#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. For the first time, the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) opens a scientific laboratory at the year-round Omega station and invites volunteers to study the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the Citizen Science concept. The main task is to continue monitoring the Arctic biomes together with partners.
At the end of March, the Russian Geographical Society joined the declaration on the polar bear preservation and an agreement on working with partners on environmentally friendly and safe development of specially protected areas. The priorities include a comprehensive study of the country’s main predators’ habitat, as well as environmental safety and the development of the Northern Sea Route.
“The Soviet Union became the first country to introduce first a restriction and then a complete ban on polar bear hunting. In the latest edition of the Red Book of Russia, the polar bear is represented by all four subpopulations. And now the time has come to show the whole world an example of how carefully, using the latest achievements of science and technology, the Arctic should be developed without causing damage to nature. Even today, Russia does not refuse to fulfill international obligations to protect the polar bear, strengthens its national legislation and develops environmental measures”, said Irina Makanova, director of the state policy and regulation in the field of protected areas department of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources.
In 2024, as part of the Russian Geographical Society’s expedition to Franz Josef Land, monitoring of the Barents sea group of polar bears will continue to assess its condition. The plans include studying the spatial and seasonal distribution of animals, the bear numbers’ dynamics and the Arctic predators’ health.
Scientific teams plan to map the locations of so-called polar bear maternity hospitals and analyze the timing of females leaving their dens. The expedition will assess the size of the broods on the island of Alexandra Land and study satellite images of the ice cover and data from animals that came out onto the ice.
“This year’s priority task is to create a permanent scientific station and laboratory of the Russian Geographical Society, thanks to which scientists will have the opportunity to conduct systematic observations on the archipelago”, added the director of the Russian Arctic national park, Alexander Kirilov.
One of the important aspects of the project is volunteer work and tourism in the Arctic. This is not the first year that the Russian Geographical Society has been developing the format of citizen science – a concept within which every caring person can help scientists. On expeditions, volunteers perform work that does not require special training, but is important for collecting data, the Russian Geographical Society website reports.
Earlier, we reported on the number of polar bears on the coast of Taimyr according to Rosprirodnadzor. The Russian Geographical Society invites everyone to join its environmental movement.
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Text: Denis Kozhevnikov, Photo: author
