Later, when they saw people selling mushrooms and berries near the motorway, they understood the difference between Russian and German conditions, which are explained by the countries’ social policy, as well as by objective factors, like population density, as the Russian territory is 50 times larger than the one of Germany, while the German population is just 2 times less than the one of Russia,” Yury Pautov, Silver Taiga’s director, says.
There were a lot of other activities planned for the German visitors, they saw Mondi Syktyvkar’s facilities and the Komi Forest Fire Fighting Center. However, those were the Model Forest Priluzye routes that were most informative for them.
Photo by Yury Pautov
Salmon spawning conditions in Pyssa River will be examined by the experts
| News, «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorSilver Taiga specialists arranged the regular expedition to investigate the Atlantic salmon breeding area. This time Pyssa River has been chosen for the investigation, one of the left salmon-spawning Mezen tributaries.
Pyssa River close to old Nebdino village
Conservation and regeneration of salmon population in Mezen River are possible only if the original conditions of the breeding area are being kept. Modification of the breeding ground conditions has resulted in dying out or dramatic reduction of salmon population level. The same situation is in Russia, Europe and North America. According to the examination of salmon breeding ground in Mezen River by Russian and foreign experts in 2010-2011 the most part of such grounds have preserved the natural potential or have been under a minimum influence. Therefore, the conditions in Mezen River headwaters are not a limiting factor for the population growth.
If we manage to set up an interregional program of Mezen salmon population conservation and regeneration (between Arkhangelsk and Komi regions), it will be necessary to cover all points of the breeding ground rehabilitation. We have chosen the rivers for testing where we together with our partners monitor the annual salmon spawning. Here we know the places of salmon redds.
Such photos help to estimate the spawning gravels quality – ground with the help of special techniques
In 2017 Silver Taiga representatives in cooperation with ichthyologists and hydrobiologists investigated in details the conditions of salmon spawning and young fish first years of living in the river on Puzla River – Mezen River tributary. According to the investigation results of the most important chemical water indicators, fraction composition of the ground and young salmon food elements the given river has preserved the natural potential and belongs to the watercourse with a high degree of fisheries sensitivity.
Caddis worm – one of the salmon food elements
The Foundation carried out a regular expedition on August, 16-20 on Pyssa River. The samples were collected in riffles where the salmon redds are registered from year to year. The young fish spend the first years of living not far from such places and eat mostly aquatic invertebrates. The collected samples of drifting, benthos, water and ground are being under investigation. The next expedition to the same places will be held in autumn aiming at collection of additional samples. Having received the information about seasonal changes of food capacity and water quality we will be able to conclude about the breeding ground potential on the given river. We tend to believe that the conditions for salmon are good enough in these places. It is also interesting to try to estimate the environmental capacity (how many young fish can live on the river stretch) taking into consideration food capacity and the number of riffles suitable for spawning.
AGAINST ELECTRIC FISHING RODS
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorRepresentatives of a student campaign team acting at the Chuprovo village’s library as part of the Model River Mezen project spoke about negative impact of electric fishing rods on fish populations of the Vashka and Mezen rivers during their tour of adjacent villages in July.
It has become a good tradition for the students to perform in rural Recreational Centers in Udora district in summer. The Chuprovo library gathered a campaign team among youth again on 22 July 2018 and visited nearby villages along the Vashka. On the stages of Puchkom, Muftyuga and Chuprovo clubs they showed the fairy-tale About How Vovochka Was Looking for Life-Giving Water. Prior the performance they gave educational lectures on the hazards of electric fishing rods.
Viktoria Tushkanova’s solo
According to the fishing legislation usage of electric rods for fishing is forbidden in water basins of general use. However, not all people know about negative effect of fishing with electric current.
Fish affected by electric field loses reproductive functions, even though it does not kill it. As ichthyologic research proves, the voltage of 90V is hazardous for fish and fish eggs, while electric rods have the voltage of 1.5 kV. Such an impact leaves no chance for fish eggs or other living organisms within the radius of several dozen meters. The biggest problem is that a fisherman cannot pick all the fish affected, because some fish float on the surface after the shock (ruff, chub, nerfling), and some species drown and lie on the bottom of rivers without movement (carp, pike, trout). Thus, having obtained dozens kilos of fish, a fisherman leaves the same amount of fish dying in the water. If you see a lot of fishes swimming awkwardly sidewise, it is the first sign that a poacher with an electric fishing rod has been here.
All this information was provided by campaigners. Unfortunately, according to Vashka public activists, fishing with electric rods is a frequent case on the Vashka. That is why Vazhgort activists lead by Valentina Ekimova took a responsibility to conduct raids throughout the summer and stop any detected use of electric rods.
This year, the campaign team headed by Zhanna Korovina, director of the Chuprovo library, included university and school students – Kristina Kazarinova, Viktoria Tushkanova, Milena Shlopova, Pavel Politov, and the teacher of Edva secondary general school Natalya Politova.
Vovochka meeting the Old Man Khottabych
A scene from an environmental fairy-tale
“In previous years campaign team performances were too global – we spoke about environmental pollution by industrial companies, waste accumulation, poaching, and all that dissipated the attention of the audience. This year we showed just one ecological sketch in Komi, and I think that the spectators understood better the idea we wanted to highlight,” Kristina Kazarinova from Syktyvkar Forest Institute said.
The end of the performance was enthusiastic; the campaigners sang Komi and Russian songs raising positive emotions in the audience. Even though the topic of the performance was sad, people were leaving the audience space in a good mood.
The audience space was full
NOT A SINGLE SAD FACE IN GLOTOVO ON THE FISH DAY
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorThe Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development facilitated the Mezen Day intersettlement event in Glotovo, Udora, on 11 August 2018. Last year the festival was held in Bolshaya Pyssa. Over 250 residents of Glotovo and other settlements, including Syktyvkar, took part in the event. Unfortunately, visitors from near-Mezen areas of Arkhangelsk region could not come to participate in the event due to bad road condition and other reasons.
It was not by chance that Glotovo was appointed the venue for the event. The Model River Mezen project is aimed at restoration of fishery resources and development of sustainable management of the river, and it is in Glotovo where the AgroUdora cooperative consisting of 70 residents is located. The company leases 5 fishery plots on the Irva river and the Irva lakes. The Silver Taiga Foundation maintains close links with the cooperative supporting its initiatives targeted on independent management of fishery and other resources of the river.
In addition, Glotovo is one of the oldest villages of Udora district preserving its folk culture – customs and traditions, art and cuisine, and its dialect – for many centuries. The village is inhabited by industrious and talented people – craftsmen, people who know and love their native land. The Mezen Day is a great opportunity for them to show their abilities and for others to praise them.
It has become a good tradition to display items made by Udora craftsmen at the event. For the whole day Oksana Baklanova, Mezen wood painting expert from Syolyb, Alexander Popov, wood carving craftsman from Usogorsk, Valentin Bykov, willow weaving artisan from Chim, Dina Chuprova, folk art lover from Usogorsk, Svetlana Govorukhina, head of Udora community in Syktyvkar, and Nikolay Matveyev, craftsman from Yortom, gave master classes for visitors at the tent camp built in front of Glotovo secondary general school. Each participant of a master class got a token. The one who got most tokens were awarded at the end of the day. In addition, one could receive a token for right answers to the quiz held by Valentina Semyashkina, deputy director of Silver Taiga, and Albert Loginov, head of the Udorachi community of indigenous people.
Oksana Baklanova, Mezen wood painting expert
At N.Matveyev’s master class
Various pieces of art displayed as part of the exhibition of traditional fishing gear embellished the event well. The exhibition was prepared by the National Museum of Udora District (director – Valentina Soldatenko). At the entrance to the tent city one could see a couple of elderly fishermen and a young man in a traditional Komi outfit. All their harvest was seen in front of them. A fish trap, a harpoon, a float – this fishing gear provided by the museum was of great interest for the visitors.
Pieces of art
An old man and an old woman meeting visitors
For the first time, the Mezen Day in Glotovo featured an exhibition of Mezen boats. Nine local fisherman exhibited their “fishing tool” on the Mezen bank. The owners had to present their boats, speak about their makers, technical specifications, special characteristics and advantages. The panel of judges decided to award the victory to Vladimir Kalinin who involved his family to help in the presentation, including his grandchildren, who did more than just speaking about the boat, they were creative and applied their sense of humour to stage a sketch about an old man trying to sell his old boat and eventually buying a new one. The presentation of boats turned into contestants’ performance, but it was Vladimir Kalinin’s support group whose presentation was fancied most by the judges.
At the Mezen boat ‘parade’
The contest of fishermen’s stories Syo Zbyl! (meaning “naked truth” in Komi) was held as part of the event for the first time. The presenters of the contest were Natalya Shakhova and Andrey Mikhailov, the “Bad Spouses” duet. Natalya and Andrey are members of Komi teams of KVN (Club of Funny and Inventive People). They performed a whole show during the Mezen Day event featuring an ill-fated married couple who liked fishing. The audience adored the characters created by Natalya and Andrey and laughed themselves to tears. During breaks between scenes participants of the contest told their fishing stories. The winner of the contest was Lidya Gordeyeva from Glotovo.
The “Bad Spouses” duet and writer A. Vurdov
Spectators laughed themselves to tears
While the participants were getting ready for the show, AgroUdora cooperative representatives were cooking fish soup in a large pot on an open spot near the stage. The fish for the soup had been caught the night before in the Mezen. Each one could get a nice portion of fish soup flavoured with smoke.
Before lunch a meeting with Mezen writers was held in the Literature Lounge in one of the rooms of Glotovo school. The hostess of the Lounge was writer Nina Obreskova who spoke about her creative work and presented her new collection of stories, which also included some essays of Udora district people who risked publishing their works for the first time. Also, writer Alexey Vurdov, poets Anastasia Busheneva and Svetlana Govorukhina demonstrated their pieces of work to the village residents and visitors of the event.
In the Literature Lounge
In the next room Nikolay Shilov and Alexander Borovlyov from Silver Taiga conducted lectures on the history of fishing on the Mezen and the history of cartography. Alexander Borovlyov presented ancient maps of Udora and the Mezen, that had been in use in the times of Ivan the Terrible, comparing them to the maps of following epochs and modern maps. In addition, a meet-the-artist session was held in the school with Elena Doronina, actress of the V.Savin Academic Drama Theater who was born in Glotovo. She told the audience about how she had become an actress, about challenges of her job, and performed some scenes.
Elena Doronina, actress of the V.Savin Academic Drama Theater
Staff of the Udora Central Library conducted an intellectual game based on the popular show What? Where? When?. The Team of Experts was challenged by the Team of the Model River Mezen project. The Team of Experts included young people of Glotovo with Maria Karpova as a leader. They lost the game with the score 8:9, but they tried their best to win, discussed different versions actively, and were often very close to right answers. The debates about one of the questions were so heated that the experts had to exclude the question from the list. As a result, 17 questions were presented instead of 18. The best player, according to the audience and the experts, was Vasily Pavlov. While the best question, according to the players, was asked by Albert Loginov from Bolshaya Pyssa. Singer Anna Ulyanova beautified the game with her wonderful performance of Komi songs.
Team of experts
Komi singer A. Ulyanova
A festive concert was shown at the end of the event with participation of amateur performance teams from Syolyb, Solnechny, Glotovo, Koslan, Butkan, and Bolshaya Pyssa. Anna Ulyanova, Anna Obrezkova, Yulia Deminskaya and Alexander Klokov sang for visitors. Amateur performers had to sing and dance in the rain, but no one left the stage. Spectators were great too, they watched the show till the end, sang and danced, even though they were all wet through.
Kids were amazed at life-size puppets
Almost every participant tried to make a memorable photo
The Silver Taiga Foundation expresses gratitude to all its partners – Koslan Folk Art Center, Syktyvkar Komi Culture Center, Komi Republic Center for Folk Art and Advance Training, the whole staff of Glotovo secondary school and especially its director Anna Kryazhevskaya, who undertook the responsibility for many organizational issues for the event.
Members of Silver Taiga
FULL-SCALE CLEANING REQUIRED FOR IRVA LAKES
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorThis conclusion was made by members of the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development after they had made an inspection trip to the Irva lakes in Udora district on 16-20 July 2018. The expedition was held as part of the Model River Mezen project.
The Irva lakes are a series of lakes connected through the Irva river. As AgroUdora fishery cooperative having dealt with fishing at the Irva lakes for several decades states, from year to year their water bodies get more and more overgrown with exploding aquatic vegetation, such as duckweed, pondweed, spatterdock, rush, hornweed and shavegrass. Some lakes get completely covered with green weeds with no clear spots left. It is getting more and more difficult for fishermen to find their way for boat transportation. What’s worse, fish suffocation occurs in the lakes from time to time.
It is getting more difficult for fishermen to move their boats
Based on the results of the research during the expedition, the lakes eutrophication process continues, extensive drift is accumulated. According to Nikolay Shilov, Model River Mezen project coordinator and head of the research group, such phenomena occurring in water basins lead not only to reduced fish population, but also to changing of fish communities. The share of high-value fishery species like lake herring or grayling goes down, while the population of common species – perch or roach – increases.
Silver Taiga’s experts started research on the Irva Lakes as early as two year ago trying to identify dominating plant species and the area of weediness on the lakes. When the monitoring was completed, they managed to request the Federal Fishery Agency (Rosrybolovstvo) to include cleaning of the lake of Krivushev-Ty in the 2017 Action Plan for Fishery Improvement of Aquatic Bodies. Respective activities were successfully fulfilled on the lake last year. This year, a request for improvement has been sent by the cooperative, but it has not been approved by the sectoral science. However, it was necessary to assess the efficiency of last year improvement activities and monitor the development of negative trends on the lakes. Unfortunately, as Nikolay Shilov reports, the level of water turned out to be higher than the summer steady low water level and event went up when the Foundation’s people worked on the Irva lakes. In this connection, the research group faced some methodological difficulties in assessment of weediness, as some plants were partially covered with water.
Krivushev-Ty
“The cooperative’s and the Foundation’s staff got different opinions on the efficiency of last year improvement activities. Agro-Udora believes that the efficiency was zero. Silver Taiga’s experts monitoring the ongoing situation with a fresh mind think that the area cleared from vegetation last year remains relatively clean. But our views about the root cause of weediness of the lakes – failure to clean the bottoms of water reservoirs from mud and drift – were similar. If you do not clean the bottom, aquatic plants will grow even more intensely in those areas due to favorable conditions, such as shallow water, rich nutrition for root systems of plants, good heat penetration and light intensity. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to conduct a large-scale clean-up of the water reservoirs by AgroUdora’s efforts only. Improvement requires massive and costly activities, in addition, the region has no equipment for such work,” Nikolay Shilov concludes.
According to his words, there is another option – biological improvement, which is the least expensive method. However, traditional release of plant-eating fish will not be fruitful as a result of severe climatic conditions in this area. Water rats deal successfully with aquatic vegetation, but the population of the gnawing animal has reduced, because they are killed by fishers. They believe that water rats damage their fishing nets.
“Nevertheless, we should not quit the idea of cleaning the Irva lakes. The cleaning strategy has been discussed with representatives of Rosrybolovstvo, and we will try again to apply for the federal program of fishery improvement of water bodies. The data obtained through the recent research will become the base for justification of the need in cleaning activities,” Nikolay Shilov sums up.
The Irva lakes
SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERTS COMPLETED DATA COLLECTION FOR THE KARPOGORY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
| «High Conservation Value Forests» project by Just AuthorBack in 2004-2008 the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development mapped large intact forest landscapes (IFLs, areas of intact forest of over 50,000 ha) in the Komi Republic, later cores of those IFLs, the most valuable from the environmental point of view and unaffected by any industry areas, were agreed with various stakeholders. Since then, the Foundation has been systematically dealing with inspection of such remote intact tracts to award the status of PAs (specially protected natural areas) to them. In 2009-2013, Koygorodok IFL in the south of the region was inspected, and now a new national park – Koygorodok National Park – is planned to be established there. In 2016, the Silver Taiga Foundation arranged an international scientific expedition to Verkhnyaya Vashka IFL to find justification for the new landscape reserve. In 2017, the environmental and economic feasibility study for the Osa complex landscape reserve was prepared and forwarded to the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Komi Republic. In summer 2018 an expedition to the Core of the Karpogory IFL located near the border of Udora district of Komi and Pinega district of Arkhangelsk region was planned.
The following experts took part in the expedition which started on 18 June 2018 in Chuprovo, Udora district: Andrey Korolev and Natalya Semenova, scientists of Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Syktyvkar, phytosociologist Asya Zagidullina from Saint Petersburg, Finnish experts Junikka Jaako Juhani and Olli Antti Manninen, and Nikolay Shuktomov and Sergey Davydov from the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development. They inspected the Karpogory IFL to identify habitats of Red Book species of plants and animals, rare ecosystems and landscapes. Later, the information on biodiversity collected during the trip will be included in the documents to justify establishment of the wildlife sanctuary on that area.
Zoologists Andrey Korolev and Junikka Jaako Juhani monitor the situation
It is important to note that the place is remote and difficult for access. The only reliable type of transportation is a motorboat. The base camp of the participants was 70 kilometers away from the village of Chuprovo. To get to the camp the members of the expedition had to travel by boat up the Kurmysh river. The guide was one of the local residents of Chuprovo – Nikolay Tyurnin.
Nikolay Tyurnin, the guide
The central part of the Karpogory tract was conducted by groups of 2-3 people. The walking distance of the routes was from 15 to 25 kilometers. On the way, one could see family marks, which means that the area had been used by local people for traditional activities for a long time.
Family marks
The long spring this year postponed the start of vegetation and blossoming of many of vascular plants, however, the scientists managed to find a very rare orchid – Calypso bulbosa which is included in the Red Book of Russia. According to the leader of the expedition – forestry coordinator Nikolay Shuktomov from Silver Taiga – the experts were extremely lucky to find it. The participants of the trip also found some unique lichens and fungi in the Karpogory tract. Zoologist Andrey Korolev and ornithologist from Finland Junikka Jaako Juhani identified some rare bird species. The expedition managed to make a photo of a big predator bird very similar to a honey buzzard included in the Red Books of many areas, including the one of Arkhangelsk region.
Calypso bulbosa orchid
The Karpogory IFL is one of the biggest well preserved tracts of intact forest. Its area exceeds 393,500 ha, the area of the core is more than 276,500 ha. The last expedition was the third one. In 2007 a trip to the southern part of the tract along the Puchkoma river was arranged. The team included members of the Silver Taiga Foundation, a representative of the SPOK environment protection organization from Karelia, and the head of the Udorachi public movement. The experts were to estimate the degree of preservation of forests and availability of Red Book species of plants and animals. In 2011, an expedition to audit the Ezhuga wildlife sanctuary (the northern part of the Karpogory IFL) was arranged as part of the UNDP/GEF project. The group included scientists of Institute of Biology of the Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, staff of the Silver Taiga Foundation, experts from Arkhangelsk and St. Petersburg. The expedition report was included in the UNDP/GEF summary report on assessment of representativeness of specially protected natural areas (PA) of the Komi Republic. Based on the results of the studies an idea emerged to create the Karpogory wildlife sanctuary merging together Puchkoma and Ezhuga reserves. The 2018 expedition concluded the series of studies in this IFL. The following stage will be development of an environmental justification for the Karpogory wildlife sanctuary, which will merge the existing Puchkoma reserve in the Komi Republic and Ezhuga reserve in Arkhangelsk region into an integrated specially protected natural area of regional significance, thus preserving unique intact forest tracts of middle taiga for upcoming generations.
In the heart of the Karpogory tract
FUN TO WANDER IN THE NATURAL RESERVE
| News by Just AuthorOn 7-14 July 2018 the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development facilitated a tour on landscape and environmental characteristics of intact forests of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve for members of the Nature Association of the Canton of the Jura, Switzerland. In addition, the visitors had a chance to see a moose farm and the reserve’s museum and learnt about the history of the specially protected natural area.
The tour was held along demonstration routes of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve developed by the Silver Taiga Foundation back in 1998, which are still used a lot. The information about the routes is shared among members of the foundation or its partners. The Swiss Nature Association learnt about them from Jürgen Blaser, a professor of the Bern University, who walked along them in 2017 with a group of students and professors of the university – 22 people in total. They studied regularities of the natural dynamics of taiga and specifics of the forestry sector in the Komi Republic.
At the moose farm in the reserve
This year, the group of Swiss nature lovers walked along the Piedmont Taiga of the Northern Ural route lying on an old horse road that used to connect two small villages – Sobinskaya and Shaytanovka – some time ago. Now, there are cordons of the reserve instead of them. The visitors also inspected two routes near the Shezhym cordon.
“The Swiss tourists were astonished at the rich nature of the reserve. They were pleasantly surprised about hospitality and friendliness of the reserve inspectors, but most of all they were overwhelmed by the vastitude of intact wilderness. Switzerland is a small country which can be travelled across in 3-4 hours, so they were deeply impressed travelling by boats for two days with no people in sight and hiking for many kilometers,” Yury Pautov, director of the Silver Taiga Foundation, who conducted the tour for the Europeans, says.
The Swiss were deeply impressed travelling by boats for two days with no people in sight and hiking for many kilometers
The tour was attended by biology and zoology experts. Ornithologists managed to accumulate really lots of material. On the routes, they observed rare birds which have disappeared in Switzerland or are endangered. During the visitors’ stay on cordons they saw bear traces. One of the travelers was lucky to see a bear cub crawling about on the river bank, when the boat was moving up the Pechora river.
The Swiss visitors of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve are interested in wilderness and visit mostly natural reserves and national parks
The Swiss visitors of the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve are interested in wilderness and visit mostly natural reserves and national parks. They have been to Poland (Belovezhskaya Pushcha), Canada, Senegal, Madagascar, owing to the fact the Swiss Nature Association arranges such expeditions in many countries of the world. As for Russia, it was the first experience of the group in this country.
The Silver Taiga Foundation has been arranging educational programs in the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve since 1999. For this time, experts from Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Poland and Russia have tested the environmental routes.
“Previously, the reserve’s infrastructure left much to be desired – one had to sleep in tents, bathe in the river and cook on fire. Now, visitors may relax in comfortable conditions in a hotel or guest houses on the Shezhym cordon. There is a banya which you can use any time. The routes are equipped with signs, cleared of debris, visitors are offered various souvenirs. This, of course, became possible due to the reserve’s staff who focus a lot on education and popularization of one of the most beautiful protected areas of Russia,” Yury Pautov sums up.
The group is for the first time in Russia
KOYGORODOK AND PRILUZYE DISTRICT RESIDENTS VOTED FOR THE KOYGORODSKY NATIONAL PARK UNANIMOUSLY
| «High Conservation Value Forests» project by Just AuthorPublic hearings on establishment of the Koygorodsky National Park were held in the Koygorodok district administration on 27 July 2018 and in the Priluzye district administration on July 29. The results of the environmental and economic analysis and design concepts for the Koygorodsky National Park were presented in both districts by Yury Pautov, director of the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development, because it was Silver Taiga that won the tender for the technical and economic feasibility study of the new specially protected natural area (PA).
The data of the comprehensive environmental study of the area serving to justify awarding a legal status of a specially protected natural area of federal significance entitled the Koygorodsky National Park (Komi Republic) to it were available for the general public for a month before the public hearings both in hard copies and in the digital form. One could read the documents in Koygorodok and Priluzye district administrations or at the Silver Taiga Foundation’s website (in Russian).
According to Yury Pautov, the area of the PA to be designed will be 56,600 ha, most part of the reserved area (76% of the total area) is located in Koygorodok forestry (in Kobrа district forestry unit), and the rest (24%) is in Priluzye and Letka forestry units (Noshul and Letka district forestry units).
Yury Pautov, director of the Silver Taiga Foundation
As the presenter highlighted, large natural ecosystems and natural habitats that have not been affected by human activity with the area of over 50,000 ha are subject to preservation first of all, according to the federal law On Environmental Protection. The Koygorodok tract is referred to intact forest landscapes (IFL), few of which have remained in the Komi Republic. The most well-known ones are the Yugyd Va National Park and Pechora-Ilych Natural Reserve with the total area of 3m ha, these sites are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, so they are protected by federal and international laws.
There are other IFLs as well – Timan, Pyssa, Karpogory and Verkhnyaya Vashka IFLs – mostly in the periphery of the region. The Koygorodok IFL is the smallest and the most valuable out of the listed ones. It is also the most southern one in the European part of Russia. By establishment of a new federal PA Russia will preserve the last remaining virgin forest tract in Europe located in the southern subzone of European taiga, protect rare flora and fauna species and the unique forest ecosystem, support traditional use of natural resources by indigenous Komi and local population, contribute to diversification of social and economic development of Koygorodok and Priluzye districts and the Komi Republic in general, and get a chance to continue promoting extreme tourism.
The would-be national park is in the very south of Komi, it borders the PA created in Kirov region in 2010 – natural reserve cluster Nurgush – Tulashor. The Koygorodok National Park and Tulashor are the same forest tract spread over the two regions.
The work on establishment of the national park started thirteen year ago. The Silver Taiga Foundation that used to deal with inventory count of all intact forests of the Komi Republic initiated the new PA in 2005. The Foundation suggested conserving the Koygorodok forest tract for PA, however the area was leased by forest users. In 2006, as part of the voluntary forest certification of Koygorodok forestry, an agreement was reached with Mondi Syktyvkar, the leaseholder of the vastest part of the area. The company waived its right of lease for the sake of the new PA. The agreement was coordinated with the management of the Forest Committee, the Silver Taiga Foundation and Mondi Syktyvkar. In 2007, Mayskles also passed moratorium on the use of its leased area as part of its certification on a voluntary basis. After that, the proposal for the new PA was forwarded to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, which in its turn sent a request to the Komi Republic Ministry of Natural Resources. In 2009 the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Komi Republic held a large meeting, and then the Komi Government agreed to conserve the area for the PA of federal significance. Later, various environmental studies were conducted, and in 2011 the area was included in the PA Plan of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. According to the plan, the park had to be formed in 2016, however, it didn’t work at that time unfortunately. Nevertheless, in 2017, respective tasks were received from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, and the design work started. Now, the Silver Taiga Foundation, which won the tender for design activities, is dealing with elaboration of the technical and economic feasibility study (TEFS). In 2019, the TEFS audit is to be held by independent experts, and unless the experts find any deviations, the Russian Government will pass an order on the new PA in 2020.
The value of the tract is absence of any human intervention. The majority of its area is intact forest where no cutting operations have even been conducted, nor roads, electric power lines, gas or oil pipelines have been build, nor any industrial development has occurred. The intact forest landscape has been developing according to the natural dynamics laws for thousands years till now. The area of human impact does not exceed 4%. The biggest part of the landscape is represented by mixed deciduous and spruce forest which is typical for southern taiga. It has preserved some native fir and spruce forest, which cannot be found almost anywhere in Europe.
“For local residents the forest is old, rough and ‘littered’ with dead branches, it has a lot of coniferous undergrowth and underbrush composed of linden, mountain ash and juniper, impenetrable windfalls, swamps and river valleys. For most people it is a real torture to walk in such forest. But that is what primeval taiga, which was used for agriculture by our ancestors in middle ages, looks like. From the environmental point of view, it is a unique ecosystem, as all plants and animals have preserved and cohabited there for thousands years. Environmental experts from abroad look amazed when they observe this ‘disorderly wonder’ of the Koygorodok tract, they are ready to spend weeks there to see natural habitats and species that have already disappeared at their native places,” Yury Pautov noted in his report.
It is old, rough and ‘littered’ with debris forest, is it really that important for future generations?
He explained that it is there where you can find rare species included in the Red Book of the Komi Republic, Red Book of Kirov Region and Red Book of Russia. You can see rare moss and lichen species, like Usnea Longissima. The lichen looks like long threads, which actually were used for Christmas tree decoration in Sweden in the 17th century. That is how the tradition of decorating Christmas trees emerged. Previously, the lichen could only be found almost everywhere in the taiga zone from Sweden to Komi, and now it has remained in such remote places only.
Priluzye residents were surprised to hear that in the 17th century Swedish women used to decorate Christmas trees with Usnea Longissima, which can be found in the would-be national park
A group of Finnish experts found an extremely rare insect species in the Koygorodok tract in August 2009 – Hylochares Cruentatus. It is a large beetle that looks like a bark beetle with short horns and rounded superior wings on both sides. Earlier, ten habitats of the beetle were known, so the Koygorodok tract became the eleventh one.
The reporter spoke in detail about the history of fires and windfalls at this area in the 19-20th centuries. However, the huge fire did not affect the whole area. Most Red Book species are concentrated in the spruce forest which was not affected by the fire that took place 160 years ago, a significant portion of them – in aspen forests and flood basins of rivers and brooks that served as escapes from fires for forest inhabitants. The area of the Koygorodok tract is still poorly studied, potentially it may have up to 150 Red Book plant species and over 30 Red Book animal species. That makes 180 species in total, which is almost 90% of all Red Book, rare and endangered species of the southern part of the Komi Republic. In other words, the area is of utmost importance in terms of its richness in rare and endangered species and its value for future generations. The structure of the national park landscapes ensures preservation of the model of intact South European taiga and all levels of biodiversity – from the genetic to the landscape one.
Project designers suggest dividing the preserved area in the following zones: reserved area (12.6% of the total area), specially protected area (14%), recreation area (72.1%) and also an area for some economic activity (2.5%). The reserve area will border on the Tulashor nature reserve of Kirov region. It is the most valuable part of the tract. The rest of the area is for recreation, where one can relax, conduct scientific tours, go hunting or fishing with a license, go hiking. The recreational area stands close to minor areas for economic activities – that where the park will build houses for visitors and rangers protecting the reserved area.
“One can develop environmental tourist at the would-be area. The Foundation has some experience, we showed the place to tourists from Latvia, Sweden, Finland and Russia, we even created an educational route for this purpose. In addition, it is possible to arrange extreme sport tours with obstacles. Now, there are a lot of Europeans willing to take a walk along intact taiga. I know one person who tried to cross the Koygorodok tract, but failed. It is wild, rough and full of debris. However, there is demand for such type of tourism, and it is quite interesting for tour operators,” Yury Pautov believes.
Participants of the public hearings in Koygorodok district asked the presenter if tourists may become a threat for Red Book species. According to Yury Pautov, none of local hunters will ever move that far to hunt. They can get a wood grouse or a hazel grouse in nearby forests. Extreme tours are planned to be offered to western hunters who demand large catch – big moose or big bears. Neither a moose, nor a bear is included in the Red Book.
Participants of the public hearings in Koygorodok district asked the presenter if tourists may become a threat for Red Book species
To illustrate the case, Yury Pautov gave an example from his experience, “I have just come back from Latvia where I participated in a forestry workshop. Tourism there is organized not for locals, but mostly for hunters from the Check Republic, Germany and Sweden. The income generated by the hunting amounts to 12% of the Latvian forestry budget. A hunter should pay for the following: a) hunting right (license); b) guidance; c) service (accommodation, food, transport, sauna, and other entertainments); d) game. The cost of the captured game may vary from 5,000 to 50,000 dollars depending on its size. All this money goes to the state forestry budget. Here, we can charge from 50,000 to 70,000 rubles for a big bear, and a similar amount for a guide. It is obvious, that for such services we need to equip guest houses, arrange transport, and train forest rangers.”
Public activists proposed to restrict business activity of the area in Priluzye district in order not to let visitors enter its core. As Yury Pautov informed, the plan was to arrange a cordon near the protected area to limit the inflow of tourists who would visit the protected area, so there was no need to restrict business activity.
The Foundation suggests putting the administration of the national park in Koygorodok district and merging it with the administration of the Tulashor Reserve referring to Kirov region. The costs related to the PA establishment will amount to 3-5m rubles, according to design engineers’ estimates.
Residents of Koygorodok continued asking questions after the hearings were over
THE MEZEN DAY IN GLOTOVO, UDORA DISTRICT, WILL FEATURE FISHERMEN’S STORIES CONTEST
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorBoth experienced and beginning fishermen will get a chance to speak about their fishing adventures. The tales can be presented in any genre, including jokes. The Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development is announcing receipt of applications for the contest of fishermen’s stories Syo Zbyl! (meaning “naked truth” in Komi) well in advance now.
The contest will be held as part of the Mezen Day event in Glotovo, Udora district, on 11 August 2018. Apart from Udora fishermen anglers from other districts and cities of the Komi Republic may take part in this original competition. Fishermen have to travel to the venue at their own cost. The best tale-tellers selected by judges will be awarded with valuable prizes.
You can apply for the contest by sending an e-mail to Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development office@komimodelforest.ru or by a phone call: (8212)21-43-08; (8212)24-94-25 before 31 July 2018. You can also submit your application in person to the following address: 2 Kuratova str. (porch 2, entry phone 19 for Silver Taiga), Syktyvkar, or to Glotovo Recreation Center.
The contest is arranged for the first time at the Mezen Day event. The festival will also feature an exhibition of Mezen boats and competition for the fastest knitting of fishing nets. In addition, facilitators will arrange folk art and craft workshops. Moreover, the festival program includes a concert of local bands, educational lectures, exhibitions, intellectual and action-oriented games. All visitors will be treated to fish soup. Last year, the Mezen Day was held in Bolshaya Pyssa, Udora district, and was attended by over 300 people.
Photo by Przemyslaw Majewski
REGULATION
on the contest of fishermen’s stories Syo Zbyl! (Naked truth!)
1.1. Promotion of respectful attitude to nature, healthy life style and outdoor recreation.
1.2. Popularization of fishing sport.
1.3. Reinforcement of family traditions.
1.4. Environmental education for the population.
The contest will be held as part of the Mezen Day event in Glotovo, Udora district, on 11 August 2018.
General management of the event facilitation is effected by Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development and the public of Glotovo (organizational committee of the event).
Everyone willing to participate, irrespective of their age or gender, is invited to take part in the contest. No participation fee is charged.
5.1. The competition is held at a special ground in the village of Glotovo, Udora district.
5.2. The duration of the performance is up to 10 minutes.
5.3. A support group (team) is allowed to take part with a participant.
5.4. Each participant (team) is allowed to present up to 3 tales.
5.5. Performance elements (pantomime, dance, etc.) are allowed to be shown during tale-telling.
5.6. Tales may be presented in Russian or in Komi.
6. To participate in the contest on needs to submit an application by sending an e-mail to Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development office@komimodelforest.ru or calling (8212)21-43-08; (8212)24-94-25 before 31 July 2018.
You can also submit your application in person to the following address: 2 Kuratova str. (porch 2, entry phone 19 for Silver Taiga), Syktyvkar, or inform representatives of Glotovo Recreation Center.
Winners are defined according to the following criteria:
– compliance with the topic of the contest;
– original story (tale);
– artistic performance.
8.1. The judges estimate the performance of each participant and define the winners of the contest.
8.2. Special nominations may be introduced based on the judges’ decision: the most convincing fishermen story; the youngest participant, the most elderly participant, fisher’s luck, etc.
9.1. The winners of the contest are awarded with valuable prizes; the winners of special nominations are awarded with recognition gifts. All participants are provided with diplomas.
9.2. The awarding ceremony is held on August 11 at 16.00 at the conclusion of the Mezen Day event.
The prizes for winners are provided by the contest facilitators – the Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development and sponsors of the event.
SCHOOLCHILDREN FROM VOZHGORA, ARKHANGELSK REGION, STUDIED PRINCIPLES OF HYDROBIOLOGY
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorThe Silver Taiga Foundation for Sustainable Development has arranged the ichthyology school for the fourth year in a row. In previous years the school trained Udora and Syktyvkar schoolchildren, but this year the session has been organized in the adjacent Arkhangelsk region, in the village of Vozhgora, as part of the Model River Mezen project. (The Mezen flows along the two regions – the Republic of Komi and Arkhangelsk region, therefore the project is interregional).
There are hardly any hydrobiology experts in both Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic. That is why the Model River Mezen project coordinator Nikolay Shilov’s idea to arrange an ichthyology school for kids of Vozhgora was taken enthusiastically by Natalya Posmashnaya, director of the local secondary school. The school administration created all conditions necessary for the ichthyology school from Komi – collected groups of students, provided classrooms, multimedia and laboratory equipment, arranged catering for the children.
The children from Vozhgora and other nearby settlements examined the Mezen ichthyofauna on June 5-9. They studied the principles of hydrobiology, origin, anatomy, morphology and physiology of fish species inhabiting the Mezen. The lectures were followed by field workshops and vice versa. The students even asked their parents to help them catch fish to dissect it later and to define the species of different specimen.
A scoop net is one of the most important tools for ichthyologists
First discoveries of the young researchers
The dissection process
“Children are surprisingly fast to learn the research methodology. At the second lesson they did everything on their own accurately reproducing the algorithm of actions. They turned out to be quick learners of such a difficult topic as organ topography. We were happy to hear from every tenth of them at the end of the course that they were going to become ichthyologists later. To conclude the program, all students were presented with memory sticks with special data on them that can help the children to improve their hydrobiology skills,” Nikolay Shilov, the Model River Mezen project coordinator, said.
The children were surprisingly fast to learn the research methodology; they did everything on their own
But the most interesting fact, according to Mr. Shilov, is that the schoolchildren do care about the current state of valuable fish populations, for example, of salmon population. The kids were concerned about this topic, they asked plenty of questions. During the research they found some difference in the species composition in the river flowing in Komi from the same in the Arkhangelsk region. For instance, the Arkhangelsk part of the river has more humpback salmon which comes to the river from the sea, and there is much more flounder. While from the upper reaches of the river, from the Komi Republic part of it, bearded stone loach enters the water basin.
Now you need to define what species these specimen belong to
The schoolkids studied fish anatomy with the help of puzzles
However, the kids studied more than just hydrobiology. They got really interested in the history of fishery industry development on the Mezen starting from the Tzar’s orders dating the 18th century and all the way till now. The children also liked the lecture on fish breeding, artificial fish stocking, its advantages and disadvantages.
As requested by teachers of the Vozhgora secondary school, Nikolay Shilov conducted a public lecture on the Mezen ichthyofauna, with 70 people – both adults and children – attending it.
Hydrobiology is an exciting science